Falun Gong Practitioners from Nearly 20 European Countries Attend Press Conference in London

On Saturday 15th January a press conference was held in central London on Whitehall just opposite Prime Minister Tony Blair’s residence. The purpose of the press conference was to expose and denounce the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners that has been happening for the last five years. Several hundred Falun Gong practitioners, who came to the UK from nearly 20 European countries to join large-scale efforts to raise awareness of the genocide against Falun Gong in China and for an experience sharing conference, were present at the press conference, along with journalists from several media organisations.

The press conference was opened by Chairman of the European Falun Dafa Association Peter Jauhal who thanked people for attending and introduced the first speaker, Greater London Assembly Chairman Brian Coleman. Mr Coleman stated that he was delighted to have Falun Gong practitioners marching through the streets of London that day and stated his support for their activities to expose the persecution. He declared that the persecution against Falun Gong is not acceptable and hoped that it will be brought to an end as soon as possible.

Mr Coleman’s speech was followed by a statement from respected UK former diplomat Lord Thurlow. Lord Thurlow told the listeners that the Communist regime in China is “a government that does not respect its own constitution or its own laws” and revealed how Jiang Zemin personally took the decision to use violence to persecute Falun Gong practitioners, a decision that was not supported by Jiang’s colleagues in the Chinese Government. Lord Thurlow also discussed the efforts to bring Jiang to justice through legal means all over the world. He finished his speech by asking all the governments and people of the world “to support efforts to bring this persecution to an end.”

Brian Coleman	Lord Thurlow

Friends of Falun Gong Europe's John Dee

A UK Falun Gong practitioner then read statements from several UK VIPs who were unable to attend the conference in person but still wanted to voice their support: Lord Hylton, Charles Tannock MEP, the Bishop of Oxford, Gerard Batten MEP and Jean Lambert MEP. Best wishes for the press conference’s success were also sent from John Bowis MEP, Claude Moraes MEP and Baroness Uddin.

Lord Hylton denounced the imprisonment in forced labour camps of 100,000 Falun Gong practitioners and stated that it is a disgrace that Falun Gong practitioners are being tortured and killed. His sentiments were echoed by Gerard Batten MEP who said he was “very saddened” hear about the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Member of European Parliament and Vice-President of the European Parliament’s Human Rights Sub Committee Charles Tannock sent greetings on behalf of a group Conservative MEPs, several of whom have been active in supporting the human rights of people in China to practise Falun Gong without fear of persecution. Mr Tannock talked about how the Internet in China is censored by the Chinese Government, denounced China’s systematic use of torture and revealed how the inappropriate use of the death penalty has lead to widespread condemnation in the west. Falun Gong practitioners found this statement very fitting due to the recent alarming rise in the death toll of Chinese people who practise Falun Gong, which has now reached over 1,200. This is the official number that has been documented by human rights organizations; the true death toll is said to be as high as 10,000.

John Dee, Chairman of Friends of Falun Gong Europe – a non-governmental organisation of people who do not practise Falun Gong but support Falun Gong practitioners’ human rights and freedom of belief – appealed to Chinese leader Hu Jintao to end the persecution against Falun Gong. He also asked the leaders of the UK Government to lead the way in putting pressure on the Chinese regime to reinstall the human rights and basic freedoms of Falun Gong practitioners. Mr Dee talked about the positive effects that the high moral standards followed by Falun Gong practitioners bring to their country of residence and that supporting Falun Gong practitioners’ human rights is more important than trade links with China.

The conference concluded with a speech from Peter Jauhal on behalf of the European Falun Dafa Association in which he welcomed the several hundred Falun Gong practitioners, friends and supporters from nearly 20 European countries. Mr Jauhal stated that the purpose of such a large gathering is to let people know the truth about Falun Gong, the persecution and worldwide efforts to bring the perpetrators of genocide, torture and crimes against humanity in this persecution to justice, including lawsuits in many European countries such as Spain, Germany, Belgium and UK.

Mr Jauhal went on to state that European Falun Gong practitioners are united with their fellow practitioners in China and around the world in exposing the five and a half year campaign of genocide and are united in their efforts to ensure that this persecution is brought to an end. He pledged, on behalf of all European Falun Gong practitioners, that they will continue to expose the extent and horror of this shameful and inhuman persecution. He stated, “The persecution against Falun Gong has no place in a compassionate, caring and civilised world. The world needs truthfulness, compassion, tolerance.”

The press conference made positive steps in exposing the persecution against Falun Gong, the many different efforts of people all over the world to bring an end to this persecution and the support for Falun Gong practitioners’ human rights from prominent public figures in the UK. The gathered Falun Gong practitioners went on to hold a large parade through central London, followed by several smaller activities to raise awareness throughout the city. News on these events will follow in a separate report.