[Minghui Net]
International Human Rights Association (a non-governmental organization) held a press conference on May 3, in Vienna, Austria. This event focused on the human rights situation in China, especially the persecution of Falun Gong by Jiang Zemin and his associates. The purpose of the press conference was to call on more support for the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners. Two Falun Gong practitioners were invited to share firsthand their own experiences during the persecution.
Ms. Grieb, chair for the Austrian section of the International Human Rights Association, gave the opening speech. She stated that Falun Gong is a peaceful meditation system, not a religion, nor a [slanderous words omitted]. In order to achieve their goal of persecution, the Chinese government labels it a [slanderous words omitted], and spreads propaganda. Ms. Grieb said that she hoped reporters could recognize the truth, and stop using that term to describe Falun Gong.
Then two practitioners gave speeches. One was Zhang Cuiying, a practitioner from Australia. She traveled a long distance to tell about the brutal torture she experienced during her illegal 8-month long detention in China. The other practitioner was from Hamburg. Her relatives in China were inhumanely forced into "transformation," and as a result, they were severely hurt both physically and mentally. Reporters from the Australia news media asked some questions that were answered by the practitioners, and everyone watched a videotape that revealed the truth about the "self-immolation" incident.
This press conference gave a very good opportunity for the news media to learn the truth about Falun Dafa. On the second day, several newspapers gave reports on Falun Gong that unveiled the crimes of Jiang Zemin and his followers, as well as the inhuman treatment that practitioners had received in China.
We hope more people can come to know the truth of Falun Gong, so that they can have a good future.
May 8, 2001
