Member of European Parliament Gives Support to Swedish Falun Gong Practitioners

(Ms. Cecilia Malmstrom is the representative of the People's party in Sweden. She is also member of the European Parliament, who hosted a Falun gong Exhibition at European Parliament from September 12 to 14, 2000. --Editor) Ceilia's Newsletter no. 11 (http://www.cecilia.nu/brevooo917.html) The other major event of the week was the Falun Gong exhibition at the parliamentary buildings in Brussels. It was I who had invited them but with due permission from Parliament. Falun Gong is not an organization but rather a kind of meditation movement that is like a philosophical variation of Tai Chi. China labels them as a dangerous sect but they have no religious or political ambitions what so ever. Practitioners had come from the whole of Europe to show who they were, what they do and to make the world aware of the harassment and persecution they have been made to endure in China. Although Falun Gong is forbidden there, it is practised by millions of people. As expected the Chinese authorities were quick to react. They phoned me and expressed their dissatisfaction. They then sent a letter in which they stated that it was disgraceful that politicians in Europe allow themselves to be "taken in by such an evil and dangerous sect as Falun Gong " and that we should know better than to meddle with China's internal affairs. The authoritarian communist regime in China is really showing its true colours - not a word was mentioned about the thousands of arrests, disappearances, and cases of torture and murder which have afflicted totally peaceful practitioners of Falun Gong. The systematic oppression they have been exposed to is well documented and has been condemned by several states, The United Nations and Amnesty International. An appeal letter to Cecilia Malmstrom from Swedish practitioners Gothenburg, 20 Oct. 2000 The standing committee for foreign affairs and human rights issues: The persecution of Falun Gong Dear Cecilia Malmstrom, Firstly, we would like to take the opportunity of thanking you for what you have done to make others understand what Falun Gong is. We wish you happiness and success in your personal life and your work with human rights, and in achieving a peaceful world. Thanks for everything. We are writing to you and several others who have the possibility of holding talks with China and of creating a peaceful development of the situation in China. The persecution of Falun Gong in China and abroad is entering a new and deteriorated phase. High level sources with clear insight into China's leadership have reported that China's president Jiang Zemin and his supporters have sent a secret document to, amongst others, the army and persons at ministerial level. In this document Falun Gong is described as "counter-revolutionary", "anti- Communist Party" and as a "anti socialist organization", the same terms used against the protesting students just before the massacre at Tiananmen Square in 1989. In addition, it states that they are now going to further "intensify the battle (against Falun Gong) abroad." If what is stated above is correct, there is every reason to be greatly concerned about what will happen next, both inside and outside of China. If Falun Gong is accused of being China's number one enemy, then very serious measures and laws could be implemented in order to completely eradicate Falun Gong. It is becoming ever clearer that China's president Jiang Zemin is not listening to the international criticism directed at his persecution of millions of innocent Falun Gong practitioners. We now appeal to you, Cecilia Malmstrom, in the standing committee for foreign affairs and human rights issues, to work towards a peaceful solution by all possible means and without delay, before history is repeated; to do all you can to prevent president Jiang Zemin's terrible persecution of innocent Falun Gong practitioners. Below is attached the information recently sent out by The Falun Dafa Information Centre which carefully monitors the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. In addition, a horrific testimony from one of the women in a concentration camp was received. It describes the brutal torture practitioners are subjected to. (See attached file). Yours sincerely, Swedish Falun Gong practitioners Cecilia's answer to Swedish Falun Gong practitioners Hi, We are doing what we can - letters, statements and faxes to the Chinese government. We will see if we can send a new appeal with regard to the recent events. However the European Parliament can not do so much more at the moment. I will keep you informed. You should also write to members of parliament in Sweden and other European countries and contact journalists in an attempt to get them to write about this. WE WILL GO ON STRUGGLING TOGETHER! Regards Cecilia Malmstrom