Mr. Brian Cowen TD

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs 80 St. Stephens Green

Dublin 2

24 May 2001

Dear Minister Cowen,

I am writing to you to bring your attention the plight of Zhao Ming, a 29-year-old postgraduate student at Trinity College. Zhao Ming returned to China in late 1999 and was questioned about his practice of Falun Gong, an ancient and peaceful Chinese spiritual practice. His passport was confiscated and on 13 May 2000 he was arrested and sentenced to a year in the Tuanhe labour camp, Beijing. He is now in the Beijing Xin'an labour camp. It is reported that Zhao Ming has suffered a variety of torture methods, including beatings and electric shocks, to force him to renounce Falun Gong. I think it is appalling that someone can be treated this way because of his beliefs.

In fact, Zhao Ming is just one of a great many Falun Gong practitioners who have suffered for their beliefs. 209 people have died as a result of the crackdown that began in 1999. Christians, Buddhists and members of other groups have also been persecuted.

This case transcends national boundaries; the detention and torture of Zhao Ming is a matter of human rights. Torture contravenes both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Convention Against Torture. Other nations have condemned the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese government. There is no reason why Ireland cannot add its voice to that protest by including human rights in discussions with Chinese officials.

Yours Sincerely,

Colm Quinn

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