An examining magistrate at the Court of Justice in Paris recently issued an International Letters Rogatory asking the Chinese authorities for a number of explanations and facts.

An International Letters Rogatory is basically a request from a court for information from another, usually foreign, court. This ILR was transmitted to the Chinese authorities as a follow up to two complaints filed in France, one in December 2002 against the Head of the “610 Office”, Vice-Premier Li Lanqing, and the other one in January 2004 against the Chinese Minister of Culture – respectively for crimes of torture and complicity to torture in the repression of Falun Gong.

Through this International Letters Rogatory, the judge asks the Chinese authorities concerned to investigate the role of the "6-10 Office", formerly headed by Li Lanqing, in the organisation of the persecution of Falun Gong. The "6-10 Office" is an office set up for the purpose of carrying out a campaign of terror to eradicate Falun Gong (more than 75 000 imprisoned, according to the Chinese Government itself). This "6-10 office", formerly under the responsibility of Li Lanqing, is accused of institutionalising torture against those who practise Falun Gong, and has caused the death of more than 1160 people.

Finally, it is expected that the role of the Chinese Minister of Culture be investigated regarding the repression, in particular his responsibility in the control of the Internet in China and the national propaganda aiming at defaming Falun Gong and the hate crimes committed against Falun Gong.

To answer questions on this unprecedented procedure and its implications for the future, journalists were invited to a press conference at the office of lawyer Mr William Bourdon who defends the plaintiffs. The conference was also attended by another well-known human rights lawyer, Mr Georges-Henri Beauthier. Both of these men are famous for successfully filing complaints against Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.

The press conference took place on the 16th of December and was attended by several French radio stations, a press agency and some Mandarin-speaking media organisations. The plaintiffs, of both French and Chinese origins, were interviewed by the media. The press conference successfully introduced the persecution against Falun Gong in China and the importance of using legal means to bring the chief persecutors to justice.

The plaintiffs were interviewed by French radio stations and a press agency, as well as several Chinese media organisations	William Bourdon and Georges-Henri Beauthier, the two lawyers who have also successfully filed complaints against the persecutors of Falun Gong