Letter to a Malaysian Newspaper from the Falun Gong Association (UK)

Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King
Chairman, Sin Chew Jit Poh
19, Jalan Semangat
46200 Petaling Jaya
Malaysia

Dear Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King

I am distressed to see a report in your newspaper 11/11/02 presenting Beijing regime propaganda on Falun Gong and its attempt to dissuade Malaysia from approving the registration of a Falun Gong Association in your country. You may already be aware of how the Beijing regime brutally persecutes religious minorities in China, including Muslims. We hope that you will be able to see through the false Beijing propaganda and support the human rights of innocent civilians who practise Falun Gong.

As you may know Falun Gong was legally registered in the UK in 2000, following the ban by the Jiang regime in China in 1999, and one of its directors is Lord Thurlow, who was a respected diplomat and long standing member of the UK House of Lords.

Since the crackdown in July, 1999, Falun Gong has gained world-wide support from many governments and international organisations. The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 15 Feb. 2001 calling on the regime in China to respect the human rights of the practitioners. About 100 UK MPs, MEPs and Peers as well as the UK Foreign Secretary have expressed support for the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners. The US Congress passed a resolution unanimously in July 2002 criticising the suppression. Amnesty International UK has adopted a resolution at its annual general meeting supporting Falun Gong practitioners in April 2002.

Falun Gong is a righteous practice promoting truth-compassion-tolerance which are fundamental values underpinning the well-being of all societies, Western or oriental. Falun Gong presents a health-inducing set of exercises based on ancient insights into the human mind, body and spirit, and sets out a path of personal fulfilment and refinement.

To justify their brutal crackdown, the Chinese government launched an intensive defamation campaign against Falun Gong, just as they have done with any groups or individuals they want to suppress. Remember how Deng Xiaoping was labelled a thief and a traitor but then hailed as a great leader? Should people believe again the lies of the persecutors? The regime has also banned Catholics who follow the thousand-year tradition of adhering to Vatican; it also bans family churches which avoid the Communist ideological interference; it also bans all major qigong groups and persecutes their organisers and practitioners. The regime persecutes anyone who is independent of the regime and Falun Gong is the latest and largest victimised group, simply because it is independent of the totalitarian regime.

During the past 30 months, intimidation, torture, prison sentences are commonplace for hundreds and thousands of Falun Gong practitioners in China. We know of at least 513 deaths resulting from torture and ill-treatment in police custody. Please take serious note of the fact that despite the persecution not a single act of retaliation has been reported.

Following the end of the Great Cultural Revolution, the lies and persecutions against innocent people were exposed and those responsible were brought to justice. Let us remember history and stand on the side of the innocent people to oppose lies and atrocities of the authoritarian persecutors. Your just action will help save innocent people and ensure a bright future for yourself and the society as a whole!

Best wishes!

Yours sincerely