"We will have to repent in this generation not
merely for the hateful words and
actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people."
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Letter From A Birmingham Jail", April 16, 1963
PRESS STATEMENT, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 18 APRIL 2001
Falun Gong Statement on Today's UN Vote
(04/18/01)
We have learned that China has again managed a technical maneuver at the UN Commission on Human Rights, avoiding discussion of the U.S. resolution condemning its human rights abuses. It is a shame that some countries have turned a blind eye to China's horrible abuses. Tens of millions who practice Falun Gong have been stripped of their most basic rights, often illegally arrested, beaten, tortured, and even raped; many other spiritual groups can testify to similar abuses. We are disappointed that not every country could vote according to its conscience. Human rights violations are fundamentally a moral issue.
Jiang Zemin must not again take this vote as a license to kill. After China's escape from censure last year at the Commission, the crackdown on Falun Gong escalated drastically, with killings increasing from 11 to 193. During this year's month-long Commission alone at least 15 practitioners have been murdered while in custody. There is no excuse for killing and brutalizing peace-loving citizens. All people of goodwill yearn for an end to President Jiang Zemin's crimes against humanity.
There is nothing China's leadership fears more than the world learning of its crimes, and the vote aside, this is what has happened here in Geneva. There has been an outpouring of support throughout the Commission from various organizations, governments, and persons, and we are deeply grateful. We will continue working together to ensure a swift end to the persecution.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER - http://www.faluninfo.net or [email protected],
Geneva: Erping Zhang (33) 620-475-586 or Marianne Grangier, (41) 79-225-4165
New York: Gail Rachlin (1) 212-501-8080
