Clearwisdom Digest (Issue 19, Sept 15, 2004)
News and Events from Around the World Falun Gong Practitioners' Personal Experience The People Awaken to the Truth
News and Events from Around the World Exposing Jiang's Persecution and Brainwashing Campaign on the
Streets of Manhattan Falun Gong practitioners have been using innovative methods to resist the
Jiang group's information blockade about Falun Gong on the streets of New York
City. During the U.S. Republican National Convention, about 15,000 news
reporters gathered in New York. Media outlets began reporting stories about
nearly a thousand Falun Gong practitioners gathered in Manhattan to distribute
flyers and to otherwise explain the facts about Falun Gong and the persecution
taking place in China. On August 29, when the Mayor of New York City, Mr. Bloomberg, and the
Governor of New York State, Mr. George E. Pataki, were walking on Broadway, they
encountered a practitioner from Canada who was distributing Falun Gong
truth-clarifying leaflets. They accepted the leaflets. Falun Gong practitioners' truth-clarifying activities also included
performances by the waist drum team and traditional Chinese dances. In Central
Park, the largest park in New York City, the practitioners' performance became
the focus of attention of New York citizens and media outlets. Correspondents
from The New York Times and NBC-TV came to interview practitioners. Some
New Yorkers said that they also saw many Falun Gong practitioners in Battery
Park and Central Park. They said, "Falun Gong is everywhere and there are
thousands of Falun Gong practitioners on the streets." In some high-traffic areas, where numerous people constantly come and go, one
can often see Falun Gong practitioners' live reenactments of the torture methods
used against their fellow practitioners in China. Three or five practitioners
wearing clothes stained with blood were tied on the "Tiger
Bench" or hung up and beaten by police officers or locked in a small
cage. They were not concerned about their own comfort, when exposing the
persecution encountered by Falun Gong practitioners in China. Manhattan is the world's major finance and information exchange center. There
are the world's most famous stockbrokers and media in Manhattan. Residents in
Manhattan correspond to the more than 1,000 nationalities in the world and
Manhattan is the focus of the world. Falun Gong practitioners hope that people
here would spread the real story about Falun Gong to the entire world. Were it not for the real persons standing in front of them and telling them
about it, the Americans who are immersed in the Wall Street Stock Markets would
have never imagined that in the 21st Century there is still such
brutal human rights persecution. It's even less likely for them to imagine that
Falun Gong practitioners who have been suffering such inhuman tortures are so
peaceful and serene. Falun Gong practitioners are telling people, "What we follow are
Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance, the most beautiful characteristic of
humankind. Jiang's group tries to coerce us to "transform." In the
process of upholding their belief and resisting the persecution, Falun Gong
practitioners have sacrificed all they have, even their lives." The busy New Yorkers often stopped to accept a leaflet and asked, "What
is Falun Gong?" "Why does China suppress Falun Gong?" At an anti-torture exhibition held at the intersection of Lexington Avenue
and 59th Street, after learning the details about the persecution of
Falun Gong, a woman asked practitioners whether she could take photos of the
torture reenactment. When she got their permission, she took the pictures and
said that she would post the photos on the Internet so as to allow more people
to be aware of the persecution. She then signed the petition calling for an end
to the suppression. An elderly woman came over and told practitioners who conducted the
anti-torture exhibition, "I support you very much! Many residents nearby
have received your materials and learned about the facts. You can go to more
places and let more people learn about this." A man who had come from Israel to the U.S. joined in the Falun Gong
practitioners' truth-clarifying effort. He not only asked his two companions to
sign the petition, but he also asked all passers-by: "Have you signed the
petition? Have you signed it?" He said, "Signing the petition can help
stop the persecution." He spent more than one hour standing there and
asking people to sign the petition. U.S. Citizen Charles Li Plans to Appeal from Prison U.S. State Department Consular Affairs spokesperson Kelly Shannon said in an
interview that on August 19, a consulate official in Shanghai visited U.S.
citizen Charles Li in a Nanjing prison. Ms. Shannon said that Charles Li appeared healthy and talked with the
consulate official about appealing the ruling of a Yangzhou Court. Charles Li
had not yet selected a lawyer to help in his appeal. On March 23, 2003, a Yangzhou Court sentenced Charles Li to three years of
imprisonment and deportation based on speculation that accused him of
"damaging national TV and broadcasting facilities." Charles Li refused
to accept the ruling and appealed on March 31, 2003, but his appeal was rejected
on May 5 and he has been confined in Nanjing Prison since then. A friend of Charles Li in the U.S. said, "Since Jiang's regime initiated
the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in 1999, the regime has violated the
Chinese Constitution and has never followed the law when dealing with Falun Gong
practitioners, including Charles Li." The friend said, "Jiang Zemin ordered his '610
Office' and followers throughout the country to implement the policy that,
'No one will be held responsible if Falun Gong practitioners are beaten to
death, just count them as suicide; No investigation is needed, just have them
cremated.' No lawful procedures are followed. In China, Falun Gong practitioners
who were tortured appeal to courts, but the courts do not process the appeal,
and those culprits [who are] killing, beating, raping and robbing Falun Gong
practitioners are not punished, but [instead are] rewarded." Charles Li's friend continued, "Like the staged Tiananmen
self-immolation incident, the Yangzhou Court designated a so-called 'defense
attorney' for the benefit of the U.S. consulate official during the trial on
March 23, 2003. It is easy to imagine what kind of defense was mounted, because
the law has never been followed in dealing with Falun Gong practitioners in
China." The U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Affirms the Original
Decision in the Lawsuit against Jiang; Plaintiffs Will Appeal to the Supreme
Court On September 8, 2004, the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals presented its
opinion in the lawsuit against Jiang Zemin and the "610 Office." The
higher court upheld the lower court's decision issued on September 12, 2003.
Although the court expressed sympathy with the legal points made by the
plaintiffs, it insists, "success depends on diplomacy, not United States
courts." The U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals didn't render an opinion regarding the
plaintiff's argument as it pertains to Jiang's immunity as a former head of
state The plaintiffs' lawyer clearly stated the reasons in the appeal why the lower
court should not have granted Jiang Zemin immunity. Nevertheless, the judges at
the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals didn't comment on this argument. The plaintiffs' lawyer Terri Marsh noted, the principle articulated in
Plaintiffs' briefs and in oral argument, that "immunity is not
impunity." Even apart from the House of Lord's decision in the Pinochet
case, the recent Pinochet decision in Chile, or the ICJ ruling in Belgium v
Congo - all supportive of the nonimmunity of former heads of state -- the
principle of nonimmunity applies to Defendant Jiang Zemin under U.S. case law
which clearly states that "alleged acts of torture, execution and
disappearances of a dictator are not official acts...because the officer is not
doing the business he was empowered to do." (Hilao v Marcos, 25 F. 3d
1477). Countless evidence in past human rights reports and investigations made by
international human rights organizations show that Jiang started the persecution
against Falun Gong only to satisfy his personal political desire, and it's not a
decision made by the Party or the government as a whole. Jiang's brutal
persecution has lasted over five years, and countless innocent people of Chinese
mainstream society had their families broken up and they were forced to leave
home. This is a severe human rights violation well known around the world. How
can immunity be granted in consideration of the law, justice, morality and
conscience? The international society and China now know the true nature of the
persecution Both the international society and China now know that Jiang's persecution is
wrong. CNN's senior China Analyst Willy Lam wrote, "Jiang has mobilized a
Mao-era mass movement against... Falun Gong, ... and the most severe criticism
leveled at Jiang's handling of Falun Gong is that he seems to be using the mass
movement to promote allegiance to himself." Falun Gong's Clearwisdom website publishes reports on the persecution and
torture deaths of Falun Gong practitioners on a daily basis. Jiang used the
whole government machinery to systemically and brutally persecute Falun Gong,
and the means with which the tortures were carried out are shocking. Human rights reports by Mark Palmer, the former U.S. ambassador to Hungary,
CNN's senior China Analyst Willy Lam, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch
and the human rights reports of the U.S. State Department all have mentioned
that innocent children, young mothers, babies, and the elderly were tortured,
brainwashed and murdered as well as being subjected to other forms of physical
and mental torture; the scope of the persecution includes China and other
countries around the world. The U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals granted Jiang immunity, even after
learning the truth and knowing that the persecution should be stopped; the
plaintiffs have decided to appeal to the Supreme Court In fact, people in the judicial, legislative and executive branches of the
U.S. government know the persecution against Falun Gong is wrong and should be
stopped. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals also clearly understands the severity
and brutality of the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners as stated in
the plaintiffs' appeal. The Court's sensitivity to the issues presented by the Plaintiffs-Appellants
is clear throughout their Opinion. For example, the Court acknowledged former
President Jiang Zemin's role in initiating the persecution, by among other
things, the establishment of the legal Office 610, his issuance of the July 1999
edict banning Falun Gong, followed by arrests and alleged "farcical trials,
torture, forced labor, re-education, and the killings of members." This
language, and especially their characterization of the "mock trials"
of Falun Gong practitioners as "farcical" underscores the huge gap
between the rights guaranteed to the Chinese people by their Constitution and
the Jiang regimes' use of the legal system to not only deprive so many Chinese
citizens of these very same rights, but to torture, brainwash and exterminate
them unlawfully. Although the U.S. government requested the court grant Jiang immunity during
the in-court arguments in May 2004, Department of Justice attorney Douglas N.
Letter described the persecution as "heinous." In the past years, the
United States' legislative arm has also passed resolutions to call for the end
of the persecution or to condemn the brutality of the Jiang's regime. Falun Gong practitioners and their lawyers around the world believe justice
will prevail Human rights advocates around the world believe that the persecution of Falun
Gong will not last much longer. The Falun Gong practitioners are suing Jiang
Zemin and his followers to bring the head perpetrator to justice and make it
possible for more people to learn the truth about the persecution of Falun Gong
in China. Lawyers of the "Global Trials Against Jiang Zemin Attorneys Group"
said that they would never give up in their efforts to bring the perpetrator to
justice. They will continue to file lawsuits against Jiang and his followers
until they receive just punishment. Falun Gong Practitioners File a Lawsuit Against Jia Qinglin
During His Visit to Austria After visiting Korea, Jia Qinglin arrived in Austria on the 30th of August
2004. During his visit, the Austrian Falun Dafa Association, the International
Human Rights Association, the human rights organization 'Society For Threatened
Peoples', many individuals, and practitioners who were persecuted in Beijing
jointly filed a lawsuit against Jia Qinglin in the Vienna Procuratorate for
torture. On August 31, the Austria Falun Dafa Information Center and International
Society for Human Rights jointly held a press conference regarding Jia's visit.
A spokesperson of the center exposed how Jiang persecuted practitioners during
his tenure as the Party's General Secretary in Beijing. Representatives of the
International Society for Human Rights introduced legal details of the lawsuit. Upon hearing that Jia was to visit Austria, Austrian practitioners, while
preparing a lawsuit against Jia, used all possible methods such as personal
meetings, phone calls, and mail to expose Jia's crime in the persecution to
Austrian officials. August 31 was the first day of Jia's visit. Though weather
in Austria had been good, the temperature suddenly dropped and the sky was
covered with black clouds on this day. It started to rain in the morning. At
Salzburg, Jia's first stop, practitioners held an information day and displayed
"Jia Sued for Torture and Persecution" and "Bring Jiang Zemin to
Justice" banners. The delegation, including Jia himself happened to pass
by, and quite likely saw the banners. Tourists from all over the world saw the practitioners' posters and peaceful
exercise demonstration. When Chinese tourist groups passed by, many of them also
took fliers with them. An English-speaking tourist was shocked by Gao Rongrong's
disfigured face (shown in a poster), and she asked if such things were still
happening. After listening to the practitioners' explanation, she was outraged
by the persecution. In the evening, Jia visited the Austria Prime Minister's Office, and
practitioners displayed banners in front of the Office. As the banners were
hoisted very high up, Austrian officials and Chinese delegates inside the Office
could see them clearly. Some Chinese officials asked Austrian police to order
the practitioners to lower the banners. Pointing out that Austria has no
limitation on the elevation of banners, the police rejected this unreasonable
request. New York City: Mayor Accepts Falun Gong Truth-Clarifying
Material on Broadway On August 29, 2004, while New York City Mayor Bloomberg and New York State's
Governor Pataki were walking along Broadway, a famous street in the Theater
district, they ran into a Falun Gong practitioner from Canada who was
distributing truth clarification fliers, and accepted the fliers from the
practitioner. On August 28, prior to the Republic National Convention, more than a hundred
Falun Gong practitioners from Toronto, Canada arrived in New York City, to
assist in public awareness activities that explained the facts of the
persecution to the wide range of people living in and visiting New York.
Practitioners participated in activites such as the "Great Wall of
Courage" where they line up for several blocks across from a famous hotel
where prominent people were staying and also the "Corners of Courage"
where practitioners held banners on each corner for several streets to clarify
the truth to the public. In the afternoon, RNC delegates in dark suits streamed into Broadway in
groups from all directions, many delegates showed interest in the flyer Falun
Gong practitioners distributed entitled, "How the Persecution of Falun Gong
Affects the US." Shortly after, in the company of more than 30 plainclothes police and 20
reporters from the media, three prominent figures quickly walked down Broadway.
A Falun Gong practitioner wearing a T-shirt with words, "Stop the
Persecution of Falun Gong," was standing in the middle of the street
distributing fliers. The practitioner came into contact with the three VIPs, and
handed out a flier to the one in the middle first and to two others beside him.
All the media caught the scene of the two VIPs accepting the material. According
to a bystander, the man in the middle was New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg,
the one beside him who accepted the material was New York State Governor,
George. Pataki. Falun Gong practitioners from Toronto noticed that most of New York residents
not only have learned about the truth of Falun Gong, and the persecution in
China through practitioners' truth clarification, some people with a sense of
justice also offered help and suggestions to practitioners. A local university
professor, stayed with practitioners for an hour and learned about the facts of
the persecution, he took the initiative to tell practitioners where most of RNC
delegates gathered and where the VIPs gathered. Seeing practitioners being so
quiet, he said, "You must shout loudly to let those people hear your
voices, let me show you how." So, he shouted loudly to RNC delegates
passing by, "Please help stop the persecution of Falun Gong!" He said,
"You should be like those New Yorkers, be tougher!" Albany: New York State's Capital City Unanimously Passes
Resolution in Support of Falun Gong On July 8, 2004, The Albany City Common Council unanimously (12 to zero)
passed resolution 44.71.04R in support of the rights and freedom of those who
practice Falun Gong. This is the second unanimously passed resolution that
supports Falun Gong. The first one, 71.122.00R, was passed on Dec. 18, 2000. A copy of this resolution will be forwarded to the Embassy of the People's
Republic of China, Congressman Michael McNulty, United States Senator Charles
Schumer and United States Senator Hillary Clinton. The Resolution was issued on August 30, 2004. Below is the text of the
Resolution. Council Member Brown offered the following, which was approved: Resolution Numbers 44.71.04R Resolution of the Albany Common Council in Support of the Rights and Freedom
of Those Who Practice the Self-Improvement Activity of Falun Dafa. Whereas, the peaceful practice of religious beliefs is formally
recognized as an essential human rights in the First Amendment to the United
States Constitution and in many documents with universal appeal that celebrate
human liberty; and Whereas, the practice of Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) is rooted
in ancient Chinese culture and involves the peaceful cultivation of mind, body
and spirit with the emphasis on the universal principles of Truthfulness,
Compassion and Tolerance; and Whereas, tens of millions of people from different nations, races, social
and cultural backgrounds have willingly embarked upon a path of self-improvement
through the practice of Falun Dafa; and Whereas, while the people of the New York State who practice Falun Dafa
freely enjoy its benefits, many people in the People's Republic of China who peacefully
participate in the practice of Falun Dafa have been oppressed by the
totalitarian control of the Chinese government; and Whereas, more than 949 Falun Dafa practitioners are known to have been
tortured to death by the government of the People's Republic of China for their
belief in freedom; and Whereas, the practice of Falun Dafa remains banned by the government of
the People's Republic of China in violation of basic human rights and
practitioners continue to be imprisoned and tortured for their peaceful
participation in this non-violent means of expression; and Whereas, the practitioner's of Falun Dafa have demonstrated a courage and
dedication to adhere to one's faith despite the threat to life and liberty that
should be honored and supported by all freedom loving people; and Whereas, the Albany Common Council is the legislative body that
represents the interests of all residents of the City of Albany and the
Council's constituents have demonstrated an interest in supporting the right to
religious freedom and ethical practice as a fundamental human right. Now Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Common Council of the City of
Albany hereby strongly urges and calls upon the People's Republic of China to
respect the human rights of those who practice Falun Dafa in a peaceful and
non-violent manner. Be It Further Resolved, the Common Council of the City of Albany hereby
directs that a copy of this resolution, suitably engrossed, be forwarded to the
Embassy of the People's Republic of China, Congressman Michael McNulty, United
States Senator Charles Schumer and United States Senator Hillary Clinton for
their consideration so they may take appropriate action regarding this important
human rights matter. Resolution Number 44.71.04R was Co-Sponsored by Council Members Conti,
Curry-Cobb, Foskey, Fox, and Scalzo. Passed by the following vote of all the Council Members elected voting in
favor thereof: Affirmative -- Brown, Calsolaro, Conti, Curry-Cobb, Foskey, Fox, Igoe,
Morris, O'Brien, Sano, Scalzo, and Torncello Affirmative 12 Negative 0 Abstain 0 I, John C. Marsolais, City Clerk and Clerk of the Common Council, do hereby
certify that the legislation set forth in this document was passed at the
meeting of the Albany Common Council on July 8th, 2004. In Affirmation thereof, I hereto set my hand and affix the Seal of the City
of Albany this 30th day of August 2004. (Signature) City Clerk and Clerk of the Common Council Australia: Independent Member for Bligh Clover Moore Requests
Government to Protect Falun Gong Practitioners in Australia On August 23, 2004, State Independent Member for Bligh (including east part
of the City of Sydney) Clover Moore wrote to the Minister Alexander Downer of
the Foreign Affairs to request government's protection for Falun Dafa
practitioners in Australia, on behalf of David Liang, a Australian Falun Dafa
practitioner who was recently shot through both feet while traveling in South
Africa. Clover Moore 23 August 2004 The Hon. Alexander Downer Dear Minister Protection for Falun Dafa Members in Australia I write on behalf of David Liang, of Unit 6' 10A Durkin Place, Peakhurst.
David is an active member of Falun Dafa who was recently shot through both feet
while traveling in South Africa. David believes this attack was coordinated by the Government of the People's
Republic of China as part of its policy to eradicate the Falun Dafa. In
Australia, David says that Falun Dafa supporters have experienced telephone
taps, other surveillance and property damage by the Chinese government. He
believes that the Australian Government has prevented legitimate protests by the
Falun Dafa in the ACT. As an Australian, David is entitled to legal protection from these types of
persecution, but he believes he has not received appropriate action from the
Commonwealth Government. Could you please investigate David's concerns and inform me what action you
have taken? Yours sincerely, Clover Moore Letter from a Swiss Labour Union Representative to the Chinese
Embassy Concerning the Refusal of a Passport Extension Industry Trade Union for Trade and Services Embassy of the People's Republic of China (PRC) Bern, July 13th 2004. Re: The situation of Falun Gong practitioners in Switzerland: Refusal of
passport extension or issue of passport Your Excellency, We approach you on behalf of the members of the Suisse Trade Union SMUV-unia,
citizens of your country, the People's Republic of China (PRC). They are
granted, as trade union members, under article 28 of the Federal Constitution,
freedom of association. We understand that our members have been denied for years the renewal of
their passports or the issuing of a travel passport. Alleged reasons include
technical difficulties. For all this time and up to today, no further
clarification has been provided, nor can we find any indication that such
difficulties were remedied. Therefore, we conclude that there are in actuality not technical
difficulties, but unprecedented actions against those who practise Falun Gong.
These people are being intentionally discriminated against by their respective
Embassy and thus must bear consequences and difficulties arising from such
actions. Without a valid passport, they in effect have no right to take up
permanent residency in Switzerland. Thus, they are dependent on exceptions and
special approvals that depend on the goodwill of the respective Cantonal and
Confederate States within Switzerland. We understand from media releases that practitioners of Falun Gong have been
persecuted and are detained for years in China's prisons. They are accused of
violating PRC's security. Such accusations are far-fetched and unbelievable,
given all information available to us. We therefore assume that the denial of a
valid passport or such extension is another form of persecution and repression
of Falun Gong. We take the opportunity to inform you that the PRC is violating
international laws with such actions. In particular, China is violating United
Nations Accords to which it is signatory, notably in the area of political,
civil and human rights. Herewith, we request that you inform your government of our concerns. We
especially ask you to recognise all your citizens' rights, including those of
Falun Gong practitioners, and to desist from any kind of repression,
discrimination and harassment. In this spirit, we request that you issue or extend the passport of all
citizens of the PRC, male and females, no matter if they practise or do not
practise Falun Gong. We fight for the rights of male and female workers, for social and civil
equity, including human and citizens' right worldwide. We believe that we are
solidly united with your country in such strife. We sincerely hope that the aforementioned problems are resolved as soon as
possible. We want to see all members of our trade union enjoy all civil and
citizens rights. Sincerely, Trade Union SMUV-unia Region Bern Copy: Texas State House Representative Garnet Coleman Condemns the
Act of Violence Targeted at Falun Gong Practitioners On August 6, 2004, Texas State House Representative Garnet F. Coleman wrote
to Falun Gong practitioner, condemning the acts of violence targeted at Falun
Gong practitioners. Representative Coleman wrote in the letter: "I share your concerns about
violence targeted at Falun Gong practitioners worldwide. It is abhorrent when
any group of people is targeted because of their religious or philosophical
beliefs." Representative Coleman said: "Any threat directed at members of the
Houston community should be immediately addresses by the proper authorities. We
cannot allow such intimidation to take root in any community of our city."
"I join you in condemning these acts of violence." New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Expresses
Government's Concern over Reports of Human Rights Abuses against Falun Dafa
Practitioners On August 23, 2004, New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hon
Phil Goff, expressed in a letter to Falun Gong practitioner that the New Zealand
Government remains concerned at reports of human rights abuses against Falun
Gong practitioners, and that they continue to urge the Chinese Government to
allow Falun Gong practitioners to follow their beliefs and practice their
movements without restriction. The New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hon Phil Goff, pointed
out on the shooting incident of Falun Dafa practitioners in South Africa that
"the New Zealand Government remains concerned at reports of human rights
abuses against Falun Dafa practitioners. In discussions with the Chinese
Government at both ministerial and officials' level, we continue to urge the
Chinese Government to allow them to follow their beliefs and practice their
movements without restriction. In response to Chinese Government claims about it
being an 'evil cult', we have pointed out to them that the New Zealand
Government has experienced no such problems with Falun Dafa in New
Zealand." Hon Phil Goff said in the letter that "The New Zealand Embassy in
Beijing holds regular discussions about human rights with the Chinese officials
and our annual Foreign Ministry Consultations with China also allow us to
express our concerns on this issue. New Zealand also raises our concerns about
China's human rights situation in the United Nations, most recently through our
statement to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in March.
In our statement we drew attention to the continuing restriction on freedom of
expression and religion, the widespread use and scope of the death penalty, and
reports of arbitrary arrest and detention in China." China: Details of the Torture Death of Mr. Jiang Yong: An Open Letter to the
Responsible Authorities By practitioners in Changchun To the National Security Team of the Changchun City Police Department and
Tiebei Detention Center: Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Jiang Yong, 46 years old, is from Section 10,
Guangming Village, Xingfu Township of Changchun City. He had a strong body and
was in perfect health. However, such a strong and healthy man was tortured to
death within a short period of only a few weeks. In the light of day, you dared
to willfully kill an innocent man! Jiang Yong used to be bad-tempered and overbearing before he began practicing
Falun Gong. Since he began practicing in 1996, he went through extraordinary
changes. He became a good person who did not fight back when hit or cursed. He
no longer fought for self-interest, but instead he put other's interest before
his own. He disciplined himself according to the principles of
"Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." All his friends and family
members were amazed by his remarkable changes. Like hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners, Jiang Yong also
suffered from the persecution. He had been abducted and detained many times,
sent to forced labor camps, and his home was searched. His wife was also
persecuted and sent to forced labor for one year. During the police raids in
their home, their child became so frightened that he hid himself and their
elderly parents were trembling with fear. Since 2000, Jiang Yong had been
staying away from home and travelling about to avoid persecution. A happy family
was torn apart due to the persecution. On April 13, 2004, you [Tiebei Detention Center authorities] illegally
abducted Jiang Yong. You exhausted all the torture methods, including the
"Big Hang Up" (1), "Tiger
Bench," "Hammering Bamboo Sticks under the Fingernails" (2),
shocking him with electric batons, force-feeding him with pepper water, and
suffocating him by covering his head with plastic bags. Seven practitioners who
were abducted along with him also suffered these tortures. Falun Gong
practitioner Mr. Guo Wenshui's vertebrae were broken, and you are still trying
your best to block the news. After being continuously tortured for eight days,
Jiang Yong was at the brink of death. Not only did you refuse to release him,
instead you sent him to the provincial police hospital for further persecution.
After more than 30 days in the hospital, on May 26, Jiang Yong was sent back to
the Tiebei Detention Center. Because he refused to cooperate with your evil
requests and instigation to renounce Falun Gong, and instead protested the cruel
tortures with a hunger strike, you then incited the murderers and drug addicts
to torture him both physically and mentally. You made him suffer every single
second. Within 38 days, Jiang Yong passed away -- what a shocking injustice! On July 4, you [Tiebei Detention Center authorities] sent the death notice to
his family, claiming the cause of death to be "acute disease" and
fabricated a so-called "explanation of death" document. With a single
phoney document, you attempted to deny the fact that you murdered him. Jiang Yong was very healthy and did not have any illness since he started
practicing Falun Gong. "Died from acute disease?!" Why is there a
black and blue bloody scar on his neck? Why is his whole body black and blue?
Why did blood spill out from his mouth when his body was turned over? Why was
toilet paper put into his anus? Why did you falsely report the time of his
death? Why did you change the clothes on his body? Why you are afraid of his
family's taking photos of his body? Why did you even beat them away in order to
prevent the photos from been taken? Jiang Zemin and his followers who persecute the innocent have been sued by
practitioners all over the world for genocide, torture, and crimes against
humanity. The Global Coalition to Bring Jiang to Justice was also founded in
2003. We hereby advise you: Do not deceive yourselves. Good is rewarded with good
and evil is eventually met with retribution. It is simply a matter of time. 25 Torture Methods I Personally Experienced in China's Forced Labor Camp By a Falun Gong practitioner from China I have personally experienced and witnessed 25 different torture methods
Jiang's regime has used to torture Falun Gong practitioners while I was held in
a detention center and a forced labor camp. I have summarized these torture
methods below. 1. Hung up There are two forms in this torture: (1) Normal Hanging Up: One is hung by a
rope that is tied to the ceiling, with both feet off the ground. Those who have
suffered from this kind of torture will feel numbness in their arms for several
years. If tortured to a more severe extent, both arms will become crippled. (2)
Being Hung up with Hands behind the Back: With both hands twisted behind the
back and feet off the ground, one is hung with a rope. The pain is intense, and
when used for prolonged periods of time, this torture may cause death. 2. Tied to a big board The four limbs of the victim are stretched into four directions, and the
victim is tied with strips of fabric onto a big wooden board. The whole body,
except the head, is held down tightly. The victim is not released from this
position, even during eating or relieving himself. 3. Pumping air into one's rectum With the victim bound, the torturer inserts a high-pressure bicycle pump
nozzle into the victim's rectum and pumps air into his body which causes
excruciating cramps. 4. Freezing the practitioner The victim is forced to hold a block of ice in his hands or stand barefoot on
the snow for a long time. A more horrifying form of such punishment is putting
an icicle into a condom and forcibly penetrating a female practitioner's vagina
as a form of sexual torture. 5. Force-feeding with liquids, including excrement and urine With the victim bound to a bed or chair, the persecutor pries his mouth open
and force-feeds the victim using a funnel or tubing reaching into the stomach.
The victim is fed with liquid food, or a concentrated saline solution, or
sometimes excrement and urine. Force feeding human waste can cause massive
infection and death in a short period of time. Some practitioners are subjected
to force-feeding through the nostril by use of a rubber tube as thick as one's
little finger. In order to try to force practitioner to give in, a doctor named
Zhang Jingfu in Qinglong County, Qinhuangdao City in Hebei Province came up with
the torture of injecting large quantities of liquid into one's rectum. 6. Hung upside down The victim is hung upside down. Both feet are cuffed and hung onto a wooden
frame. Very quickly, the victim's head is swollen, with the blood rushing to his
head. The eyes will especially feel the excruciating pressure. Sometimes the
guards put an electric hot plate right below the victim's head, using the heat
to further torture the practitioner. 7. Punishment by having burning paper wedged between fingers and toes With the victim bound onto a bed or a chair, paper is rolled into thin tubes
and inserted between the practitioner's fingers and toes, and then lit on fire.
The fingers and toes immediately suffer blisters from the burns as the flame
travels down the rolled tube very rapidly. Other variations of this torture
include burning one's nails with a lit cigarette. Punishment by burning is a
most painful torture. 8. Smoke inhalation The victim is bound in a corner of the room and the head immobilized against
the wall, and he is inundated with smoke. It doesn't take long before he is
overcome and loses consciousness. 9. Hanging up in a Strait Jacket Clearwisdom Net has reported such torture methods. The victim's arms are
twisted and tied with rope, and then put into a strait jacket. Then the
torturers hang up the victim by the arms, which has led to the deaths of several
practitioners. 10. Pouring cold water onto the victim With the victim pushed to the ground, the perpetrator pours cold water onto
the victim, one barrel after another. The victim usually is shivering from the
freezing cold after several barrels of cold water. There's another form of this
known as, "water drops dripping through a stone," which is having
water continually dripping onto a person's head for long periods of time in the
winter. I know of a practitioner who had over 200 barrels of cold water poured
on him. 11. Sharpened bamboo splinters torture The guards tie the victim onto a bed or a chair, and hammer sharpened bamboo
splinters into the victim's fingers under the tips of the fingernails. 12. Letting insects bite practitioners During insect and mosquito season, the victim is bound on a chair in a place
where mosquitoes and insects are swarming. The victim is subjected to great
numbers of bites from these insects while immobilized and unable to scratch the
bites or fend off the insects, leaving the victim susceptible to disease carried
by the insects. 13. Smothering With the victim is tied onto a bed, the guards put a thick quilt over him,
and sometimes as many six layers of quilts. The victim is left in the sweltering
heat, wrapped tightly in the thick quilts. 14. Body-folding ? "Body-folding" refers to standing with two legs straight and close,
and bending the head down as far as it will go toward the feet and pressed onto
the wall. The arms are tied behind the back and lifted high onto a wall above
one's head. The head is upside down, making the body to form a 90-degree angle.
Maintaining this position for just several minutes will cause one's heart to
pound and one would become muddle-headed. The victim also sweats a lot. The
victim is typically forced to keep this position until he or she passes out. 15. Holding a Big Tree The victim is forced to encircle a big tree with both arms, and the guards
then cuff his hands together. This is referred to as "normal holding."
Sometimes the practitioner is forced to hold the tree behind his back and has
both hands cuffed together in that position. In the winter, the victim is forced
to hold the tree while wearing a thin shirt or even half-naked, so as to freeze
the victim. In the summer, the victim is forced to wear thick cotton jackets and
a winter hat and "hold the tree" for several days under the baking
sun. 16. Forced to maintain an awkward posture The victim is pushed against the wall. With the heels off the ground and only
toes touching the floor, his knees and nose are pressed onto the wall. The
victim is forced to stretch his arms and curve his legs. Only after a few
minutes, the victim will be exhausted but still forced to maintain this posture. 17. Striking with Sticks The perpetrator strikes the practitioners' back, hips and legs with a pickaxe
handle or rubber clubs. Those who have been beaten cannot walk, even two weeks
later. Moreover, the more vicious police apply salt onto the wounds and bruises
to exacerbate the pain. 18. Little White Dragon (Hitting with a white plastic pipe) The guards use white plastic pipes, which is used in construction, to strike
the victim. The victim is stripped naked and forced to lie on his stomach on the
ground. The guards beat the victim from the upper body to the ankles. After this
abusive punishment, the victim cannot move at all and has to stay in bed for
over two weeks before he can stand on his own. 19. Pulling out Hair The victim is tied down first. Then the guards will pull out his moustache,
beard or pubic hairs to cause pain. 20. Punishment with Toothbrush This refers to placing a toothbrush between the fingers of the victim and
pinching and twisting the fingers. Such torture can abrade the skin on the
fingers to the extent that the bones become visible. In addition the toothbrush
is also used to harshly scrub the arches of a victim's feet and genital areas. 21. Sleep Deprivation The victim is deprived of sleep for a long time. As soon as the victim closes
his eyes, the guards will strike his face with a shoe. 22. Punishment by Taking the Riding Posture The victim is forced to stand in the posture as if he were riding a horse. If
the victim tries to move a little bit, the guards will beat him fiercely. 23. Hung up on a Tree The guards hang a practitioner onto a tree with both hands twisted behind the
back and tied with rope. Both feet are off ground, and the two arms are behind
the back and high above one's head. The guards hang up practitioners in all
kinds of postures. In winter, practitioners also suffer from extreme cold. This
torture makes one's arms and hands numb and swollen. In Hebei Province's First
Forced Labor Camp, there are nearly 100 persimmon trees and poplar trees used
together with utility poles as torture instruments, dedicated to torturing
practitioners. 24. "Swallow Flying" The practitioners' hands are pulled backwards, behind the back, and tied with
a special bandage on the wrists. Then one is hung onto a beam or a window.
Practitioners' heads are bent upside down and become swollen. 25. Confined to a Metal Cage The guards lock up a practitioner in a specially-made metal cage and hang him
with arms above the head. Then the guards shake and wobble the metal cage. China: A Ninety-Five-Year-Old Disabled Lady in Yunnan Province Calls For
Release of Her Daughter I am Yao Jiali's mother, and I am 95 years old. My daughter, Yao Jiali, is a
chief pharmacist at the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Dongchuan District, Kunming
City, Yunnan Province. She has been persistent in her practice of Falun Gong. On
July 27, at about 4 o'clock, six policemen suddenly broke into our home, and
without giving any explanation, ransacked everything including our beds,
wardrobe, spittoon, and flowerpot on the balcony. In the end, they took away two
plastic bags full of things, and at the same time they arrested my daughter. She
was held at the Mushulang Detention Center, and no relatives were allowed to see
her. My granddaughter sent her some clothing, but it did not reach her. No one
knows what torture she has been subjected to. Jiali lost her father when she was very young. As a peasant woman and a
mother of four children, I had to do labor to earn working points in the
production team, so I had no time to take care of them. When Jiali was six years
old, she suffered from asthma after she ate some ice during the winter, but
there was no medicine or doctors in that rural area. One reason she chose to
study medicine was to cure her own disease. She became a chief pharmacist after
she went to work in the Chinese medicine hospital. The cadres and the old
doctors in the hospital cared about her very much, and they allowed her to take
the best medicines in the hospital for her condition. However, she remained out
of breath despite taking good amounts of liquid medicine, and large doses from
big bottles by injections every day. Due to her disease, my son-in-law divorced
her. As for me, I became disabled when I fell more than ten years ago, and I
have been unable to walk since then. During these years, I have been dependent
on Jiali for survival. She had to take care of me while raising the children, of
which only I knew the hardship. Jiali recovered from the disease after she started to practice Falun Gong in
1997. In the past seven years, her physical condition became better and better
without taking any medicine or injections. At the same time, her temper
improved, she always treated her cadres and colleagues with kindness, and the
neighbors loved her. After seeing all these changes in her, I was very happy. As a 95-year-old handicapped old woman, I am living with good health and good
mental status. All these are attributed to my daughter's practice of Falun Gong,
from which I benefit greatly. I know that Falun Gong is good, and the principle
of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance is good, and that Falun Dafa is
righteous. I know that Falun Dafa teaches people to be good, and is capable of curing
diseases and bringing people good health, both physically and mentally. I simply
cannot understand why the government forbids such a practice, which is good both
for the practitioners themselves and for the government. I do know that the police are supposed to protect people from bad villains.
My daughter didn't do anything bad. What crime did she commit by practicing
Falun Gong and trying to be a good person? Why did the police ransack my home,
arrest my daughter, hold her in a detention center, and forbid her relatives
from seeing her? My daughter didn't break any laws by practicing Falun Gong. I hereby request
that the police return my daughter. I hope that the government will take
responsibility for its people. I ask all levels of governments and all levels of
cadres to handle my case. My daughter is a good person, so please release her as
soon as possible. She still has much to do in order to raise her children and
take care of her old mother. I think that all levels of cadres also have
parents, wives, and children, and should have a conscience. Police Forcibly Abort a 9-Month Fetus, Henan Province, China Mr. Song Zhenling and his wife Ms.Wang Guijin both in their 30's, from
Huazhuang Village, Lutai Township, Huaiyang County, Henan Province. Police in
Lutai Station forced Wang Jingui to abort her 9 month old fetus. Ms. Wang was
admitted to the County Birth Plan Technical Guidance Station, and put under 24
hour a day monitoring by 4 policemen. In 2000, this couple was detained in Huaiyang County Detention Center because
they went to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong. On February 26, Dancheng County police arrested them again, along with their
4-year-old child, because the police found Falun Gong Books and a notebook
computer in their rental house, and suspected that their place served as an
internet connection point. In Huaiyang County Detention Center, Mr. Song
Zhenling has been on hunger strike nearly 200 days now. Ms. Wang Guijin was also
on a hunger strike for 22 days so the detention center released her and her son
for fear of being responsible for their death. After one month, the County "610
Office" and police from the township police station came to their home
to arrest her, but failed. They took away her father and some of her relatives
instead. Her father was sentenced to a 1-year prison term for the so-called
""crime"" of ""hiding criminals"." Her
relatives had to be bailed out and cost the couple several thousand yuan in
fines. The deputy of the county police department, Zheng Xianfang, claimed,
"If we can not arrest her, we will arrest all those we can find, no matter
if they are adults or children." Later the police arrested Ms. Wang again and locked her up in Huaiyang
Detention Center. They found out she was pregnant and then released her. The
County "610
Office" instructed Lutai Police station to monitor Ms. Wang. The
station chief Dai Zhengyun was afraid he would not be able to torture Ms. Wang
after she gave birth to the child, so he had the idea of forcing her to abort
her baby, using birth control as the excuse. Ms. Wang was resisting the torture,
but several policemen pressed down on her belly to force the baby out, and
killed the baby in the process. Ms. Wang is still being watched closely in the County Birth Plan Technical
Guidance Station. Police are waiting for her one-month recovery period to end so
they can take her back to the detention center for further torture. Radio Free Asia: Jia Qinglin Meets Protests and Lawsuits
During His European Visit Jia Qinglin, the former Mayor of Beijing and current Chairman of the Chinese
People's Political Consultative Conference, visited three European countries and
received lawsuits and protests from human rights organizations and Falun Gong
practitioners. The following is a summary recording by special reporter Tian Yi
in Germany. Jia Qinglin left South Korea last week and started his three-country visit in
Europe. The reporter learned from international human rights organizations and
the International Rescue Association of Those Being Persecuted that Jia's
European trip provided an opportunity to sue him. Regarding this, the reporter
interviewed Mr. Wang Yong, who was involved in the lawsuit against Jia. Wang: He is visiting four countries in Asia and Europe, and he came to
Austria after South Korea. For the lawsuit, two human rights organizations, the
Falun Gong Association of Austria, and more than ten individuals jointly filed
the lawsuit. Regarding details of the lawsuit, Mr. Wang said: The lawsuit was filed with
the prosecutor in Vienna, and is mainly based on the United Nations Convention
against Torture. Both China and Austria signed the convention in the 1980s. The
convention against torture also puts forward bringing those who conduct torture
to justice. For various reasons, in China it is now almost impossible to sue
high-level officials such as Jia when it comes to the persecution. Under this
situation, as a signature country, Austria has the ability and obligation to
investigate and bring those committing such crimes to justice. Mr. Wang said that Jia would be served with similar lawsuits in other
European countries. Mr. Wang: We have the opportunity to submit the lawsuit. Everything is moving
forward. The next lawsuit will be filed in Spain for his crimes of genocide and
torture. The reporter learned that Jia was protested in Spain by human rights
organizations and Falun Gong practitioners. On September 3, a lawyer for Falun
Gong practitioners filed a criminal lawsuit against Jia in Spain's National
Court for his crimes of genocide and torture. La Tribune de Geneve (Switzerland): Five years of persecution
for Falun Gong followers Geneva, 19 July - 20 July marked a terrible anniversary. The persecution
against Falun Gong practitioners in China has been raging now for five years and
without giving rise to any particular media interest worldwide, despite the more
than alarming numbers involved. According to unofficial sources, we estimate, to
date, between 4,000 and 10,000 deaths. As for torture, the Swiss Falun Gong
practitioners chose to act out these scenes on the street in Bern. Indeed, it
seems that, today, pictures carry more force than words. [...] Despite the numerous appeals launched by many NGOs, such as Amnesty
International. OMCT [World Organization against Torture] and ACAT [Christian
Action against Torture] or Human Rights Watch and numerous interventions by
famous political figures, as well as different resolutions adopted by the
European Parliament to condemn this persecution, China continues to turn a deaf
ear, claiming to whomsoever will listen that human rights are fine in China and
that torture does not exist there. And yet, The United Nations Special
Rapporteur on torture, The van Boven, has just had his official visit postponed.
The Chinese Government would have liked - or so they said - to better prepare
for his visit. What this said to Nicolas Becquelin, representative of the
NGO Human Rights in China, was that it leads one to suppose China had something
to hide. Today, the repression continues to assume disturbing proportions, since it is
spreading outside China. Volunteer practitioners who are denouncing the
persecution in various countries and filing criminal lawsuits against the
Chinese perpetrators for genocide, crimes against humanity and torture, are now
finding themselves under threat. Several days ago, Australian practitioners
having gone to South Africa to register a complaint against two [visiting]
Chinese officials were fired upon from a car pursuing them. The driver,
Australian practitioner David Liang, was seriously wounded in both feet and
an inquiry is under way to establish responsibility for such an act. In view of the unacceptable rise in violence extending now outside China and
aimed directly at practitioners worldwide, will our countries finally react with
a greater degree of firmness and prevent such acts from being committed on our
soil? Should not our countries unite to condemn these massive violations through
making China understand that in our democratic countries we respect the freedoms
of expression and belief. May Bakhtiar Chile: The Largest Newspaper, Las Ultimas Noticias, Introduces
Falun Dafa The largest-selling newspaper in Chile, Las Ultimas Noticias, carried an
article by reporter Carolina Aicardi, interviewing Falun Gong practitioner Pia-Maria
Sandas. The article described how she maintained serenity in mind, and a healthy
body. The Beautiful Finland Native Introduces the Beauty of Falun Dafa in Chile The reporter stated in the article, "Tens of millions of people in more
than 60 countries practice Falun Dafa, which helps to relieve addictions to
drugs and alcohol, and delays aging." The author stated that everyone walking near Pia-Maria Sandas feels that she
is an uncomplicated and serene person. Her behavior and graceful voice are very
well balanced and peaceful. The tall, smiling, golden-haired Finish woman has a
secret to maintain her energetic body. And she wants to share it with everyone. Ms. Sandas was a fashion model on stage and TV, and worked for four years on
TV's Venga Conmigo program in Chile. She was also a spokeswoman for an
international name-brand product. Currently she is in charge of marketing the
renowned international cosmetic, Isadora, in Spanish-speaking countries. She
said that she missed Chile after leaving seven years ago, so she came back to
Chile. Reporter: Are you tired of the stressful work of maintaining your image on
stage? Sandas: That is work suitable for short term. I feel it is short of a
challenge. But I'd like to develop other aspects of my true self. Reporter: Generally models are criticized for only paying attention to outer
appearance and not to seeking knowledge. Sandas: Yes. That is what I'd like to overcome. I like my job. But it is not
related to my whole life. And it needs a change. Falun Dafa During her busy travels around the world, Pia-Maria Sandas used to be
constantly weary. Because of this, she was happy to find Falun Dafa, an ancient
Chinese practice system for purifying body and mind via meditation and special
teachings. Reporter: How did you start practicing Falun Gong? Sandas: Five years ago in Sweden, I met a person practicing the exercises.
When I saw him, I felt surprised that his surroundings were so serene. He gave
me a book, and I learned the exercises and have practiced the system ever since.
It is the most graceful thing I know. It changed me. I wish to recommend Falun
Gong to the whole world. The model said affirmatively, "Falun Dafa improves health in mind and
body. One can practice it in parks and it is also free of charge. Tens of
millions of people in more than 60 countries have benefited from the
practice." The article stated that the practice is based on the principles of Truth,
Compassion, and Tolerance, and has countless benefits: stress relief, energy
increase, eliminating addiction, and delaying aging, as well as improvement of
chronic illnesses. Brutal Persecution Between 1992 and 1999, there were approximately 100 million Falun Dafa
practitioners in China. In July 1999, Jiang Zemin's regime initiated a campaign
of slander and persecution against Falun Gong practitioners. The practitioners
were detained, imprisoned, tortured, and killed. So far there are about 1,022
practitioners verified to have been tortured to death. Radio France International: Book Introduction: Falun Gong's
Challenge to China On the morning of August 31, Radio France International broadcasted to
Mainland China and Mandarin-speaking areas of Paris in its column "Book
Introduction" the following report. The report said, "I've got a new book. Mr. Zhang, an audience member
from Paris sent it to me. The book is entitled, Falun Gong's Challenge to
China. The book which was written in English can be considered as the first
book reporting Falun Gong from the perspective of a western reporter. It also
remarked how western media reacted and reported this issue. Author of the book, Danny Schechter is very famous in the U.S. He is a senior
reporter on human rights. He has more than 30 years of experience of being a
reporter. He has worked as correspondents from a number of radio stations, TV
stations and newspapers. He also won twice the New England Emmy. In his book, he
said that he himself is not a Falun Gong practitioner but he believed that the
Falun Gong incident was a tragedy in the field of media. Western media did not
bear the responsibility of reporting the truth. In the book, Danny Schechter stated some facts about Falun Gong practitioners
that he had observed. He also tried to present some evidence of certain facts in
his book. The more-than-300-page book has 19 chapters and about 200,000 words.
Starting from China's transformation from the Cultural Revolution to the market
economy, the author lays out the spiritual belief of Falun Gong and introduces
Mr. Li Hongzhi, founder of Falun Gong as well as his impression of interviewing
Mr. Li. The author also quotes various sources to analyze the reasons of the China's
suppression of Falun Gong and the measures applied. He especially discussed in a
great depth related reports from western media outlets as well as attitude of
western countries and non-governmental organizations. Another valuable point
about the book is that it collects many materials and references related to
Falun Gong. The Chinese version of this book, Falun Gong's Challenge to China
is published by Broadcast Inc. Falun Gong Practitioners' Personal Experience The Miracle Falun Dafa Brought to Me By A Practitioner in U.S. A miracle happened on March 16, 2002. I propped myself against a desk and
tried to do the Falun Gong exercises. That very day, I was able to rise from my
bed and go down the stairs, to meet a few people coming to the house to read my
deceased husband's poems. It would have been his 73rd birthday. I was
able to sit up till 11 p.m. The visitors (who had heard that I was 'deathly
ill') said that they had not seen me look so well. I felt like a phony, as if I
had been faking my high blood pressure, the tremors, vertigo, left arm pain,
difficulty in breathing, allergic rashes, joint problems, water retention and so
on. My blood pressure was often unreadable, and it was 279/135 or thereabouts
when it could be gauged. I was rushed by ambulance to hospitals. The doctors
said that the base line of my heart was affected. I was also suffering from
reactions to prescribed medications. On March 16, my blood pressure started
dropping, within days it had dropped 120 points. I was able to stop taking all
medications. I am no longer housebound because of my poor health. To understand the enormity of this miracle, I need to give you a bit of my
background. I was born in India, 70 years ago. I came to the US on a Fulbright
41 years ago, and married another Fulbright grantee from India. We lived in
Chicago. My husband died unexpectedly nine years ago. He had been in perfect
health; he was slim; he had no gray hair; he exercised daily; and he was the
author of 25 books. He was greatly admired and appreciated in many countries,
and so his sudden death was a great shock to many people. I have been a student all my life; I received a Ph.D. from the University of
Chicago. I have written several books, and taught people who have become published
authors. I was working six days a week, running a creative writing school for
professional men and women. My health had been poor since 1976. As a result of
surgery, and reactions to medications, I have had a horrible time. I needed
alternative doctors, as I have had life-threatening reactions to penicillin,
sulfa, cortisone, steroids, fiorinol, morphine, novacane etc. I have spent a
fortune on complimentary medicine. I went to the best people in each field:
Acupuncture, acupressure, bio-energy, yoga, biofeedback, Nampudripad Allergy
Elimination, Nutritional Therapy, Naturopathy, Naprapathy, homeopathy, along
with regular visits to chiropractors, massage therapists, and reflexologists.
They alleviated the symptoms, but could not cure me. I moved three years ago. I was now without the alternative healthcare people.
In the last year or so, I became very ill, my blood pressure was often
unreadable, and I could barely walk. I said, "Old age needs a lot of
courage." My daughter was no longer sure that I would make it this time. At that point my friend at the University of Chicago who had written a
witness report in A Journey to Enlightenment (http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/download/publications/enlighten_index.html)
about his own recovery played an active role in putting me in touch with the
Falun Gong books. It took me three weeks to read the books, as I could scarcely
hold the books in my hand as I lay in bed. When I had grasped some of it, I
propped myself against a desk and tried the exercises. That very day, I rose from my bed and came down the stairs. It was a miracle.
My Chicago friend sent me the Falun Gong video and audio tapes. He arranged for
two practitioner-volunteers to come to my house to teach me the exercises. One
of them happened to be one whose witness report was in A Journey to
Enlightenment (http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/download/publications/enlighten_index.html),
which had both amused and inspired me. They demonstrated the exercises for over
two hours, and then urged me to come to the practice site in St. Paul. The second volunteer had met me at an acupuncture doctor's office where she
was studying Chinese medicine. At that time, she had been very compassionate to
me, a "very sick" person. My poor attempt to do the exercises from the
book had visibly improved my appearance. I do not drive outside my neighborhood. I employed a driver to go to the
practice center every week. My driver showed an interest in practicing and
cultivating. I have a long ways to go: I have only glimpses of understanding; I realize
daily my shortcomings; I have trouble emptying my mind, having cultivated an
over-active mindset; I cannot yet do the double lotus; I can only take in a few
pages of Zhuan Falun each time. But I see also miraculous changes:
my surgery scar hurts me less, my feet feel healthier; my joints no longer hurt;
I no longer take medications, not even vitamins; my heart is not being squeezed
painfully; my left arm does not hurt; I have no tremors; I can get up in the
morning without vertigo and breathing problems... I am less alienated from the
life around me; I feel less anxious about the welfare of my children; I enjoy my
garden more... After I designed a copper pyramid 8ft tall and 3ft wide for my garden, my
Chicago friend tells me: "Master Li Honghzi mentions the pyramid in Zhuan
Falun. The three sides of the pyramid represent the three central virtues
sought by all practitioners of Falun Gong: truthfulness, compassion, and
forbearance." I am so thankful. I find that there are no words to
adequately express my gratitude. The People Awaken to the Truth The World is Awakening - Anti-Torture Exhibit on the Edge of
New York City's Central Park During the US Republican National Convention, Falun Gong practitioners held
weeklong anti-torture exhibits in several places in New York City. In front of
the exhibit on the edge of Central Park, streams of people passed by and many of
them were shocked and signed a petition to condemn the persecution and seek
international help to stop the terror from continuing in China. "The Chinese government is afraid that people have freedom and fears the
truth. I hope the persecution will be ended soon. The world is awakening. Wake
up!" A middle-aged woman living in New York City who just learned to
practice the exercise from practitioners, said, "I feel great. I believe
there is energy existing in the universe, and it is helpful to people. The
persecution is terrible. It's a tragedy to the whole world. If the persecution
is found out in one country, it may also occur in other countries." Several practitioners flew to New York from Atlanta. One of them was a nearly
70-year-old woman who began practicing Falun Gong six years ago and has
benefited greatly. During the day, she reenacted the torture methods used to
persecute Falun Gong practitioners in China. She said, "I can't speak
English, I feel the anti-torture exhibit can attract people's attention, so I
reenact the tortures practitioners in China suffer, and try my best to let
people know the truth." She and others took turns reenacting "being
locked up in a small cell" and "Tiger Bench." For lunch and
dinner she ate some cold food brought from home. She had only one thought, to
let people know about the persecution in China and to stop it. Two years ago
before she came to the US, she was under surveillance 24 hours a day, and had no
freedom at all. A man from New York viewed the anti-torture exhibit and signed the petition,
and said, "It is savage to use such torture and to forbid people to
practice these exercises." A Manhattan Musician: "Evil Will Never Prevail Over
Goodness and The Evildoers Will Definitely Receive Retribution" Stanley is musician in Manhattan. He often gives performances in New York
City. On September 10, as he was going to an apartment building in Manhattan, he
saw several Falun Gong practitioners dressed in yellow T-shirts. He greeted the
practitioners and expressed his support for Falun Gong. He said that the
persecution would definitely be stopped because evil would never prevail over
goodness and the evildoers would definitely receive retribution. When Stanley saw Falun Gong practitioners dressed in yellow T-shirts, he
called out, "Falun Gong!" He said that he was aware of the brutal
persecution encountered by Falun Gong in China. He said that the authorities do
not even leave women and children alone. He knew that Jiang Zemin
single-handedly initiated this persecution. He believed that Jiang is a
malicious person who will definitely receive retribution for his evildoing. Stanley also told practitioners that what they have been doing is great. He
said that people could see Falun Gong practitioners in many places in Manhattan
and many people in Manhattan have learned about Falun Gong. He said that people
were all talking about Falun Gong and Falun Gong practitioners. Then Stanley introduced himself. He is a musician and plays jazz in
Manhattan. He came from Nigeria, Africa. He said that his country was once an
autocratic country, where there was no freedom of belief. Because of that, he
himself had been imprisoned for one year. In prison, he was tortured and the
scars can still be seen on his back. Stanley believes that everyone should enjoy the freedom of believing in God
or having other religious beliefs. It is unreasonable that people are imprisoned
and even tortured simply because of their belief. When saying
"goodbye" to practitioners, Stanley said: "On the other hand, the
evil will never prevail over the good. The persecution will definitely be
stopped and those evildoers will definitely receive retribution." Stanley expressed that he would like to introduce Falun Gong and the
persecution it is suffering during each of his performances, so as to allow more
people to learn about Falun Gong and to support Falun Gong. He said that he
would also tell businesspeople not to invest in China as long as the persecution
continues. Since August of this year, on many streets and avenues in Manhattan, one can
often see Falun Gong practitioners dressed in yellow T-shirts. Some demonstrate
the Falun Gong exercises, some talk with passers-by to introduce Falun Gong and
expose the persecution, and some distribute truth-clarifying materials. In
high-traffic areas, people can also view poster exhibitions and anti-torture
demonstrations -- reenactments of the torture methods being used against Falun
Gong practitioners in China. Numerous passers-by often stop to watch and find
out more information. More and more New Yorkers are becoming aware of the facts
about Falun Gong.
Member for BLIGH
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Canberra
ACT 2600
Member for Bligh
3001 Bern
Your Honour
Kalcheggweg 10
3006 Bern
Ruedi Keller, Regional Secretary
- Foreign Ministry Department overseeing Foreign Relations, Bern
- Falun Gong, Bern
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