In January 2004, Jiang's regime, who are responsible for the brutal persecution of Falun Gong, lied to and exerted pressure on the French police who were blind to the truth. The police were instructed to harass Falun Gong practitioners. Thereafter, Falun Gong practitioners took the initiative to tell the truth to people at all levels of society, demanding those involved to admit administrative responsibility and to apologise to Falun Gong practitioners. The appeals made by Falun Gong practitioners received attention and support from political figures. Recently Francois Asensi, appointed Communist and Republican and member of the group of “Friend of China and France”, wrote a letter to the Minister of Domestic Affairs, stating that the illegal behaviour of the French police directly infringed Falun Gong practitioners’ freedom of expression.

Francois ASENSI.
Deputy of Sevran/Tremblay/Villepinte.
Mayor of Tremblay, France.
May 17th 2004.

Mr. Minister,

In the middle of January this year during the Chinese leader Hu Jintao’s visit to France, more than seventy Falun Gong practitioners and supporters were searched and hassled by the French authorities.

Falun Gong is a traditional spiritual cultivation method with almost 100 million Chinese practitioners. At first the Chinese Government supported and promoted Falun Gong. On July 20th 1999 Jiang Zemin declared Falun Gong illegal. Since then a persecution has been directed against Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) practitioners: arbitrary arrests, reporting the practitioners to the police, and torture.

During the Chinese New Year celebration activities in France, some Falun Gong practitioners whose behavior was completely peaceful were searched just because they wore yellow scarves. Based on a report of evil cults by the French parliament, it was declared that Falun Gong was not an evil cult: Falun Gong is legally registered in the state and authorized and legal to practise.

Therefore, the impediments by the police are direct infringements of the freedom of expression which can not be justified by diplomatic ties with a country showing no respect for human rights.

If these arrests were based on other reasons, I would like to be informed of what those reasons are.

I am waiting for your reply and please accept my utmost respect.

Francois ASENSI
Deputy of Sevran/Tremblay/Villepinte
Mayor of Tremblay, France