(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
Original article date: 6/30/2004
Category: Open Forum

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