(Clearwisdom.net) During Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit to France, Paris police detained at least 11 Falun Gong practitioners for no reason. Among them were two American citizens from the state of Ohio. Practitioners in San Francisco were extremely concerned by this incident. On January 30, they went to see the Consulate General of France located in San Francisco. Their purpose was to expose the lies of Jiang's regime about Falun Gong and to raise awareness of the persecution being extended outside of China.

Falun Gong practitioners arrived at the consulate with peaceful, calm minds. The Vice Consul, Mr. Olivier Arribe and other officials received the practitioners. At first, the consulate officials stated they were not fully aware of the incident. The practitioners carefully explained the entire incident; where the Paris police inappropriately arrested, detained, and rudely treated Falun Gong practitioners. They also explained the facts about how the Chinese dictator, Jiang Zemin, started the brutal persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Practitioners explained to the consulate officials how Falun Gong practitioners have remained peaceful and rational during the past four years of persecution. How Jiang's regime has been constantly extending the persecution to other countries. The consulate officials were shown the support letters and proclamations Falun Gong has received from all levels of U.S. government. A copy of the U.S. House Concurrent Resolution 304 was given to the consulate officials. They explained how this resolution is being sponsored by many in congress and has been submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives. The resolution states that the Chinese government should cease interfering with people in the United States exercising their freedom of religion and belief, including the right to practice Falun Gong, which are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. The resolution further states that the Chinese government should stop using its diplomatic missions in the United States to spread falsehoods about the nature of Falun Gong.

After listening to the facts provided by the practitioners, the French consulate officials indicated they better understood Falun Gong. They will submit the materials to the French government. They affirmed that Falun Gong is a legally registered organization in France. The French government will not persecute Falun Gong as the Chinese government does. The consulate officials mentioned that the French government often raises human rights issues with the Chinese government. Practitioners told the officials that this incident should not have happened in a free, democratic country like France. The officials nodded in agreement.

On the same day, a media officer from the French consulate being interviewed by a reporter indicated he received many phone calls about the incident. He repeatedly stated that Falun Gong is legal in France and Falun Gong is a peaceful practice. He was shocked to learn that the Paris police arrested Falun Gong practitioners for no reason. He said the French government has repeatedly asked the Chinese government to respect human rights. He said a report would be filed with the relevant ministries in the French government.

Posting date: 2/18/2004
Original article date: 2/17/2004
Category: Falun Dafa Worldwide
Translated on 2/4/2004
Chinese version available at http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2004/1/31/66279.html

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