After being detained in Thailand for 37 days, Pirjo finally returned with the help of the Swedish Government

LONDON (EFGIC) -- At the time of the visit of the Chinese Prime Minister to Thailand on April 29, a Swedish Falun Gong practitioner, Mrs. Pirjo Svensson, was arrested in her home in Bangkok. Immediately upon her detention, the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok demanded an explanation from the Thai Authorities. Sweden also forwarded an official protest against the detention to the Government of Thailand, demanding Mrs. Svensson's immediate release, and that she should not be expelled but should retain the right to remain in Thailand for the duration of her present visa. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm has also summoned representatives of the Embassy of Thailand to deliver the Swedish demands.

Pirjo wanted to appeal but the Thai Government refused to consider her appeal. Pirjo left Thailand in the evening of the 5 June. The Swedish ambassador took her to Bangkok airport personally. Together with the Ambassador and about 20 friends in Thailand, Pirjo gave a brief press statement. Both Pirjo and the Ambassador released statements (see below). Pirjo arrived happily at Gothenburg at 11:00 am. In her statement Pirjo made it clear that she still loves Thailand and the Thai people although she was treated wrongly, due to the pressure from the Jiang Zemin's followers in China.

Statement by the Swedish Ambassador to Thailand regarding Thailand's decision to revoke visa for the Swedish citizen Mrs. Pirjo Svensson

The appeal by a detained Swedish citizen Mrs. Pirjo Svensson, has been denied by the Thai authorities on formal grounds. This information is surprising since none of the Thai representatives with whom the Embassy has been in contact over the past weeks, while Mrs. Svensson has been in detention, have informed her or us that the appeal was not submitted within the prescribed time limit. She will now have to leave the country.

Thailand's decision to revoke Mrs. Svensson's visa is regrettable. The Falun Gong Movement and its information materials are not prohibited in Thailand. According to our knowledge, Mrs. Svensson has never acted in such a way as to disturb peace in the Kingdom of Thailand nor against the Thai government. The opinion of the Thai authorities that Mrs. Svensson constitutes a risk to the country's security is therefore hard to comprehend.

The freedoms of opinion and expression are protected by the Thai Constitution. Thailand has also acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It is regrettable if Thailand, which for many years has been a leading country in South East Asia with regard to human rights and democracy, now does not respect its obligations.

On the other hand, it is encouraging that several Thai voices have been raised in favour of Mrs. Svensson's case, such as the Thai National Human Rights Commission and several parliamentarians.

Statement to the Media By Mrs. Pirjo Svensson of Gothenburg, Sweden

Although the Thai authorities have wrongfully detained me for 37 days, I still care for and respect Thailand and the Thai people very much. In fact, it is for their sake that I stayed in detention and appealed the decision to revoke my visa and deport me. During this time, through the efforts of many people, including my friends all over the world who have written to and called officials in the Thai government, people in Thailand have had a chance to understand the true situation of Falun Gong.

I have practised Falun Gong for 8 years. Like 100 million other people in 60 countries who practise, I have greatly benefited from this wonderful practise. We exercise, meditate, study, and apply the principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in our lives in society. Most of us who practise Falun Gong have in our homes information about the cruel persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Most of us want to tell other people about this persecution because we hope that when the world knows about it, it can be stopped.

To tell the facts about this persecution is exercising our human rights and freedom of belief and expression. We are not against China or any country. We only tell people the terrible things that Jiang Zemin and a few others have done against humanity.

My husband and I have lived in Thailand for substantial parts of the past three years. On April 29, five policemen took away me, my husband, and all my materials about Falun Gong. My husband was questioned and released that day. I was not questioned, but they went through my materials. Police said that because of the materials, my visa would be revoked and I would be deported, and that I would be detained until I showed a return ticket to Sweden. I appealed this decision.

That day, April 29, was the day that the Chinese premier was visiting Thailand for a conference about SARS. This is no coincidence. I want to say very clearly that I understand that the Chinese embassy is behind my detention. Chinese diplomats and agents in many countries pressure and threaten governments and private citizens about Falun Gong. This is documented by governments, NGO's, and international media.

I have done nothing against Thailand or any country. I have obeyed all laws and have not been charged with any crime. I have been waiting 5 weeks for my appeal to be heard, but on Tuesday the Thai government decided not to consider my appeal.

I hope that the Thai government will, from now on, make better decisions about Falun Gong, and not take such actions against human rights in the future.

I want to thank the Swedish Foreign Ministry, Ambassador and embassy staff in Thailand for their help and for standing strongly for human rights, I thank all the kind hearted people in Sweden and in the world who sign their name on the petition about me, thanks to the NGO and politicians who supported me. I would like to thank also my friends, my family, my husband and my colleagues who have been worried about me.

"No matter how I have been suffering during my detention here, I know that it is nothing compared to how terribly my friends in China are suffering in detention in labour camps. I wish that more people will know the true facts about Falun Gong and the persecution in China. I am even more determined now to help my fellow practitioners in China to the best of my abilities. I hope we all together can stop this senseless persecution soon."

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Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), is a practise of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." It is a practise that was taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and separate from other practises such as the religions of Buddhism and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practised in over 50 countries.

With government estimates of as many as 100 million practising Falun Gong, China's President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practise in July 1999 (report), fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions who had experienced improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong, Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practise while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practise it.

The European Falun Gong Information Centre has verified details of 720 deaths (reports / sources) since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. Government officials inside China, however, report that the actual death toll is well over 1,600, while expert sources estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labour camps, typically without trial.

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