Dear Mr Dee,

Thank you for your letter of 31st January 2004 concerning the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in the Chinese New Year parade on the Champs Elyseés, Paris.

Although I do not personally work directly within this area, please rest assured that I take this matter very seriously. I have been in close contact with my colleague Michael Cashman who has written to Ambassador Sellal, head of the Permanent Representation of France to the European Union, not only to express our concerns that this may be a continuation of the campaign by the Chinese authorities against Falun Gong, but also to raise our concerns about the behaviour of the French Police during the New Year parade.

This is an issue we have been monitoring for some time and we will continue to do so. I will be sure to pass on any response that we receive from Ambassador Sellal.

Once again, thank you for raising these concerns with me.

Yours sincerely,

Neena Gill MEP