Honorable Michael E. Capuano

United States House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20510

June 6, 2001

Dear Congressman Capuano,

We are writing to you regarding our deep concern about the escalating violence against Falun Gong practitioners in China.  We hope that you will join us in condemning the Chinese Government for its actions. 

We have learned that most practitioners of Falun Gong are women and have been tortured as a result of their beliefs by methods that include:

• Widespread use of electronic stun devices to shock women on sensitive body parts such as the genitals, breasts, mouth, head and anus.
• Prolonged hanging from shackles on the wrists.
• Forced standing for long periods of time in freezing temperatures, wearing little or no clothing and drenched in ice water.
• Piercing through fingertips with sharp bamboo sticks or through the nipples with wire.
• Forced standing in physically exhausting postures for hours at a time.
• Prolonged daily beating.
• Sleep deprivation.
• Public humiliation by being paraded through the streets wearing derogatory signs.
• Restrained with dirty items stuffed in their mouths, such as used sanitary napkins, cleaning rags, dirty socks, etc.

The New York Times and other reputable news organization have editorialized against the human rights abuses in China.  The Times noted that the Chinese government has forcibly imprisoned members of Falun Gong in psychiatric hospitals where they have been drugged, physically restrained, isolated or given electric shocks.  Additionally, Daniel Borenstein, M.D., President of the American Psychiatric Association, has publicly called for the World Psychiatric Association to act with alacrity about this situation.

Clearly, this torture is a human rights violation that deserves urgent attention.  We implore you to publicly condemn these human rights violations and encourage the Bush administration to do the same.  Thank you for your attention to this matter.

If you have any questions, please contact Representative Jehlen's aide, Alicia Barmon at (617) 722-2676.

Sincerely,

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Patricia Jehlen                                                                           Kathleen Teahan

STATE REPRESENTATIVE                                                 STATE REPRESENTATIVE

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George Rogers                                                                         Thomas Finneran

STATE REPRESENTATIVE                                                 STATE REPRESENTATIVE

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Ellen Story                                                                                Kay Khan

STATE REPRESENTATIVE                                                 STATE REPRESNTATIVE

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David Linsky                                                                            Anne Paulsen

STATE REPRESENTATIVE                                                 STATE REPRESENTATIVE

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Paul Caron                                                                               Byron Rushing

STATE REPRESENTATIVE                                                 STATE REPRESENTATIVE

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Alice Wolf                                                                                Vincent Ciampa

STATE REPRESENTATIVE                                                 STATE REPRESENTATIVE

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Pamela Resor                                                                           Charles Shannon

STATE SENATOR                                                                  STATE SENATOR

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Mark Falzone                                                                           Carol Donovan

STATE REPRESENTATIVE                                                 STATE REPRESENTATIVE

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Richard Tisei                                                                            Mark Carron

STATE SENATOR                                                                  STATE REPRESENTATIVE

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Ruth Balser                                                                               Barry Finegold

STATE REPRESENTATIVE                                                 STATE REPRESENTATIVE

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Gale Candaras                                                                          Michael Festa

STATE REPRESENTATIVE                                                 STATE REPRESENTATIVE

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Garrett Bradley

STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Posting date: 7/21/2001
Original article date: 7/21/2001
Category: Worldwide Support