Italy: Falun Gong Practitioners Handed in Letters to the French Embassy and Consulates in Italy

During the Chinese New Year in 2004, Falun Gong practitioners from all over the world took part in the Chinese New Year Gala hosted by NTDTV in Paris followed by a big parade. From the 24th to the 26th of January 2004, sixty five Falun Gong practitioners were illegally detained by the French Police simply because they were wearing yellow scarves or T-shirts or standing together with others who were dressed in yellow. A few French authorities have lost their senses due to the temptation of economic benefits from the Chinese Government. As a result, several Falun Gong practitioners were illegally arrested in Paris.

For the sake of the French people, on February 4th, Italian Falun Gong practitioners handed in letters to the French Embassy and Consulates in Milan, Florence and Turin to explain the facts and request the French Authorities to apologise for what they had done to Falun Gong practitioners who were illegally arrested. In Florence, the Consulate General had a meeting with practitioners and expressed that he would let the French Government know about this issue. They also asked practitioners to provide more information on the persecution.

On February 6th, Italian Falun Gong practitioners went to the French Embassy in Rome to hand in a letter. The French Embassy is situated in the famous ‘Fantasia Edifice’, one of the most magnificent buildings in Rome. Followed by the instruction of the police, we showed a banner opposite the building in the Piazza. The President of the famous human rights group ‘HANDS OFF CAIN’ Mr. Delia and the Vice President Ms. Elizabeth also joined our activities. Many passers-by stopped at our place and asked for more information on Falun Gong. The Media also interviewed practitioners. In the end, Mr.Delia and a representative of the Falun Dafa Association handed in a letter to the French Embassy. It was a pity we didn’t get the chance to meet the Ambassador. However, this is the start of our truth clarification work but not the end.