FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- 4/3/2002 [ http://www.faluninfo.net/ ]

It is regrettable that in our own nation -- the beacon for religious tolerance, understanding and respect, agents of the Chinese would conduct themselves in a manner that is clearly in violation of the rights that all people in our great nation enjoy.

- United States Congressman Ben Gilman

Practitioners and supporters of Falun Gong filed a lawsuit against two government ministries of the People's Republic of China for criminal activities in the U.S. The press conference today in Washington DC was covered by the Washington Times, CNN, APTN, Washington Post, Radio Free Asia, Voice of America, the World Journal, and Korean Weekly, among others.

WASHINGTON DC, April 3, 2002 (Falun Dafa Information Center) -- Representatives of nearly 50 practitioners and supporters of the Falun Gong spiritual practice announced today the filing of a landmark civil lawsuit against two government ministries of the People's Republic of China, alleging a systematic -- and often violent -- campaign of criminal activities in the U.S. designed to deprive American citizens and residents of their constitutional rights and privileges.

The lawsuit, announced this afternoon in a press conference outside the federal courthouse in Washington DC, documents three years of violations and injustices on US soil, and was filed against the People's Republic of China Ministry of State Security, Ministry of Public Security, and China Central Television (CCTV), along with affiliated individuals.

Congressman Ben Gilman today said in a statement about the lawsuit, "In the PRC Falun Gong practitioners have long suffered abuse, repression, baseless arrests, convictions and harsh treatment in prison for exercising the right of free assembly and to practice one's religious and spiritual beliefs in a peaceful manner. It is regrettable that in our own nation - - the beacon for religious tolerance, understanding and respect, agents of the Chinese would conduct themselves in a manner that is clearly in violation of the rights that all people in our great nation enjoy."

Legal counsel, Mr. Martin F. McMahon, describes the activities of the PRC ministries as "a nationwide criminal campaign ... orchestrated by very dedicated and single-minded individuals inside the Embassy here in Washington and the PRC consulates in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Houston, and San Francisco." Mr. McMahon summarized the case, saying "Based on the Racketeering, Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and the federal civil rights laws, the parties have asked the Court for basic relief, i.e., to stop this campaign of terror."

The lawsuit charges the two PRC ministries with repeated counts of physical assault, intimidation, harassment, death threats, vandalism and other violations on U.S. soil in numerous cities across the US over the past 32 months. The suit asserts that these violations were orchestrated by the two PRC ministries and various personnel in their Washington-based Embassy and affiliated Consulates throughout the U.S.

Ambassador Mark Palmer said of the lawsuit, "All Americans should be very upset that the Chinese totalitarian regime, under the orders of its leader Jiang Zemin, has been conducting unethical and illegal activities in the U.S. on a wide scale. It is important that we utilize our Judiciary system to stop this. It must be made clear to Jiang Zemin that his persecution policies have no place in the modern world and certainly not here in the United States of America."

A Portrait of Guilt

"I have to ask, what on earth makes them think they can do this in America?" said Terry Wu, one of the plaintiffs in the suit, "PRC officials have been insisting that the persecution of Falun Gong is China's 'internal affair,' and is 'for the good of China,' but these actions here in America show the obvious falsehood behind those statements."

"What we have here is a portrait of guilt," she said. "We see PRC officials ordering an overseas 'struggle' against Falun Gong; we see their employees assaulting us and trying to silence us; and we even see them pressuring our elected officials to bend their policies against us. And when we bring this to the attention of the Chinese Embassy and Consulates, they get furious at us, they throw us out of their buildings, and they call the police on us. They clearly know they are doing something wrong. And they're afraid they will be found out."

"We feel that we have no choice but to file this law suit," Wu continued, "These PRC ministries have gone too far. Their terrible crimes here in America must be stopped. America is a land of liberty and guarantees human rights. If we don't act now, it's frightening to think what they might do next."

Congressman Gilman, in his statement, urged support for the lawsuit. "I urge the PRC in the strongest terms that it must cease and desist from its campaign of religious persecution and intolerance immediately," he said. "This lawsuit will expose the brutality, intolerance and short sightedness of the PRC, and we, as a free nation will not tolerate this blatant persecution, wherever it occurs, let alone on our own shores."

Posting date: 4/4/2002
Original article date: 4/4/2002
Category: News & Media Reports

 Yearly Archive  Printer Version