(Clearwisdom.net) Chinese Spring Festival celebrations were to be held from February 6-9 2003, and Swiss Falun Gong practitioners hoped to take part. Practitioners went to the sponsor of the event to apply for a booth, however, the sponsor refused to give one because he was worried that this would annoy the Chinese Ambassador.
On Saturday February 8, three Falun Gong practitioners took part in the celebrations. When they were having their meal, the sponsor came toward them and asked one of them to take off the Falun Dafa coat that he was wearing. This practitioner was very surprised. The sponsors were then informed that the Chinese Ambassador would arrive at the hall within minutes. Two policemen consequently asked the practitioners to leave the hall.
We are shocked that China can even pressure a country that holds freedom of belief in high esteem, and that the Jiang regime can extend its policy of persecution to Switzerland.
In 1999 when Jiang visited Bern, Chinese representatives expressed their respect for freedom of expression. On the other hand, Jiang appeared annoyed and enraged on a live TV program because he had encountered Tibetan dissidents on his way to the Federal Building.
The Chinese government has made many efforts to extend its persecution of Falun Gong to foreign countries. The names of some Swiss citizens are even on a blacklist that is used by Chinese secret agents. As a result of this blacklist, several Swiss citizens could not obtain visas to go to China because they practice Falun Gong. In June 2002, when Jiang visited Iceland, two Swiss Falun Gong practitioners were barred from entering Iceland. At the same time, one practitioner was also denied a visa to Hong Kong. Furthermore, in April 2002 when Jiang visited Dresden, Chinese security guards acted violently towards Falun Gong practitioners.
Everyone knows that Falun Gong's appeals are peaceful. As a result, the above-mentioned events particularly deserve our consideration. The persecution of Falun Gong practitioners illustrates that the Chinese government is attempting to impose its will on other countries. From this we can see that the Chinese leaders have no respect for the basic human rights of freedom of expression and freedom of belief.
http://clearharmony.net/articles/200302/10528.html
Category: April 25 Events
