(Minghui.org) A peaceful rally was held by Falun Gong practitioners on July 20, 2023 outside the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland. They called on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to end the persecution of Falun Gong in China that has been going on for 24 years. Twenty-one Swiss government officials sent letters of support.
In their letters, the officials censured the CCP for its severe violations of human rights. They called on the Swiss government to strengthen its commitment to end this persecution and ensure respect for freedom of belief and thought. The officials also commended Falun Gong practitioners for their courage and persistence, and affirmed their support for actions taken by practitioners to end the atrocities.
Seven members of the Federal Assembly and 14 members of the Cantonal and Municipality Assembly sent letters of support on the 24th anniversary of Falun Gong practitioners’ peaceful resistance against 24 years of persecution. From left to right, top to bottom: Jean-Pierre Grin – Member of National Council, Ms. Lisa Mazzone – Member of Grand Council of Geneva, Ms. Laurence Fehlmann Rielle - Member of National Council, Ms. Léonore Porchet – Member of National Council, Christian Dandrès – Member of National Council, Thomas Bläsi – Member of National Council, Philippe Nantermod – Member of National Council, Jean-Charles Rielle – Member of the Council State of Geneva, Thomas Wenger – Member of the Council State of Geneva, Philippe de Rougemont – Member of the Council State of Geneva, John Rossi – Geneva City Councilor, Maxime Moix – Deputy substitute Member of the Council State of Valais, Mathieu Clerc – Member of the Council State of Valais, Hubert Dafflon – Member of the Council State of Fribourg, Ms. Mary-Calude Fallet – Member of the Council State of Neuchâtel, Niel Smith – Member of the Council State of Neuchâtel, Richard Gigon – Member of the Council State of Neuchâtel, Blaise Fivaz – Member of the Council State of Neuchâtel, Ms. Assamoi Rose Lièvre – Member of the Council State of Neuchâtel, Ms. Naomi Humbert – Val-de-Travers City Councilor, Nicolas Girard – Member of the Council State of Jura
National Council Member: I Firmly Support Ending the Persecution of Falun Gong
Jean-Pierre Grin – National Council Member
Jean-Pierre Grin, Member of the National Council, wrote in his letter, “I support the resolution passed by the European Parliament on May 5, 2022 on reports of continued organ harvesting in China. I have already asked the EU and its member countries to bring up the problem of organ harvesting in developing relations with third countries.”
He also said, “I ask that China fully comply with the World Health Organization’s requirements on transparency and traceability of organ purchase. Like the experts, I call on China to quickly respond to allegations of organ harvesting and allow independent monitoring by international human rights agencies.”
Lisa Mazzone – Member of the Grand Council of Geneva
Lisa Mazzone, Member of the Grand Council of Geneva, wrote, “I commend you for your courage, your persistence and your actions. I too will join you in continuing necessary actions.”
She added, “I resolutely support ending the persecution of Falun Gong. We will continue to strongly request that the Swiss authorities adopt a clear stance and action, stop taking organs from minority groups in China including Falun Gong practitioners as well as other inhumane treatments.”
Laurence Fehlmann Rielle – Member of the National Council
Ms. Laurence Fehlmann Rielle, Member of the National Council, wrote in her letter, “Falun Gong is a form of cultivation based on respecting human values such as Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. It is now practiced in over 100 countries. Reports and statements from the United Nations, European Parliament and several NGOs have condemned such shocking and inconceivable persecution. One of the inhuman treatments suffered by Falun Gong practitioners is organ harvesting.”
Ms. Rielle also said, “What crimes have these innocent people committed to deserve such brutal suppression? Is it considered a crime to practice cultivation? It is a crime to believe in the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance? On the contrary, our world desperately needs such values! We must continue to censure the CCP’s actions in violation of human rights. I call on the Swiss government to be firmer and put in more effort to end this suppression, ensure that faith and free thinking is respected.”
Ms. Rielle expressed full support for Falun Gong practitioners and commended them for their courage, unwavering determination, and the hope they have that their loved ones as well as other Falun Gong practitioners can one day regain freedom and return to their home country and lead a normal life in China.
National Council Member: The Long-term, Peaceful and Rational Protests by Falun Gong Practitioners Is Indeed Remarkable
Ms. Léonore Porchet – Member of the National Council
Ms. Léonore Porchet, Member of the National Council, wrote, “The sins committed by the CCP in persecuting Falun Gong must be sanctioned by the international community.”
She emphasized, “In particular, taking organs without consent is a terrible crime. The government that agrees to killing people for organs is a crime against humanity.”
Ms. Porchet believes that the efforts put in by Falun Gong practitioners all these years is truly remarkable and encouraging. She thanked them for their dedication to their peaceful, rational resistance. She expressed the hope that one day, China will be like Switzerland, embracing freedom of belief and thought – a basic right protected by the constitution.
Christian Dandrès – Member of the National Council
Christian Dandrès, Member of the National Council, wrote, “I send you this message of support in the face of the CCP’s incessant brutality and suppression.
“I think that supporting you in opposing such brutal persecution and your dedication to getting China to respect human rights and democracy is a basic obligation, [and] it is also a decisive factor in upholding world peace and human dignity.”
Thomas Bläsi – Member of the National Council
Thomas Bläsi, Member of the National Council, wrote, “I affirm my support for you. I am against any form of torture and abuse of Falun Gong practitioners.”
National Council Member: The Persecution of Falun Gong Is Appalling, I Express My Strongest Condemnation
Philippe Nantermod – Member of the National Council
Philippe Nantermod, Member of the National Council, wrote, “No political power should prosecute its people for their beliefs. The persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is appalling. I express my strongest condemnation without hesitation.”
Member of the Council State of Geneva: The Universal Values of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance Are the Basic Foundation of Human Dignity
Jean-Charles Rielle – Member of the Council State of Geneva
Jean-Charles Rielle, Member of the Council State of Geneva, wrote in his letter, “I am here since the persecution of Falun Gong cultivators began, beside you. We continue to persevere in calling upon the Chinese government to stop the persecution.
“In China, Falun Gong adherents are taken to some special places, forced labor camps, and hospitals to have their organs removed, they are even tortured to death. The CCP should be ashamed of suppressing these people of faith.”
He also said, “The universal values of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance are the basic foundation of human dignity.”
Thomas Wenger – Member of the Council State of Geneva
Thomas Wenger, Member of the Council State of Geneva, wrote, “In this international city of Geneva, human rights, peaceful dialogue, please remember, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees that everyone is born to be free and should be treated equally in dignity and rights.”
He added, “Today, July 20, 2023, Falun Gong adherents continue to be detained, tortured and imprisoned. This cannot be tolerated. The principles reiterated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights must be applicable in all parts of the world, including China. Every one of us must be faithful in upholding these human rights. I am dedicated to this wholeheartedly.”
Philippe de Rougemont – Member of the Council State of Geneva
Philippe de Rougemont, Member of the Council State of Geneva, wrote in his letter, “It is precisely because of your tireless efforts in protesting against this persecution that this society can keep on going in a positive direction.
“Protecting the lives of its citizens is a government’s top priority above everything else. Sending them to prisons or labor camps simply because they persist in certain ideologies (such as Falun Gong) and taking organs from their bodies, the Chinese government has lost its right to be the government in front of its people. We stand together with practitioners and hope the human rights of people in this country will be respected by its government regardless of their religions or what idea they pursue.”
John Rossi – Geneva City Councilor
John Rossi, Geneva City Councilor, wrote in his letter, “I defend and support you in ending this human tragedy. Please continue to fight tirelessly because this is righteous.”
Maxime Moix – deputy substitute of the Council State of Valais
Maxime Moix, deputy substitute of the Council State of Valais, wrote in his letter, “Year after year, this persecution happening in China, in particular the suppression of Falun Gong practitioners is on record. More and more people are acting together to expose this persecution.”
Mathieu Clerc – Member of the Council State of Valais
Mathieu Clerc, Member of the Council State of Valais, wrote, “Respect for human rights should be the backbone of every society. Such human rights are inalienable and should not be violated.”
Hubert Dafflon – Member of the Council State of Fribourg
Hubert Dafflon, Member of the Council State of Fribourg, wrote, “Basic individual freedom and the principles of democracy are violated in various parts of the world. More than ever, Falun Gong deserves our unconditional support.”
Mary-Claude Fallet – Member of the Council State of Neuchâtel
Mary-Claude Fallet, Member of the Council State of Neuchâtel, wrote, “How can one even think of eradicating a qigong with a cultural background, that is peaceful and follows the traditional values of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance? Due to its health benefits, in the late 1990s, an estimated 100 million people were practicing Falun Gong in China. Imagine how many people experienced such brutalities.”
She continued, “We don’t want to see such barbaric acts again, I hope my letter can help end this persecution and my support can bring comfort to the victims and their families.”
Niel Smith – Member of the Council State of Neuchâtel
Niel Smith, Member of the Council State of Neuchâtel, wrote that he completely supports Falun Gong practitioners’ activities to mark the 24th anniversary of peaceful resistance. He said, “I hope the appeals from Switzerland and all parts of the world can help those who are tortured for their respect for sincerity, kindness and tolerance regain freedom and bring hope to their families.”
Richard Gigon – Member of the Council State of Neuchâtel
Richard Gigon, Member of the Council State of Neuchâtel, wrote, “I express my solidarity and unwavering support. I support your indestructible courage, and support your continuous peaceful appeals to resist this persecution for 24 years. I hope one day all Falun Gong practitioners are able to return to their home country and reunite with their family, stay away from prisons, labor camps and brainwashing centers, stay away from the massacre, torture, organ harvesting, that is happening every day, in short, be free from brutal, evil acts.”
Blaise Fivaz – Member of the Council State of Neuchâtel
Blaise Fivaz, Member of the Council State of Neuchâtel, wrote in his letter, “I support all the families who experienced bloody persecution and murder because they practice Falun Gong and believe in Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. We must protect freedom of thought and belief!
“I strongly condemn the CCP for such acts against human rights. Twenty-four years of massacre, 24 years of torture, 24 years of suffering, this is intolerable! We must end such crimes of genocide targeting Falun Gong practitioners and minority groups in China at once! We must continue to tirelessly censure such crimes.”
Assamoi Rose Lièvre – Member of the Council State of Neuchâtel
Assamoi Rose Lièvre, Member of the Council State of Neuchâtel, wrote, “Falun Gong practitioners are innocent. They have been persecuted since July 20, 1999 simply because of their faith in the philosophies of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, which they practice cultivation for health improvement.”
She continued, “Twenty-four years of peaceful appeal, 24 years of silent, peaceful protests against the CCP’s severe suppression of Falun Gong practitioners and taking organs from their bodies for huge commercial profits.”
Ms. Lièvre concluded her letter by emphasizing, “I strongly condemn all acts by the CCP that violate human rights. We must keep on exposing these crimes targeting Falun Gong practitioners! These long years of bloodshed and suffering must end as soon as possible! My thoughts and wishes also go out to all the families who have suffered from being separated from their loved ones over the years.”
Ms. Naomi Humbert, Val-de-Travers City Councilor
Ms. Naomi Humbert, Val-de-Travers City Councilor, wrote in her letter, “We must continue to raise our voices, whether it is faint or loud, but when combined together, we continue to tirelessly censure such actions violating human rights so that our basic rights of free thinking and belief will be respected.”
Nicolas Girard – Member of the Council State of Jura
Nicolas Girard, Member of the Council State of Jura, wrote, “On the eve of the 24th anniversary of the peaceful protest by Falun Gong practitioners, I revisited the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I stopped at the 15tharticle, I felt tremendously uncomfortable, a kind of incomprehension! How can a so-called modern country (the People’s Republic of China) violate this constitution that was drafted 75 years ago?”
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