A letter of appeal from the practitioner of Tsinghua University

To: All that are concerned with the Falun Gong incident

We are Falun Gong practitioners from Tsinghua University. We are writing this letter to share with you the truth of Falun Gong cultivation, and the dilemma that most Mainland Chinese practitioners have been experiencing since the Chinese government banned Falun Gong on July 22, 1999, so that you can better understand us. Most Falun Gong practitioners from our university are registered students or teachers. The students are excellent in their studies while the teaching staff is honest and responsible with their work. Most of us became significantly healthier and achieved peace of mind after participating in Falun Gong cultivation. We all attribute the great improvement of our bodies and minds to Falun Gong cultivation.

After the Chinese government denounced Falun Gong and made it illegal on July 22, 1999, some of our prominent members were requested to break away from Falun Gong, while the students were ordered to discontinue the practice and hand in Falun Gong books and materials. However, the majority of the student practitioners went on practicing. The university administration put most of the students who were determined in their practice of Falun Gong on suspension and forced them to go home after the Chinese government further declared Falun Gong an "evil religion". The University also asked parents to participate in transforming their children so as to "keep pace with the Central Communist Committee". At the same time, some of the teachers were either suspended from work for "introspection" or sent to "reform". These people could not resume their education or work unless they took a stand against Falun Gong and promised not to practice any more. Under pressure from both the University and parents, some of us wrote the "confession" unwillingly. Those who refused were put under house confinement to achieve "mind-changing". Some of the students were threatened with expulsion from school or punished with detention or "re-education through labor" if they did not write their confessions. One student who was already expelled from the university disappeared after being called in by the sub-district office.

We have been studying in Tsinghua University many years, and always felt that the teaching and learning environment here was open and free, and allowed creative thinking. Through Falun Gong cultivation, we achieved healthy bodies and high morals through following the principles of "Truth, Benevolence, Forbearance" introduced by Mr. Li Hongzhi. We just could not understand, at all, why the Chinese government would not allow the existence of good people in Tsinghua University such a world-renowned educational and research institution, where we merely wanted to follow Falun Gong principles to become better people. We could not understand why they insisted on criticizing Falun Gong, telling lies that were totally against our will. It was ironic to ask people to lie in such an independent academic environment. It was also totally wrong to threaten people with termination of their work or education. From our story, you can get a picture of how difficult the situation is for Mainland Chinese practitioners.

We feel that Falun Gong is a theory based on compassion and truthfulness. It is beneficial to both the human body and mind rather than dangerous and evil like the Chinese government said. We do not think it is correct to treat kind-hearted Falun Gong practitioners as enemies. We hope all concerned people will come to know about Falun Gong and the calamity that happened to us in China. As the situation is getting worse and worse, we call for your closer attention to help us resolve the present crisis through direct dialogue with the Chinese government. This will have great significance to our nation and our culture now and in the future. We hereby, on behalf of all kind-hearted Chinese people, including Falun Gong practitioners, express our sincere thanks to all the concerned people.