1. (Statement at the 56th Human Rights Assembly, March 22nd, Geneva) – Excerpts

The People's Republic of China has made considerable progress in its attempts to modernize. Improvements are notable in economic terms as well as in human rights. Individual rights are more protected and the range of freedom afforded a Chinese citizen has become broader. Precisely because of these advancements, the sharp increase in human rights violations over the past year is particularly regretful. Falun Gong practitioners, Christians, and minority groups have experienced increased persecution, including torture, because of regressive campaigns during the past year. Violations of human rights in the areas of freedom of speech, the freedom of assembly and the freedom of belief have been common. Additionally, show trials, severe punishments for people held in custody and arbitrary detentions made without proper legal procedure have also commonly occurred. Especially disturbing is the fact that the number of convicts executed in China usually exceeds the total number of executions in all other countries of the world combined. According to Amnesty International, in 1998 alone, the number of executions in China reached as many as 1,769.

We ask China to:

· Stop the persecution of dissidents, and release all those who have been detained for political reasons and/or personal beliefs;

· Abolish the death penalty and remove the state's control over the judiciary process;
· Adopt the Human Rights Resolution of the United Nations;

· Stop suppressive thought control and guarantee the people's freedom of belief.

(Letter in reply to the Falun Dafa Association of Germany)

The German government is deeply concerned about the human rights violations in the Chinese government's crackdown of Falun Gong and is closely watching the development of the situation.

The behavior of the government of the People's Republic of China towards Falun Gong practitioners does not create the image of a modern country; the EU has raised this issue many times with the Chinese government.

(Letter in reply to the Falun Dafa Association of Germany)

I can assure you that the Human Rights and Humanitarian Support Committee will be very solemnly and closely monitoring the condition of human rights in China. The persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is a brutal human rights violation, and it has recently worsened.

Excerpt from German Newspapers Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (April 26, 2000)

[Frankfurt] The world has seen that the persecution of Falun Gong is the largest political disturbance in China in the past 10 years. Over the past year, state-controlled media has relentlessly tried to expose the so-called faults of "Falun Gong". The government has asked all organizations to keep a distance from Falun Gong. Chinese Communist Party members have been clearly forbidden to practice Falun Gong. However, the government's campaign has not attained its expected goal. On the contrary, Falun Gong practitioners' determination and courage to resist the government persecution has been increasing.

More over, Falun Gong practitioners are from all sectors of the society. Before the government ban, many communist party members practiced Falun Gong. Many practitioners, including large groups of elderly, have been appalled by the persecution from the government. They merely desire to practice quietly, and to become better people by following the teachings of Falun Gong. Many people today still cannot comprehend how Falun Gong was pushed to the opposite side of the government virtually overnight.

Commentary from Die Welt (Sophie Muehlmann, July 21, 2000)

It is time for the Chinese leaders to question their own conduct. Such an honorable and large country should act with dignity. It should not use all of the machinery of the state to persecute citizens who only ask to be able to practice and cultivate ones own moral character. Brutal and violent attempts to control people's minds will never win supporters. The Chinese government needs to earn the respect and trust of people by becoming increasingly enlightened.

German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joschka Fischer

(Translated on Oct 13th from

http://star2001.net/liberty/window/075.htm)