Korea: Chungcheongnam-do Legislative Assembly Unanimously Passes Resolution Urging China to Release Falun Gong Practitioner Ms. Gao Chengnu

(Clearwisdom.net) On November 2, 2004, the Chungcheongnam-do Legislature unanimously passed a resolution requesting China to release Ms. Gao Chengnu, a Falun Gong practitioner, who is the wife of a Korean citizen Mr. Kwack Byung-ho and currently being held at the Jiamusi City Forced Labor Camp in Heilongjiang Province, China.

This resolution is second to an earlier resolution passed by the Cheonan City Senate a few months ago. The Chungcheongnam-do Legislature is a higher legislative body than the Cheonan City Senate. On September 13, 2004, the Cheonan City Senate unanimously passed a resolution to urge the Chinese authorities to unconditionally release Ms. Gao Chengnu for a safe return to Korea.

The resolution passed by the Chungcheongnam-do Legislature has been forwarded to Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Governor of Heilongjiang Province, Mayor of the City of Jiamusi, and the Head of the Jiamusi City Forced Labor Camp in Heilongjiang Province.

Ms. Gao Chengnu, an ethnic Korean woman from China, married Korean citizen Mr. Kwack Byung-ho on May 18, 2003 in China. When Ms. Gao Chengnu did paperwork to go to Korea, her passport application was denied several times by the Chinese public security institutions because she refused to give up her practice of Falun Gong. She was then unlawfully abducted on May 7, 2004.

In response to her detention, a non-governmental "Gao Chengnu Rescue Committee" was established on August 14, 2004 in Korea. A rescue drive entitled, "Return my wife" thus began. This rescue drive has received support and concern from the Korean government, media, and citizens, including the above two resolutions.

Below is the translation and images of the resolution passed by Chungcheongnam-do Legislature unanimously on November 2, 2004.

Resolution of the Assembly of Chungcheongnam-do

Urging the Release of Ms. Gao Chengnu, the Wife of a Korean, Who Is Illegally Detained by the Chinese Government

We, all members of the Assembly of Chungcheongnam-do, are deeply sorry for Byung-ho Kwak, a Korean, who lives in Cheonan City, Chungcheongnam-do, and whose Chinese wife Gao Chengnu has been illegally detained in a Labor Camp in the city of Jiamusi in the Province of Heilongjiang since May of 2004 solely because she is a practitioner of Falun Gong. We strongly support the activities of "Gao Chengnu Rescue Committee" for struggling to release Gao Chengnu.

We, all members of the Assembly of Chungcheongnam-do, strongly support the resolution unanimously passed by the city of Cheonan on September 13th, 2004 regarding the release of Gao Chengnu.

Out of humanitarian consideration for this couple to have a happy family, we, all members of the Assembly of Chungcheongnam-do, urge your relevant authorities to take measures to release Gao Chengnu as soon as possible.

In considering the traditional relationship of friendship between Korea and China, this situation should be resolved as at the top priority and a positive outcome will tremendously work towards further strengthening ties between two countries.

The Korean-Byung-ho Kwak's wife Gao Chengnu's life is in danger due to suffering severe torture and interrogation. We, all members of the Assembly of Chungcheongnam-do, are highly concerned over this as being a pressing situation and once again we urge your relevant authorities to release Gao Chengnu without any condition and ensure that she leaves China for Korea safely.

Head of the Assembly of Chungcheongnam-do and all Committee members,

Republic of Korea (Signature- Stamp)

November 2nd 2004

Original copy of the resolution

Signatures

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