LOS ANGELES (FDI) -- Eighty-three U.S. congressional representatives are urgently demanding the Chinese government to immediately release American citizen Dr. Charles Li from detention in Yangzhou City, China (news).

The representatives called upon the Chinese government to urgently "do everything possible to ensure Mr. Li's safety and effect his immediate release."

Congressmen of both parties signed the dear-colleague letter dated February 21 addressed to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. Dr. Li's California Congresswoman, Ms. Anna Eshoo, initiated the letter (full text).

Dr. Li, a resident of Menlo Park, California, is a U.S. citizen with family in China. Chinese police detained him on January 22nd upon his arrival at the Guangzhou City airport in southern China. Having held Dr. Li in isolation for 30 days, Chinese police have made no formal charges and have presented no evidence to justify his captivity.

"He was going to spend the Chinese New Year with his parents," says his fiancée, Ms. Yeong-ching Foo, also from California. "His so-called 'crime' is that he happens to practice Falun Gong."

A widely popular meditation practice that promotes health and emphasizes moral character, Falun Gong was banned by China's Communist Party chief, Jiang Zemin, in 1999. Since then, human rights organizations have reported that thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been tortured and killed.

"Clearly, we can not allow the People's Republic of China to mistreat a citizen of our nation," says Congressman Robert Andrews in a separate letter addressed to Secretary of State Colin Powell. "At this crucial juncture," his letter reads, "it is absolutely essential that we send a clear statement to the Chinese government that the United States will not accept their blatant disregard for the rights of Falun Gong practitioners."

The Human Rights Desk at the U.S. State Department reports having received hundreds of faxes and phone calls from concerned Americans who have learned of Dr. Li's situation.

The 'dear-colleague' letter is not the first time that U.S. Congress has rallied in support of the rights of Falun Gong practitioners. In July 2002, The House of Representatives passed resolution 188 (news / Resolution 188) by a vote of 420-0 condemning the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

A representative of the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai is scheduled to meet with Dr. Li this Thursday, according to Adam Leining, a close friend of Charles' who has been in contact with the Consulate. "We hope that our government can help ensure that Charles is released and allowed to come home safely," says Leining.

Contacts for Interviews with Ms. Foo

• Adam Leining - +1 (415) 279-4407
• Sherry Zhang - +1 (415) 845-5295

Related Stories

• A Shattered Valentine's Day
• Family Appeals for Charles' Release
• Personal Statement from Charles' Fiance, Ms. Foo
• News Story about Charles' Detention

#  #  #

NEWS - Feb. 26, 2003
Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net

http://faluninfo.net/displayAnArticle.asp?ID=7057

Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), 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 (report), 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 578 deaths (reports / sources) 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, while expert sources estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labor camps, typically without trial.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER- Contacts: Gail Rachlin 917-501-4441, Levi Browde 914-720-0963, Erping Zhang 646-533-6147, or Feng Yuan 917-941-1097. Email: faluninfoctr@nycmail.com, Website: http://www.faluninfo.net/

Posting date: 2/27/2003
Original article date: 2/27/2003
Category: News & Media Reports

 Yearly Archive  Printer Version