Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen:

Nearly six years ago, the Chinese Communist dictator Jiang Zemin launched a massive, brutal persecution with the state machinery against millions of innocent Falun Gong practitioners, who follow the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance to cultivate their mind, body and spirit. In order to eradicate 'their belief , Jiang deployed the most extreme physical and mental torture ever devised in human history. All kinds of methods have been used to torture Falun Gong practitioners, such as electric baton, hot iron, sleep deprivation, force-feeding, brainwashing, and the use of nerve damaging drugs.

Here are some numbers to remember:

  • 70-100 million denied freedom of belief
  • As of today (April 13, 2005), 1,735 confirmed deaths caused by torture and other mistreatment (much more unknown)
  • More than 200,000 detained without due process
  • More than 100,000 held in labor camps
  • Thousands forced into mental hospitals
  • Worldwide blacklisting
  • Information blockade of media and Internet

People 'often asked why the persecution took place. In fact, since Jiang Zemin took power after the Tiananmen massacre in 1989, he has always felt insecure about his authority and feared losing control over the Chinese people's minds.

  • Jiang was jealous of Falun Gong's popularity --- the number of Falun Gong practitioners exceeded that of Communist Party members, and many Party members and high-ranking officials practiced Falun Gong.
  • The communist dictatorship does not allow growth of any spiritual practice or independent thinking. Falun Gong helps people gain higher morals and greater wisdom. Jiang views this as a threat to his corrupt regime.

Jiang Zemin and the Chinese Communist Party has perpetrated a campaign of torture and other crimes against Falun Gong practitioners, and Jiang was never a legitimate ruler of China or representative of the Chinese people. Based on these facts, in October 2002, Chinese and U.S. citizens filed a lawsuit against this former head of China for his role in the persecution. Jiang Zemin does not have head of state immunity under U.S. law for torture and other crimes against humanity, crimes that violate the "human rights of man."

This lawsuit will help end the persecution, and it is in the vital interests of the United States to bring Jiang Zemin to justice. Why?

This lawsuit is based on the founding principles of our country. The Declaration of Independence tells us that all men are endowed by their creator with unalienable rights. The Constitution tells us that these rights include the right to be free from torture and the right to freely practice one's religious and spiritual beliefs. These rights are being denied on a daily basis to Falun Gong practitioners in China, and in the United States, for those who cannot safely visit their homes in China.

This lawsuit is good for the long-term future of the U.S.-China relationship because it stands on the side of what is honorable in humankind. In the course of history, there are moments of decision and choice for people that are self-defining. They instruct as to who we are for centuries to come. This lawsuit provides the United States the opportunity to abide by her founding principles and international law, and to hold accountable a man who has violated so many people's most basic human rights.

This persecution has gone beyond China. Under China's political and economic pressure, and out of economic interests, some big international corporations, major media, and western governments have chosen to remain low-key or even silent on this unprecedented, brutal human rights violation -- with the excuse of "not knowing the situation."

More and more people in China are awakening. After the "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party" was published in November of last year, many more have learned of the true evil nature of the Chinese Communist Party. In the last 4 months, over 800,000 people have withdrawn from the Party. The last major communist regime is on its way to collapsing. Have all of us in the West seen that?

This persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is a persecution of their human rights and belief. For people around the world, it is a persecution of their conscience. The compassionate tolerance and sacrifice of the Falun Gong practitioners is not for themselves, but for the conscience of humankind and for the good of everyone around the world.

This is a defining moment for the U.S. courts and for the United States, and a moment for America to choose to be on the right side of history or on the side of momentary convenience.

Thank you all very much.

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Category: April 25 Events