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Asian Times Reports the Shooting of Falun Gong Practitioner in South Africa

July 1, 2004

(Clearwisdom.net) Asian Times reported on June 30 that Canadian Falun Gong practitioners protested in front of the Chinese Embassy on the afternoon of June 29 regarding the drive-by shooting incident that happened on June 28 of Falun Gong practitioners on their way to a press conference to expose the crimes of visiting Chinese officials Mr. Li Xun, president of the Canadian Falun Dafa Association , said that clearly the Chinese government [Jiang's political group] hired some thugs to make an assassination attempt, pointing again to Jiang's policy of persecution of overseas Falun Gong practitioners.

In the afternoon, they went to the South African Embassy to appeal over this incident and Ambassador Ms. Theresa M. Solomon met Mr. Li Xun and representative practitioners.

Mr. Li talked about the shooting. He said that Mr. Wei, one of the Falun Gong practitioners from Australia currently in South Africa talked to him over the phone. After learning that Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong and Commerce Minister Bo Xilai who followed former President Jiang Zemin's directives to persecute Falun Gong would visit South Africa from June 27 to 29, nine Falun Gong practitioners in Australia including Mr. Wei decided to go to South Africa to assist local practitioners in filing a lawsuit against the two officials for their crimes against Falun Dafa practitioners.

Mr. Li continued that the nine people arrived at the Johannesburg Airport on the afternoon of June 28, and Falun Gong practitioners in South Africa went to pick up the nine practitioners from Australia. Later they took two cars and drove to the President's guesthouse to hold their peaceful appeal.

At approximately 8:30 pm, while driving on their way, one white car suddenly opened fire on the second car from behind. At least five gunshots hit the second car.

The driver, Mr. Liang was wearing a jacket with the words "Falun Dafa" on it, was shot in both feet, shattering the bones in one foot. The tire of the car was punctured and the car was hit hard. The attacker did not stop but sped away. Local people helped the wounded practitioner by calling police and sending him to nearby hospital for urgent care.

Mr. Li handed over an appeal letter and requested the South Africa government to investigate the shooting incident, strongly condemn the terrorist action and bring the shooter to justice.

Mr. Li and other Falun Gong practitioners then went to the Canadian Foreign Ministry to appeal and requested that the Foreign Ministry to pay attention to this incident. They also requested Canadian government to call upon China to stop the persecution of Falun Gong immediately.

The shooting in South Africa caught the attention of Falun Gong practitioners around the world. Peaceful appeals were held on June 29 in the US, Canada, South Africa and Europe, condemning the terrorist action and called on each country to offer support to Falun Gong.