Official from US Department of State: "The Steps the Chinese Government Has Taken to Restrict Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Belief Are Disturbing."

(Clearwisdom.net)

United States Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520

Dear Ms. (name omitted)

Thank you for your letter of December 8 to Under Secretary Beers expressing concern about the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

We have raised our concern over China's treatment of the Falun Gong repeatedly with Chinese authorities both in Washington and in Beijing. We have also voiced our concern about the numerous reports of the torture and deaths of Falun Gong practitioners in custody. While the U.S. Government takes no position on the beliefs and practices of Falun Gong, we have made clear on numerous occasions our strong opposition to the detention of individuals solely for peaceful association and assembly. The steps the Chinese government has taken to restrict freedom of thought, conscience and belief are disturbing. These rights are protected by such international human rights instruments as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights.

We will continue to raise these issues with the Chinese government though diplomatic channels, in addition to making our position clear in public statements. Most recently, Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Lorne Craner raised the treatment of Falun Gong during the US-China Human Rights Dialogue on December 16.

We hope this information is useful to you. If we may be of further assistance in this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Stephen M. Young
Director
Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs

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