Ireland: Press Release: Dun Laoghaire Student Liu Feng Again Applies for an Irish Visa. Chinese Ambassador says he is Free to Return to Ireland.
(Clearwisdom.net) Last week it was learned from the Irish Embassy in China that Liu Feng and
his wife Qiaona Zhang are again in the process of returning to Ireland to
continue their studies. Liu Feng is a Dun Laoghaire student who was detained
when he returned to China for his Christmas break in 1999 and was not permitted
to return to Ireland because he practiced Falun Dafa. Feng regained his passport in 2002 and again tried to return to Ireland with
his wife Qiaona Zhang but while out shopping before his return he was kidnapped
by Chinese secret police and subsequently detained in the notorious Dalian
Labour camp. Liu Feng's planned return with his wife this time is different to before
because the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland Sha Hailin has promised that he is
free to return. This is because of the overwhelming pressure on the Chinese
Government to do so. When Feng did not return to Ireland in 2002 and when his friends in Ireland
heard of his detention, a campaign started to raise awareness for him, his wife
and another student Yang Fang (she was also refused the right to continue her
studies.). The human rights campaign is like few others in Irish history. It caught the
attention of all levels of Irish society and government: - In 2003 Amnesty International handed in 15000 signatures demanding the
immediate release of the students. - In January 2004 four Irish county councils Fingal, Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown,
South Dublin and Athlone passed motions demanding the return of Liu Feng, his
wife and Yang Fang. These motions represented more than a million Irish people
and were sent to the Irish government and Chinese government. - In February 2004 the students' cases were raised in the EU-China human
rights dialogue. Every year in the dialogue the EU raises cases that are of
special concern to it. This is the first time Ireland had raised individual
cases through this channel. - In April 2004 during the ASEM meeting in the K-Club in Kildare. The Irish
Foreign Minister Brian Cowen raised the case of the students to his counter part
the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs. - In April 2004 the Union of Students of Ireland (USI), the largest student
union in the country representing colleges and universities throughout the
country, passed a resolution demanding the return of the students. - In May 2004 the Chinese premier Wen Jia Bao visited Ireland. On the same
day as his visit Falun Dafa practitioners gave a presentation to the
sub-committee on human rights in the Parliament on the persecution of Falun Dafa
practitioners. After hearing the extent of the persecution, and that there was
an opportunity to rescue the students with the Chinese Premier currently in the
country the sub-committee members issued an urgent message to the Irish Premier:
please raise the cases of Liu Feng, Qiaona Zhang and Yang Fang and demand their
safe return to Ireland. - Throughout this process countless ordinary citizens, councilors,
Government Deputies, Members of the European Parliament continually petitioned
the Irish and Chinese government to allow the students a safe return to Ireland. - Only this week the head of the house of Senate Mary O'Rourke (Irish
government consists of Senate and Parliament) has asked the Irish Minister for
Justice Michael Mc Dowell to issue the students a visa without delay. Timeline of Liu Feng's experiences - Before Dec.1999 Studying in Dun Laoghaire College of Further Education - Dec 1999 Returned to China for Christmas Holiday - During Christmas holiday 1999 Handed in an appeal letter for Falun Gong
to the Chinese Premier. He was illegally detained and his passport was
confiscated. After being detained for some time he was released. - Summer 2002 He successfully got a new passport and planned to travel to
Ireland with his wife. - June 2002 He was arrested while shopping in Dalian. - June 2002 - April 2003 Detained in Yaojia detention center of Dalian City - April 2003 - June 2003 Sent to Dalian labour camp without trial. - June 2003 - now According to Chinese Ambassador, Liu Feng was released to
receive medical treatment for his critical health situation. The spokesperson for the Irish Falun Dafa Information center Mr O'Connor said
"The support for these students' basic human rights has been overwhelming.
All levels of Irish society and government have joined the campaign and
condemned the outrages treatment these students have suffered because they
refused to give in their belief in Truth, Compassion and Tolerance. It is
important we keep up the pressure until the students step on Irish soil again.
It is important the students get an Irish visa quickly and return to Ireland as
quickly as possible." Background Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong (about), is a practice of meditation and
exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of
"Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." Practiced in over 50 countries
world-wide, Falun Dafa has roots in traditional Chinese culture. With government
estimates of as many as 100 million practicing Falun Dafa in China, China's
then-Communist leader, Jiang Zemin, outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999
(report). Since that time, Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda
campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while imprisoning,
torturing and even murdering those who practice it. The Irish Falun Dafa
Information Centre has verified details of 1000 deaths (reports / sources) since
the persecution of Falun Dafa in China began in 1999. In October 2001, however,
Government officials inside China reported that the actual death toll was well
over 1,600. Expert sources now estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds
of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to
forced labour camps, typically without trial Source http://www.clearharmony.net/articles/200407/20880.html
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