Issued by Clearwisdom Net

The Hong Kong High Court announced a verdict on March 23, 2007, in the case of four Taiwanese Falun Gong practitioners charging the Hong Kong Immigration Office for unlawful deportation, barring their entry into Hong Kong and using violence against them. The judge withdrew the Taiwanese Falun Gong practitioner plaintiffs' application, asking that the decision denying their entry be ruled unlawful. The judge also stated that the police's actions at the Immigration Office, in which they used violence during the deportation, were not excessive. Vice President of Taiwan Annette Lu said that many laws in Hong Kong did not conform to international standards. "Under the direction of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Hong Kong is by no means a land of freedom." Spokesperson for the plaintiffs Attorney Chu Woan-chyi called the verdict "ridiculous." The verdict is likely the result of pressure by the CCP. It was an example of the extent to which Hong Kong's judiciary has regressed. The plaintiffs are planning to appeal and will submit a report to the United Nations and the U.S. State Department.

Vice President Annette Lu attended a human rights forum on October 14, 2006. The media interviewed her and paid close attention to the report concerning the CCP's organ harvesting from living people.

Upon hearing the verdict, Vice President Annette Lu called for Taiwanese to be cautious when entering Hong Kong. Lu said, "It indicates that Hong Kong is by no means a land of freedom under the direction of the Chinese Communist Party...In Taiwan, even if an AP reporter says something inappropriate, we wouldn't expel her or deny her visa application. Hong Kong isn't a place of freedom. We need to be careful when we are in Hong Kong."

Liu Te-hsun, the Deputy Chief Officer of the Mainland Affairs Council, expressed concern with the outcome of the first human rights case between Hong Kong and Taiwan. Mr. Liu said, "The verdict is very disappointing. Hong Kong has repeatedly declared the independence of its judiciary system, its respect for human rights and its efforts concerning religious freedom. However, the verdict seems to be in contrast to these principles. I believe Hong Kong will have to face the judgment of the world on this aspect." (Recording 1)

Mr. Liu recalled the topic at a media discussion at the 10^th Anniversary of Hong Kong's handover : "Hong Kong Faces China, But Turns Its Back to the World." He thought it was a pity to see the regression of Hong Kong, which used to be known for having freedom and being ruled by law. Citizens of Hong Kong must have strong feelings about it.(Recording 2)

Mr. Liu supports Falun Gong practitioners' plan to appeal. He said everyone should make the effort to get the protection he is entitled to. The plaintiffs should try to reach their goal. He wished for a fair trial of the appeal. He stressed that Taiwan would provide assistance through its office in Hong Kong.

The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong, Asia Branch (CIPFG ASIA) was established on December 10, 2006. Lai Ching-te, President of CIPFG ASIA and member of the Legislative Yuan, and Chiu Huang-chuan, Vice President and attorney, both signed an open letter to Communist Party officials. They mailed the letters that same day via certified mail.

Vice President Chiu Huang-chuan of CIPFG said the verdict wasn't convincing at all, that the Hong Kong court had obviously been manipulated by the government and the CCP, and that unfair trials would leave a stain on the history of human rights and its judiciary. "The people will eventually contest today's verdict."

Mr. Chiu stressed that broad discretionary authority wasn't unlimited. "Of course the judge knows why the Hong Kong government didn't allow the plaintiffs to enter. It was because of Falun Gong. However, it is ridiculous, because Falun Gong isn't illegal in Hong Kong. How can they deny entry of the plaintiffs because they are Falun Gong practitioners? They didn't provide the reason in the verdict, but claimed the Immigration Office had broad discretionary authority. The decision to deny the plaintiffs' entry indicated the decision was influenced by the government's administration. Behind the Hong Kong government is the Chinese Communist Party's central government. The terrible part of this verdict is that it shows that the CCP's central government can manipulate the operation of Hong Kong." (Recording 3)

Mr. Chiu said we should remind the judge of the Hong Kong court, "Gods are watching us. Hstory is watching us." The test of history is coming soon.

On February 21, 2003, about 80 Falun Gong practitioners from Taiwan were refused entry to Hong Kong to participate in an Experience Sharing Conference, even though they all had valid visas. They were detained and deported by force. Several woman Falun Gong practitioners were injured. Four of the returned practitioners and two practitioners from Hong Kong and one representing the Hong Kong Falun Gong Association and the other a contact person filed a judicial review with the High Court in Hong Kong, accusing the Hong Kong government of denying the plaintiffs entry for their common "Falun Gong backgrounds, and because of their intention to participate in Falun Gong activities on their trip to Hong Kong."

The action is the first human rights case involving both Hong Kong and Taiwan and is seen a a test of "One Country Two Systems" and the independence--or lack thereof--of Hong Kong's judiciary after its handover. The case has drawn the attention of the international community.

On March 28, 2007, Falun Gong practitioner Ma Hui and her 8-year-old daughter Ma Jingjing, who had earlier been granted UN Refugee Status in St. Petersburg, Russia, were taken away from their home by six officers from the Deportation Department of the Immigration Bureau in St. Petersburg, Russia. On the night of March 28, one Russian policewoman and several Chinese government officers forced Ma Hui and Ma Jingjing to board Flight FV-215 from St. Petersburg to Beijing, and deported them to China. The plane took off at 19:50 from St. Petersburg.

Falun Gong practitioner Ma Hui and her 8-year-old daughter Ma Jingjing

On March 29, Ma Hui's family members, who went to the International Airport in Beijing to meet them, did not see Ma Hui and her daughter. Later, they learned that Ma Jingjing has been sent to Ma Hui's sister, but they didn't have any information about Ma Hui. Ma Hui's family members received a phone call from a man who told them that Ma Hui and her daughter arrived in Harbin, and that Ma Jingjing was at Ma Hui's sister's house. The man also told them that it was unclear if Ma Hui can go home or not. Ma Hui's family believes that Ma Hui is being held by China's National Security Bureau. Ma Hui and Ma Jingjing's situation have drawn international attention.

On the morning of March, after Ma Hui and Ma Jingjing had breakfast, six officers from the Deportation Department of Immigration Bureau in St. Petersburg came to their house. They turned off Ma Hui's phone and asked Ma Hui to go with them. Ma Hui was allowed to bring a purse with her passport in it.

After hearing of Ma Hui's arrest, the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) immediately acted to rescue them. Officers from UNHCR, The International Red Cross, lawyers, Ma Hui's husband and several Falun Gong practitioners went to the airport and tried to rescue Ma Hui and her daughter. At the beginning, the officers of the airport denied that Ma Hui and her daughter were there. Later, it was verified that they were there, then the airport refused to allow the lawyer and Ma Hui's family to meet them. The officers from UNHCR kept calling the Immigration Bureau of Russia and the branch in St. Petersburg. The Immigration Bureau lied that they already dropped the order of deportation. But when the officers from UNHCR and Ma Hui's family talked to the immigration officers at the airport, the airport said that they cannot find any officers to help them. They used this excuse to buy time for themselves. They didn't give any direct answer to Ma Hui's family even after the plane took off. During the whole process, several unidentified Chinese people were seen in the police department and airport.

Mr. Li, Ma Hui's husband, expressed that deportation is a complex procedure, but the deportation of Ma Hui was executed so fast. He believed that the whole deportation was well planned in advance. Every step of this deportation was unusual. There was a flight from St. Petersburg to China on March 28, so they took action on that day. They even bought the airplane ticket before it, but Ma Hui and her family didn't know anything before they were arrested. The Chinese Communist Party's fingerprint can be seen in every step of the whole deportation.

Both Ma Hui and her husband are Falun Gong practitioners. They have been living in Russia for many years. After the CCP launched the persecution of Falun Gong in 1999, they could not go back to China. Ma Hui applied for UN Refugee Status and it was granted three years ago. However, the Immigration Bureau in Russia refuses to grant refugee status to Falun Gong practitioners, so her case was pending for a long time. She was supposed to have a trial of her case on March 30. According to the laws in Russia, she can stay in Russia legally before the trial.

The deportation of Ma Hui and her daughter has drawn attention from international society. A member of European Parliament who is also former president of the European Union-Duma Cooperation Committee wrote to the Russian government, requesting cancellation of the deportation. He was very worried that Mrs. Ma Hui would be arrested as soon as she got off the plane in China. He expressed that he cannot imagine what would happen because Falun Gong practitioners are persecuted every day, including being tortured and organs being harvested.

A representative of the International Red Cross expressed that the deportation violates not only the laws in Russia but also the European Convention on Human Rights and relevant international laws of deportation. Moreover, before the deportation, the Russian government should inform the representatives of the Red Cross and lawyers and obtain the signature of the deportee's family.

Six Russian media reported the deportation. They pointed out that deporting a woman and a child who have UN refugee status while their Russian refugee case is pending is both immoral and violates the law.

Mr. Li, Ma Hui's husband, pointed out that the CCP is behind the whole deportation, and this is another case of the CCP persecuting Falun Gong overseas. The CCP gets the Russian government involved in the persecution of Falun Gong by promising economic partnership, and the Russian government unreasonably accepted the CCP's instigation. Mr. Li expressed that succumbing to the CCP's pressure badly tarnishes the international image of Russia and brings danger to the whole country.

On the afternoon of March 29, 2007, Falun Gong practitioners gathered in front of the Russian Delegation Office in the United Nations and the Russian Consulate in New York to protest the Russian government's violation of international human right conventions and the secretive and forcible deportation of United Nations refugees Ms. Ma Hui and her daughter. Falun Gong practitioners called for the Russian government to observe the international human right conventions and Russian laws to safeguard the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners in Russia.

Several Falun Gong practitioners held posters in English and Russian in front of the Russian Delegation Office and the Russian Consulate. They also distributed flyers to passersby.

Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Ma Hui and her 8-year-old daughter, Ma Jingjing, both recognized as U.N. Refugees, were seized on Tuesday, March 28, by Russian Immigration officers at their St. Petersburg residence and forcibly put on a plane to China by a Russian policewoman and a man related to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Ma Hui and her daughter were put on flight FV215, Polkova Airlines, departing from St. Petersburg at 7:50 p.m. Moscow time that same day. A representative of the UNHCR and Ms. Ma's husband went to the airport and asked the Immigration Office to allow them to visit the mother and the child. The immigration officials and police refused to divulge their whereabouts. According to a verification by phone, Ms. Ma and her daughter did arrive in Beijing. Ma Jingjing is now with a relative, and Ms. Ma Hui is being detained. Her location is still unknown.

Ms. Ma and her daughter have been recognized as legitimate refugees by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Russia the past three years. However, the Russian Immigration Bureau would not recognize Falun Gong refugees or grant her residency. Ms. Ma has been petitioning. They were awaiting a March 30 court date regarding its renewal. Residency is legitimate for U.N. refugees during litigation by Russian law. Ma Hui's attorney said it was illegal to deport those involved in lawsuits before a trial. A representative of the Red Cross said it was in violation of European Human Right Convention and the non-refoulement prohibitions of the Convention Against Torture. In addition, it is customary to notify the Red Cross and the attorney and to get family's signature prior to deportation.

Falun Gong practitioner in New York Lidiya Talaizadeh said she was very worried about Ma Hui's safety. She came into contact with Ms. Ma and her family when she went to Russia last year. Ma Hui is very out-going and optimistic. Her daughter, Ma Jingjing, is quiet and shy. They were deported to Beijing, where Falun Gong practitioners are cruelly persecuted. Ma Hui's situation is very worrisome.

Lidiya said the true manipulator of this incident was the CCP. The incident is an example of the extension of the CCP's persecution overseas. China and Russia are very close. Using economic interest as bait, the CCP has forced Russia into the crime of persecution. The Russian government has brought misfortune to the Russian people and hurt Russia's international image by bending to the pressure of the CCP and violating the International Human Rights Convention.

Another Falun Gong practitioner, Mr. Sun Lezhi, also from Russia, said it was very inhuman conduct of the Russian government. He hoped the Russian government would think of the future of the nation and would not assist in such crimes for the sake of economic interests. Several Chinese Falun Gong practitioners besides Ma Hui have been illegally denied residency even though they had work permits.

Falun Gong practitioners in the Greater New York Area have sent faxes and emails and made phone calls to the Russian Delegation at the United Nations and to the Russian Consulate. The Delegation told Lidiya that they had received a lot of correspondence regarding this incident. The Russian government has done many things illegally. The Delegation refused to meet with Falun Gong practitioners. The Russian Consulate returned phone calls and said they had given the correspondence to the Russian government and had received the petition letter written in Russian by Falun Gong practitioners Jacob Wallenberg and Kim Eng. The letter expressed Falun Gong practitioners' deep concerns.

Lidiya said Falun Gong practitioners in the Greater New York Area would continue their protest tomorrow. They hoped the Russian government would immediately stop assisting with the persecution of Falun Gong and avoid being buried with the CCP.

From March 7 to April 26, 2007, the "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" Art Exhibition is being held at the Saxon Federal State Parliament Hall in Dresden, Germany. At the opening ceremony on the afternoon of March 6, Mr. Ernst Iltgen, the President of Saxony's State Parliament, gave the inaugural speech. He commented emphatically on the unusual significance of the art exhibition. The following is part of his opening remarks:

Mr. Ernst Iltgen gave the opening speech and praised the unusual significance of the art exhibition

"The spiritual focus of the artists, who are mainly from China, and which gave this exhibition its theme, is called 'Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance.' These three principles, when looked at from our occidental perception, represent honesty and uprightness. These principles are taught today in the Buddha Falun Gong School. This practice, with its meditation exercises, first appeared in public in 1992.

"Principles such as Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance that are basic tenets of wisdom and religion are completely contrary to all forms of dictatorship and totalitarian ideologies. This truth has been made quite obvious to Germans in Europe and Europeans during the 20^th century.

"Human individuality and dignity are usually destroyed by a dictatorship because it breaks the moral backbone of the people.

"The concept 'Truthfulness' has truly been lost in our society. Therefore it is of utmost importance to constantly remember that it is a value that gives humans, once they experience true truthfulness, the opportunity to live in freedom and experience personal satisfaction when they adhere to truthfulness. They can express what was given at birth, and that is individual freedom, which has nothing to do with coercion. We all realize that all totalitarian systems want to 're-educate' people.

"We have the freedom and the ability to follow our conscience--and for this we are greatly thankful--without being persecuted. At the same time we actively try to come closer to the realization of our ideals. But, returning to our introduction of the exhibition, the art displayed here expresses very clearly what it represents, and what energy is required to harmonize the individual and his/her surroundings, build up moral one's power of resistance and at the same time bring about justice.

"Because the intent of this exhibition is of the highest order, in that it addresses human rights and its defense, it goes without saying that the Saxon Parliament, as the highest constitutional entity, support the promoters of this event.

"What we see here are pictures that bring people's suffering to the forefront of one's conscience and document that human rights are ignored in other parts of this world and at times also violated by inhuman means.

"In China, Falun Gong adherents, as shown through international protests, have become the most talked about victims in the world. Protest solutions that address the persecution are not only a topic discussed and addressed by organizations, such as the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) and other non-governmental organizations, but also, naming just two others, by the European Parliament and the U.S. Congress. Sad to say, all of it has so far been without any results.

"The stronger the moral and political responsibility, the more often an opportunity is used to publicly speak out against any suppression of freedom of faith, freedom of belief, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press. Trade, the environment, and energy cooperation cannot absolve us from holding future human rights dialogs with our partners, in this case China. Just the opposite, such dialogs must be seen as highest priority if we do not wish to act against our own values and interests.

"With this exhibition, Saxon's Parliament of the Arts, who wants to bring to the forefront human rights and freedom of the human spirit and affect a breakthrough, is using this exhibition as its stage. In this way we are providing our support on the difficult path toward a more humane world."