The Epoch Times: San Diego Official Condemns South Africa Shooting (Photo)

Translated from the Chinese edition

Jul 07, 2004

At a press conference in San Diego, California Councilman Louie Natividad strongly condemned the recent shooting of a Falun Gong practitioner in South Africa and all the other acts of violence committed against Falun Gong practitioners by the Jiang regime.

At noon on June 30, Falun Gong practitioners in San Diego, California, held a press conference at the Civic Center Plaza in San Diego, describing in detail shooting of Australian David Liang in South Africa and many other terrorist-like assaults perpetrated by the Jiang regime against Falun Gong practitioners.

Mr. Louie Natividad, City Council Member from National City, attended the press conference and gave a speech to show his support and admiration of the acts of Falun Gong practitioners who persevere in their beliefs and peacefully appeal against the persecution toward them, and he strongly condemned the Jiang regime's acts of terrorism.

The press conference began at 12:30 pm. A Falun Gong spokesman briefly introduced the background about Falun Gong and how it has spread around the world and made great contributions to communities around the world. At the same time, he also explained the details of the June 28 shooting incident in South Africa, in which Australian Falun Gong practitioner David Liang was seriously wounded.

Liang was in South Africa to traveling to peacefully appeal against the persecution of Falun Gong while Chinese officials Zeng Qinghong and Bo Xilai, key figures in the persecution, were also visiting South Africa.

The spokesman also strongly condemned Zeng Qinghong, a main member of Jiang Zemin's political group, for employing hired assassins and using the methods of gangsters to deal with Falun Gong practitioners, whose appeal efforts always remain peaceful and calm. He also strongly condemned the Jiang group's act of expanding their state-sponsored terrorism overseas. He called upon governments of all countries, nongovernmental organizations and all virtuous people to join together to stop Jiang Zemin's political group's terrorism and the persecution of Falun Gong.

Councilman Louie Natividad said during his speech, "I have seen Falun Gong practitioners on many occasions, in parades, magazines and videos. I've also spoken to many of them. Today, what I'm saying is that I support all that they are doing. I support what they are doing all over the world. I oppose anyone who wants to stop them from what they are doing, anyone!"

He also said, "What the Chinese government did is an act of terrorism. What they did proves that. If today there are people representing the Chinese government here, I have the courage to tell them all this, and that I'll never be in fear of them. In this country we have freedom. In this country we cherish freedom." At the end, Mr. Natividad spoke to the Falun Gong practitioners directly, "Today I come here to tell you that together I stand with you, I would like to help you, and I am your friend."

Mr. Natividad said that stands with all practitioners in condemning the Jiang group's act of terrorism not only here, but also everywhere in America and the whole world, even in China's Mainland, to protest their persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

Falun Gong practitioners pointed out that the shooting incident was not isolated. Over the past several years, Jiang's political group has utilized Chinese embassies and consulates all over the world to harass, attack and threaten Falun Gong practitioners on numerous occasions. For examples, here on American soil, Falun Gong practitioners have been beaten up, their houses have been vandalized, their vehicles have been burned, and their phones have been tapped and their conversations played back to them in an effort to intimidate them.

The situation has worsened to the extent that the United States Congress has been forced to investigate the persecution of Falun Gong here in America. Legislation to prevent the further persecution of U.S. practitioners by agents of the Chinese government is moving through the House at this time.

http://english.epochtimes.com/news/4-7-7/22313.html

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