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World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong Publishes a Solemn Statement Regarding the Terrorist Act of Shooting Falun Gong Practitioners in South Africa
(June 29, 2004) According to news reports published on Clearwisdom Net (www.clearwisdom.net)
and by Falun Dafa Information Center (www.faluninfo.net),
on June 28, 2004, Monday, at 8:30 p.m. local time in South Africa, nine Falun
Gong practitioners from Australia arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa,
preparing to conduct peaceful appeals during China's Vice President Zeng
Qinghong's visit to South Africa, and to initiate legal procedures to stop the
ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. While they were
heading for Presidential Guest House in Pretoria in two cars, a white car
suddenly opened fire at the second car. A Falun Gong practitioner was hit in
both his feet. We noticed that this is the first malignant incident taking place outside of
China targeting peacefully appealing Falun Gong practitioners with firearms, and
this is a blatant challenge to the peace and democracy of human kind. According
to our information, the Jiang regime's harassment, threats and violence against
overseas Falun Gong practitioners is by no means rare. In September 2001, Falun
Gong practitioners who were on hunger strike appealing outside the Chinese
Consulate General in Chicago were violently attacked by three persons including
Zheng Jiming and Weng Yujun, two of whom pleaded guilty when they were brought
to trial. On June 23, 2003, when Liang Guanjun, chairman of the Unified
Organization of Overseas Chinese Associations of New York, Hua Junxiong and a
group of people were hosting a banquet for a Chinese diplomat in Chinatown, they
surrounded, assaulted and beat Falun Gong practitioners who were peacefully
appealing near the restaurant. After the incident, the Chinese Consulate
published a statement, openly supporting the violent acts of Liang Guanjun and
his gang. In other places around the world, violent assaults against Falun Gong
practitioners directed by Chinese embassies and consulates also occurred. In addition, in Mainland China, as early as the beginning of 2002, Jiang's
regime issued an order allowing police to shoot Falun Gong practitioners.
Afterwards, several incidents of Falun Gong practitioners being shot by the
police occurred in different places around China. Liu Chengjun, who was tortured
to death for being one of the major initiators of tapping into TV signals to
broadcast the truth about Falun Gong in Changchun City, was shot in his legs
while being handcuffed, causing serious injuries. During the persecution that has lasted almost 5 years, according to
information from China that was sent out by breaking the strict blockade, up to
today, 996 practitioners have been verified dead as a result of the persecution,
at least 6,000 Falun Gong practitioners have been illegally sentenced to prison
terms. More than 1,000 practitioners have been forcefully sent to psychiatric
hospitals, and over 100,000 practitioners have been sent to forced labor camps
without trial. In order to stop this persecution, whenever Chinese leaders visit
overseas, Falun Gong practitioners would go to peacefully appeal. Over the past
few years, Falun Gong practitioners have lodged several lawsuits against the key
responsible persons including Jiang Zemin, who initiated this persecution. These
practitioners going to South Africa was also a part of these endeavors. Zeng Qinghong, the leader of the visiting Chinese delegation to South Africa,
is a key assistant of former president Jiang Zemin. He has participated in all
the significant events during Jiang's reign, including the persecution of Falun
Gong. In China, the genocidal policy against Falun Gong practitioners to torture
them both mentally and physically is a form of state terrorism. This shooting
accident in South Africa is an example of the extension of such terrorism into
the international society. WOIPFG strongly condemns this act of international terrorism in South
Africa. In particular, it happened during the visit of Chinese Vice President
Zeng Qinghong and the targets were Falun Gong practitioners seeking legal means
to stop the persecution. WOIPFG opposes any kind of terrorism, especially
the state terrorism perpetrated by dictators. WOIPFG will pay close
attention to the development of this case and provide necessary evidence to
related parties as they become available. Posting date: 6/30/2004
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