Radio Free Asia: European Falun Gong Practitioners Respond to the South Africa Shooting

(Clearwisdom.net) Practitioners from around Europe are contacting local media, human rights organizations and different levels of governments to inform them about the South Africa shooting of a Falun Gong practitioner. In the meantime, they are holding protests near Chinese Embassies and Consulates in many locations. The following is compiled from a report by Radio Free Asia's special correspondent Tianyi in Germany.

On June 28, a Falun Gong practitioner was shot in a drive-by attack in Johannesburg, South Africa. The incident shocked the entire Europe. On June 29, Falun Gong practitioners across Europe started holding protests in front of the Chinese Consulates and Embassies. On the afternoon of June 29 and in front of the Chinese Embassy in Berlin, this reporter interviewed Ms. Zheng Zhihong, a scholar from China's Zhejiang University.

Ms. Zheng: "Last night, after the drive-by shooting incident occurred in Johannesburg, South Africa, Falun Gong practitioners throughout the world started gathering outside the Chinese Embassies or Consulates. At present, we are holding an activity in front of the Chinese Embassy in Berlin to protest Jiang Zemin political group's terrorist act in hiring gunmen to kill practitioners."

Ms. Zheng continued, "In the incident yesterday, a Falun Gong practitioner was shot in both his feet. As a result, one of his feet was fractured. All signs indicated that the gunmen were hired by the Chinese authorities. Yesterday, Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong and Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai were in an official visit to South Africa. The Falun Gong practitioners who came from Australia were to hold a protest and file a lawsuit against Zeng Qinghong and Bo Xilai, who have been active in persecuting Falun Gong practitioners."

"After the incident, Falun Gong practitioners briefly informed governments of different countries. They also related the story to the media. I personally have been interviewed by some media outlets in Germany. They are all very concerned about this incident, especially the role played by the Chinese government in the incident."

On Tuesday, Falun Gong practitioners from Germany gathered at the Chinese Consulate in the former capital, Bonn, to stage a protest. On Wednesday, Falun Gong practitioners in southern and northern Germany will protest in front of the Chinese Consulates in Munich and Hamburg.

In the end, Ms. Zheng pointed out that Zeng Qinghong and Bo Xilai attempted to use this kind of terrorist act to frighten Falun Gong practitioners and prevent them from protesting them. However, its result was just the opposite. They enraged the international society and human rights organizations from different countries. Their future state visits will definitely encounter much stronger opposition.

The above was reported by Tianyi, a special correspondent to Free Radio Asia in Germany.

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