Red and Black (University of Georgia newspaper): SGA (Student Government Association) supports human rights (Excerpt)

October 04, 2002, 12:00:01 PM EDT

The Student Government Association demonstrated its support of human, civil and students rights through the approval of three resolutions at its first October Senate meeting.

Human Rights

SGA approved a resolution to support a request for the immediate release of Zhou Xuefei, the spouse of Georgia resident Sam Lu.

Xuefei was arrested in Nov. 14, 2000, while passing out Falun Gong flyers on Chinese streets.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a "practice of cultivation" that originated in China in 1992, according to the resolution.

The world's 100 million followers perform five exercises, follow the principles of "Truth-Compassion-Tolerance" and attempt to gain wisdom toward life, the universe and humanity.

Falun Gong [was banned] in China in 1999.

According to the resolution, Xuefei is imprisoned in the Women Labor Camp of Guangdog Province.

SGA, in partnership with other student government associations in the state, is working to lobby for her release.

The resolution passed by SGA also states that SGA will cooperate in writing a formal letter about Xuefei's situation, along with other Georgia colleges and universities, in hopes the issue will be raised with President George W. Bush, the Chinese consulate and the Chinese government.

The letter will be sent to the Georgia Congressional delegation and Amnesty International.

"We want to do this for two reasons," said SGA External Affairs Committee Chair Brendan Murphy, a sophomore from Forsyth County. "First, it is a serious human rights issue, and second, it will help us in our relationship with other universities."

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http://www.redandblack.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/10/04/3d9d8cd218080