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Colloquium on Falun Gong and China's Human Rights Held at American University (Photos) By a practitioner from Washington DC
(Clearwisdom.net May 15, 2003) On May 13th, World Falun Dafa Day, at
American University located in Washington DC, because the Chinese party has
ruthlessly persecuted Falun Gong practitioners over the past nearly four years,
the university clergy, Mr. Zhou Yi presided over a round table colloquium on
"Falun Gong and China's Human Rights" which was sponsored by both the
university clergy office and the Global Justice American Action Organization. Professor Nie
from Catholic University of America Assistant of
the Vice-President of American University Ms. Marsh, representative of the
plaintiffs' attorneys suing Jiang Zemin and the "610 Office," a
western Falun Gong practitioner, Professor Nie Sen from the Catholic University
of America, and a Professor from American University were invited to give talks
at the colloquium. After Mr. Zhou Yi introduced the speakers, and Professor Nie played an
18-minute video program which presented a brief introduction of Falun Gong, its
worldwide spread, and the brutal persecution of Falun Gong since 1999. Professor
Nie said, "For Falun Gong practitioners, the past four years are special.
In China, because they persist in their belief, what they confront is the
Chinese government's suppression, torture, and even death due to the
persecution." Then attorney Marsh talked about the genocide lawsuit against
Jiang Zemin. She said, "Falun Gong practitioners cultivate
Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, which are the principles that all beings
are longing for." "Unfortunately, in China, people who persist in
being the best people, those kind Falun Gong practitioners who are strict with
themselves, are arrested and beaten. The torture they have endured is beyond
people's imagination." "Although as a plaintiffs' attorney, I filed a
lawsuit against the chief criminal Jiang Zemin, when I read documents that
recorded the cruel tortures that Falun Gong practitioners in Mainland China had
suffered, my tears flowed." A practitioner read the United States Human
Rights Report. She expressed that the Chinese party was ruthlessly depriving
people of their freedoms of belief and speech as well as of their most
fundamental rights of living. It was absolutely wrong to persecute Falun Gong
and the persecution had to be stopped. During the meeting, a western
practitioner related his experience of going to Tiananmen Square to appeal for
Falun Gong and the unreasonable detention he received in China. A graduate student from the department of politics in the American University
expressed on the spot, "Falun Gong is so good! I want to learn Falun Gong
now!" An assistant to the Vice-President of American University expressed that
Falun Gong practitioners' courage and peacefulness were admirable and that
American University would continue to provide more support and conveniences for
them. He hoped to invite the attorney and Falun Gong practitioners to give talks
at the university when the fall semester begins. He wished that students could
learn about these issues. The attorney and practitioners happily accept his
invitation. Sound of Hope Radio Station, Radio Free Asia, Epoch Times, and New Tang
Dynasty Television came to cover this colloquium. Posting date: 5/18/2003
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