Since 1999, the Chinese government has begun a systematic suppression of Falun Gong believers. Nearly 71 million people are under persecution (subject to arrest, detention, torture, re-education through labour, forced into psychiatric clinics and death). As a consequence of this, Eric Dlard demands to know from the Minister, what diplomatic policy our government will adopt to end this severe human rights abuse.

Facing this regrettable situation, we, in France, need to act vigorously to urge the Chinese government to change its attitude toward Falun Gong practitioners. I demand the Minister to inform the Chinese government of our position on this matter.

"Since 1999, the Chinese government has started a systematic persecution of the (Falun Gong) followers...Therefore, I thought it was necessary to write a written question to our Ministry of Foreign Affairs so as to understand how we can change Chinese leaders’ attitude. I will definitely immediately forward the reply from Mr. Dominique de Villepin (French Foreign Minister) to you."

After Hua Haiyu's death, some officials from the Materials and Equipment Company coerced his wife Piao Yufan to write a "guarantee statement"* to give up Dafa practice. Piao Yufan refused, so her work unit didn't allow her son and daughter-in-law to work. Piao Yufan was forced to leave home. As the result of the persecution, her son and daughter-in-law divorced. They had been caretakers for their grandmother, Piao Yufan's mother, who is in her 80's. She is now left uncared for. A family is now broken and destitute.

"Tolerance, understanding, responsibility and respect for human rights, respect for freedoms of belief, expression, and choice; these are part of the objective of the Alliance for Women’s Freedom. The Alliance for Women’s Freedom is truly honoured to invite everyone to attend this art exhibition. Mrs. Zhang once said, “Chinese painting is like light music and enables people to experience vigour and vitality.”"

"I have carefully read your letter about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. I am sincerely grateful to you [for contacting me]. I have directly contacted the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dominique De Villepin, and stressed in particular the reason for your concern, which is the scale of this persecution."

"Your letter of the 23rd of July last drew my attention to Falun Gong, a traditional Chinese qigong freely practised by 100 million people worldwide. Unfortunately, it is not the same story in China. The practitioners of this particular practice are tortured and killed, total abject suppression as you fairly stated in your letter."

On August 6, 2003, his physical condition worsened. The police from Chengdu City then ordered his family to go to the hospital, where they were forced to sign a statement guaranteeing that they would never try to hold the police responsible. Then his family was allowed to carry him back home. The people from Zhao Yong's hometown who saw his condition were all in tears. On August 31, 2003, Zhao Yong died at a young age.

"This persecution, launched by the Chinese Government under Jiang’s control, is a clear violation of basic human rights. No excuse can justify the persecution. Please set your mind at ease. Your demonstrations have my complete support."

"At present, the French and European communities have periodically questioned China and have had to force China to admit human rights violations. With continuous dialogue, carried on by different politicians, we are gradually changing the human rights situations in China. Please trust me that I will raise this issue and will attach importance to the situation as you reported it."

"Falun Gong practitioners broadcast a programme at a local radio station weekly, but Chinese consulate staff contacted the Chief of the radio station and the Vice-Chairperson of the Physical Education and the Association of Management Departments, attempting to stop the programme from being broadcast and to discontinue financial support for local radio stations...What measures would the Minister be prepared to take in order to ensure that the Chinese consulate respects our basic laws, which guarantees freedom of speech?"

"You requested me to pay attention to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. As a member of the Tibetan issues research group at the national assembly, I am particularly concerned about the issue of human rights in the People’s Republic of China. I completely share your reasonable anxiety over this intolerant evil behaviour."

"You and I both hope that China will change their human rights situation. This change will also benefit China because if there are no laws or protection for the human rights of people in China, then China cannot become a modern society. We should tell the Chinese government that this is something that must be done."

On the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, the moon is round and the Chinese people mark their Moon (or Mid-autumn) Festival. This year it falls on September 11 on the western calendar. In honor of the festival, here are some card, poems and some brief legends.

If it had been just personal resentments or just physical persecution, I would have excused those evil policemen who personally persecuted me, who gave a tacit permission to the persecution, who plotted and instigated the persecution toward me, and their higher-level officials. But it isn’t. It is destroying and trampling on human nature, conscience, and righteous belief. I would rather forget all of it. If they could stop the crimes and make up for the loss, I also would excuse them. But they still continue the crimes.

"The purpose of writing this letter is to let you know that I will fully support your activities to stop the Persecution of Falun Gong in China."

"Please acknowledge that it alerted my attention even though I am very aware of the situation. As you may already know, I have informed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. M. Dominique de Villipin about this issue. I will continue to, as an M.P., alert others about your situation."

“Thank you for your letter of 11th July concerning the persecution of Falun Gong especially by the ex-communist leader Jiang Zemin. I was already familiar with the crimes and with the proposed lawsuits but it is always good to receive reminders of the crimes committed. I entirely agree with the content of your letter.”

"We are very aware of the persecution of Falun Gong. Human rights abuses in China are totally unacceptable. For those who have become accustomed to free society, it is impossible to comprehend how the Chinese government has behaved [in relation to Falun Gong]...through international forums and appealing, we can try to improve the situation, so that China will respect human rights and stop persecuting Falun Gong."

"Thank you very much for your letter of 11 July regarding Jiang Zemin, which I read with interest. Persecution of Falun Gong practitioners does seem to be an act that would be unwarranted in our society. I agree with you that people being tortured to death for adherence to Falun Gong is unacceptable. Anybody who commits such acts should be brought to justice in the correct way and tried under international law.”

"The N-VA supports your initiative and really hopes that the juridical steps will have a positive consequence.

We wish you all success."

During the months of June and July 2003, Members of both Houses of Parliament raised their concerns regarding Article 23 and its impact on the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners. Parliamentarians who raised such questions included Lord Hylton and Mrs Patsy Calton MP.

"I continue to support the demand that there must be full freedom for supporters of Falun Gong and other beliefs to express their views freely in China and to peacefully practice their beliefs. It is an outrageous assault on human right and human dignity that members of the Falun Gong should be persecuted, imprisoned, tortured and even killed in China."

Lord Howell of Guildford stated “…did we not tell the people of Hong Kong six years ago that they would not be forgotten? …will the Government nevertheless be very bold indeed, as the noble Lord, Lord Goodhart, suggested, in pointing out to the Government in Beijing, at the highest level, that their pressure for these changes could lead to very serious long-term damage for Hong Kong? Does the Minister agree that quiet dialogue is no longer the appropriate medium for handling this issue?”

On 12 June 2003, Mrs. Calton MP asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs “what recent steps he has taken to support the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners in (a) China and (b) Hong Kong?”

"When it comes to China there are many urgent human rights issues to be dealt with - and the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is undoubtedly one of the most serious. We are to continue paying close attention to the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners and the Chinese authorities' assaults on their human rights."

"The Swedish government understands very well how Falun Gong practitioners are being treated in China, which shows serious violations of human rights. It is important for the international community to voice strong opposition to this. The Swedish government can never approve of the persecution of individuals for their beliefs or political views, nor of brutal oppression. It’s everyone’s duty to speak out for freedom of belief and human rights."

Lord Hylton said, “I give my full support to the case to bring former Chinese president Jiang Zemin to justice, for acts against humanity in his persecution of Falun Gong practitioners since July 1999 till now.”

"When it comes to the Chinese authority’s treatment of Falun Gong practitioners, we have, as I have mentioned on several earlier occasions, urged the Chinese government to stop its severe assault on Falun Gong practitioners’ human rights...We have also made it clear to the Chinese government that we will continue to monitor its treatment of Falun Gong practitioners and criticise the authority’s assaults on Falun Gong and other groups’ human rights."

"Pirjo’s case is only one of the many similar incidences of the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Last year when Jiang visited Iceland, more than 100 Falun Gong practitioners were prohibited from entering the country because they were placed on a blacklist. In Denmark, permission for Falun Gong practitioners to attend a Cultural Festival on September 21 2002 was cancelled due to pressure from the Chinese authorities."

"Thailand's decision to revoke Mrs. Svensson's visa is regrettable. The Falun Gong Movement and its information materials are not prohibited in Thailand. According to our knowledge, Mrs. Svensson has never acted in such a way as to disturb peace in the Kingdom of Thailand nor against the Thai government. The opinion of the Thai authorities that Mrs. Svensson constitutes a risk to the country's security is therefore hard to comprehend."

"We also know that the former chinese president Jiang Zemin is responsible for the death of many Falun Gong followers. Jiang Zemin and several other Chinese leaders are now sued by courts in USA and Europe for genocide and crimes against humanity. Our Party has for several years now expressed its continuous support to the efforts of Falun Gong followers to let the truth of the persecution they endure be known. We can say they are not at all the kind of people described by the chinese propaganda ; they are good people."

"Regarding the woman who is now jailed in Thailand, we have raised the issue with the Thai authorities and demanded her release and we have been trying to help her in every possible way, because this is another example of how someone has been stuck in another country, where Swedish law cannot reach them. So we have taken both jurisprudential and political actions. So far we have not succeeded. We hope to have better results in the near future."

"[The Irish] Government takes seriously concerns about human rights in China, including those of Falun Gong members. Both the Taoiseach and I have raised this issue on a number of occasions with the Chinese Government. We will continue to raise human rights issues in our bilateral contacts."

"..both the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I together with our EU partners, continue to raise these issues with the Chinese authorities. We view with concern the human rights situation in China, including that of Falun Gong, and our Embassy in Beijing is monitoring these issues carefully."

"Concern persists in relation to the lack of respect for human rights in China, including the freedom of expression, of religion and of association. Likewise, there is concern about the ongoing violations of the human rights of pro-democracy activists, the proponents of free trade unions and the followers of the Falun Gong..."

"The respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms is a principle upheld by the Constitution of Romania and to which the Romanian Government is strongly committed. Against this background, Falun Gong has [been] legally registered in Romania since February this year."

"As a member of the German Parliament and as Spokesman of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid, my attention has been drawn to the fate of Falun Gong practitioners in China in general, and to the case of Ms. Xiong Wei in particular. I am writing to you to express my deep concern about the imprisonment of more than 100,000 Falun Gong practitioners in forced labour camps and the confirmed death toll of more than 630."

"You have contacted Mr.... and myself regarding the criminal behaviour of China on the issue of human rights. Yesterday, I went with a couple of Members of Parliament to the Chinese Consulate and raised quite a few criticising questions on the issue of China’s human rights. The answers given by the Consulate were not satisfactory."

"According to her friends' investigation, Lin Wenrong was detained by the 610 office in Wuhan City just because she practises Falun Gong. As the parliamentary President of the Green Party in Hamburg, Germany, I urgently request you to release Lin Wenrong and allow her to return to Germany to continue her studies."

Mr. Nigel Jones, a member of the UK Parliament (House of Commons) tabled a written parliamentary question to the UK Foreign minister regarding “the Chinese Government's attempts, under [the] Article 23 legislation to curtail the practice of Falun Gong in Hong Kong without consultation with the people of Hong Kong” and asked “whether this is in contravention of safeguards given to the people of Hong Kong when the territory was returned to China.”

"Ireland will seek to ensure that the human rights situation in China, including that of followers of Falun Gong, is adequately addressed in any statement made by the EU at the forthcoming 59th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, to be held in Geneva in March/ April 2003."

During the recent Christmas and New Year celebrations, Spanish Falun Gong practitioners received more than 20 greeting cards and letters, from many prominent figures, including the Spanish President. Here are some extracts from the cards received.

During the recent Christmas and New Year celebrations, Spanish Falun Gong practitioners received more than 20 greeting cards and letters, from many prominent figures, including the Spanish President. Here are some extracts from the cards received.

"Please aware that the President is strongly concerned about the state of human rights in China. Therefore he keeps himself informed about the events in China on a regular basis. The human rights should be understood as universal and the violation of them condemned wherever it may occur."

"I have received your letter to the President dated 9th Dec. 2002 regarding the legislation of Article 23 in Hong Kong that has damaged basic human rights. We are very concerned about this and have studied it carefully."

"Any form of organisation that holds a critical attitude toward the government will be relentlessly suppressed. Other organisations, which comment on Tibet or Taiwan are also oppressed. We all know that Falun Gong is being cruelly persecuted in China. This indicates the seriousness of the persecution there."

"After hearing about and understanding the details of the plight of Falun Gong practitioners in China, I will insist on my stance and continue to respect their belief and guard their rights of expression."