FDI: U. S. Legislators Urge for the Release of American Falun Gong Practitioner
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 Related Stories #áá#áá# 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/
NEWS - Feb. 26, 2003
Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net
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