Speech by member of European Parliament, Cecila Malmström, at Falun Gong parade during the EU summit in Gotehnburg on June 15, 2001

Ladies and gentlemen,

My name is Cecilia Malmstr m. I am from the European Parliament. I have been working a lot with Human Rights issues, especially human rights in China.

If you look around, what you just see is Falun Gong practicing their movements. Do they look dangerous? I don't think so. But to the Chinese regime, these people standing here are a dangerous threat.

We can read almost daily about the harassment to Falun Gong practitioners in China, but also outside China by the Chinese regime. But remember, you are the dangerous threat to the Chinese regime and hundreds of thousands are being arrested everyday in China. Thousands are being sent to prison or labor camps all over the country or jail without a fair trial. Over a hundred people at least have been found dead with clear signs of torture, coming also from the Chinese regime. We know that China, despite the economic growth and despite soon joining the WTO, have very bad record on human rights.

We know about the pressure in Tibet, every political position, young people trying to find friends on internet, are all being harassed by the regime and authorities.

Since the prohibition almost exactly two years ago, there has been millions and millions who have suffered from this harassment. In July 1999, Falun Gong was forbidden and was considered as a threat to the regime. Everybody here can see how peaceful Falun Gong is. The peaceful movement has no temples, no churches, no priests, and no political agendas. All they want is to practice their movements and live in peace, truth, health, respect and tolerance.

By your number, you are so dangerous to the [party name omitted] regime in China. The whole world is condemning China on this issue. Sweden has done so, the European Union, and all the institutions, and United States of America, all European countries, Australia, New Zealand, many other countries, the United Nations, and Amnesty International have all condemned China on this issue. But still, the Chinese regime continues its suppression and systematic crackdown on Falun Gong practitioners all over the world.

This has to stop! And I will call upon the Chinese regime to stop the suppression immediately and start to respect the freedom of expression and start negotiating and seeking a dialog with Falun Gong practitioners.

Thank you very much. Good luck.