NEW YORK, August 28, 2002 (Falun Dafa Information Center) --Yesterday, the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) voted to send a mission to investigate atrocities and abuses occurring in Chinese mental hospitals. According to AP, WPA President, Juan J. Lopez-Ibor, commented, "inspectors must have freedom to inspect wherever, whomever and whenever they want."

We welcome the willingness of the WPA, in the face of ample, credible evidence, to look into the abuse of psychiatry in China against Falun Gong practitioners and political dissidents. We join many human rights groups and concerned WPA members in recognizing the necessity of this WPA decision. Only through the process begun at this meeting can we hope to protect innocents from suffering and also protect the integrity of the profession of psychiatry.

This decision will also send a strong message to Chinese psychiatrists. Those who have bravely chosen not to take part in the persecution of Falun Gong by refusing to involuntarily admit practitioners into mental hospitals will know the world supports them. It will strengthen their resolve to follow their conscience. Those who have joined in acts of torture will know that a spotlight will soon be shown on their misdeeds. They may now think again about whether they will benefit by continuing these perverted acts.

Any professional psychiatrist anywhere in the world would welcome an impartial investigation into accusations of psychiatric abuse. The use of mental hospitals and medical personnel in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and others whom the Communist Party wishes to silence, such as trade unionists and democracy activists, violates the UN Human Rights Declaration, and the Madrid Declaration established by the WPA in 1996. This abuse of psychiatry revolts our conscience, and horrifies our understanding. It cannot be ignored.

We know that the Chinese Psychiatric Association can't carry out an honest investigation of these abuses. That association is unfortunately held hostage to the political needs of the Chinese Communist Party, which is under the control of a dictator -- Jiang Zemin.

We want the WPA to proceed with a truly independent third party investigation of the abuses of psychiatry in China. We should not underestimate the difficulties those who conduct this investigation will face, but with the help of all kindhearted people and international leaders, justice will prevail.

We call on all psychiatrists, all psychiatric associations, and human rights groups to support this WPA investigation and to help to stop the abuse of Psychiatry in China and the persecution of Falun Gong.

Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." It is a practice that was taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and separate from other practices such as the religions of Buddhism and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practiced in over 50 countries.

With government estimates of as many as 100 million practicing Falun Gong, China's President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999, fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions who had experienced improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong, Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it.

The Falun Dafa Information Center has verified details of 462 deaths since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. Government officials inside China, however, report that the actual death toll is well over 1,600. Over 100,000 have been detained, with more than 20,000 being sentenced to forced labor camps without trial.