(Clearwisdom.net) Some Falun Gong practitioners from Washington, D.C. in the United States demonstrated on Monday, March 15, 2004 in front of the Chinese Embassy. They also wrote an open letter to the UN Human Rights Convention to raise their awareness of the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. The following is summarized from the March 16 report by Ya Ping from RFA (Radio Free Asia).

Approximately 20 Falun Gong practitioners participated in Monday's demonstration. They held banners that called for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong, and the release of all jailed practitioners. The banners also spoke of the lawsuit against Jiang Zemin. Practitioners studied the Falun Gong books and practiced the exercises in front of the Embassy. Ms. Ge Min, a Falun Gong practitioner who participated in the demonstration said, "We feel that this issue is very important because the persecution of Falun Gong has continued for almost five years. Many Falun Gong practitioners, including 900 practitioners whose names we know, have been persecuted to death. Practitioners from Washington, D.C. have written a letter, and after reading this letter here today, we will send it to Anan."

Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Dong publicly read the open letter from Falun Gong practitioners to the United Nations Human Rights Convention.

Mr. Dong said, "During the four years of demonstrating against the persecution, Falun Gong practitioners from all over the world have used peaceful, rational, and non-violent means. This has brought about the deep understandings of people and governments around the world. Practitioners from China especially, in the face of violent torture, have never used violence to fight back."

Mr. Dong also said, "We believe that with the efforts of peaceful and democracy-loving people and governments around the world, China's human rights situation will definitely improve. This is not only about Falun Gong. It is an issue affecting the 1.3 billion people in China."

Ms. Fan Yagu, who is currently living in Maryland, said to journalists that she is not a Falun Gong practitioner, but her mother was arrested three times for practicing Falun Gong, and her family cannot visit. She said, "Right now, we do not know how she is, and cannot find out."

Fan Yagu said, "For my mother and for every Falun Gong practitioner, we must expose the actions of this evil government and police and tell the whole world about the way they deny people's human rights. We need the help of the media and government. With your support, we will be reunited with our relatives and loved ones."

Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Tao said, "The UN Human Rights Convention is currently underway. I am standing here as a Chinese to call upon the UN to help stop the persecution and send a team to investigate the matter in order to bring Jiang Zemin and all the people who persecute Falun Gong to justice. This is to protect human rights and protect freedom of belief."

Ge Min said, "The ironic fact is that before the persecution began in April 1999, officials from the Chinese Embassy contacted Falun Gong practitioners asking them to perform as a representative of China at the annual Washington Sakura Festival." Ge Min also said that during the six weeks duration of the UN Human Rights Convention in Geneva, Falun Gong practitioners will demonstrate in front of the Chinese Embassy every day.

The above is reported by Lin Ping from RFA.

March 16, 2004