(Clearwisdom.net) On May 13, 2004, US Congressman Robert E. Andrews
wrote to Falun Gong practitioners in support of Falun Gong. He said in the
letter: I am proud to be an outspoken supporter of the Falun Gong and their
efforts to achieve freedom from the persecution they face at the hands of the
Chinese government. Congress of the United States May 13, 2004 Dear Friends: I am proud to be an outspoken supporter of the Falun Gong and
their efforts to achieve freedom from the persecution they face at the hands of
the Chinese government. Unfortunately, very little progress has been made in
effort to influence the Chinese government to end its irrational persecution of
Falun Gong practitioners throughout the world. However, due in large part to the
tenacious work of Falun Gong practitioners such as yourselves, awareness of this
persecution is being increased in America and around the world. By highlighting
the detainment and inhumane treatment of Falun Gong practitioners, you are
forcing governments around the world to take notice, and I remain hopeful that
this awareness will result in collaborative effects to cease the imprisonment,
torture, and murder of peaceful Falun Gong practitioners. As the member of detained Falun Gong continues to escalate,
it is becoming increasingly clear that the Chinese government has no intentions
of curbing its irrational harassment of those benevolent people, it is only
through international pressure that the PRC will be forced to respect the rights
of all Chinese citizens. With this in mind, I have consistently called upon
members of this administration to address the issue of Falun Gong persecution
with the Chinese government, and I will continue to do so until a positive
change is affected. Over a year ago, I along with several of my colleagues in
the House of Representatives, called upon the Secretary of State Powell to urge
the release of Falun Gong practitioners with relatives in the United States.
Earlier this year, we were pleased to learn that one of the practitioners named
in our appeal to Secretary Powell was released by the PRC. Despite this victory,
we still have much work to do. The inhumane persecution of Falun Gong
practitioners is an affront to human rights, and as such it can not be
tolerated. The Chinese government continues to imprison, torture, and murder
these peaceful individuals due to their fear and misunderstanding of the Falun
Gong movement. I look forward to the day when the Chinese government accepts
the Falun Gong as a peaceful, enlightened aspect of their nation's culture, but
until then I encourage such of you to remain outspoken in your efforts to free
Falun Gong practitioners from persecution. Rest assured that I will continue to
support all such efforts until each citizen of the People's Republic of China is
afforded the rights they so justly deserve. Sincerely, Robert E. Andrews
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515-3001
Member of Congress
Posting date: 6/8/2004
Original article date: 6/7/2004
Category: Worldwide Support
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.ca/mh/articles/2004/6/5/76393.html