(Clearwisdom.net)
Media Reports
Voice of America (VOA) on February 18 reported that 94 congressmen wrote letters to President Bush asking him to express concern toward the persecution of Falun Gong during his upcoming trip to China. The Falun Dafa Information Center said that many Falun Gong practitioners wrote to President Bush before he left for China and asked him to discuss putting an end to the persecution.
Radio Free Asia reported that the Hong Kong based China Human Rights and Democracy Movement Information Center said six students from China Qinghua University including Lin Yang were sentenced to long jail terms by the Xiangzhou District Court of Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province. The practitioners were arrested and tried for posting articles against the suppression of Falun Gong on the Internet. The conclusion of the trial has been postponed due to President Bush's visit to China. The Center sincerely hopes that President Bush will give human rights top priority while talking to China's leaders.
Central News Agency (Taiwan-based) reported on February 15 that five American Falun Gong practitioners who peacefully protested in Tiananmen Square returned to the San Francisco Bay Area. They were welcomed back as heroes and raised a high degree of attention from major media and people of different social classes. They strongly denounce China Communist Party's suppression of religious freedom and the violence applied to spiritual groups. The 24-year-old Chinese American was treated most brutally and returned with many injuries clearly visible on her face. She said she could not find the words to describe her experiences over the past two days, while in custody in China. She mainly remarked that it felt "very sad."
Voice of America February 18th report: seven Germans who appealed for Falun Gong in Tiananmen Square arrived at Frankfurt Airport on Friday. A lady carried a broken bag, a man wore torn pants and was barefoot, the others didn't have any baggage. The 17-year-old high school student said, "I didn't do anything, and suddenly a police covered my mouth and nose from my back and dragged me across half of the square. I almost passed out."
Netherlands ANP February 16th report: Chinese police arrested about 40 Western Falun Gong practitioners in Tiananmen Square on Thursday, one of them is Dutch. These protesters were arrested when unfurling their banners. They shouted and ran in the square and were chased by several hundred police, who beat and kicked them.
Russian TV- "NTV RU" Website Forum "Religion and Society" published an article on January 9th, "Russian Falun Gong Practitioners Support Fellow Practitioners." Russia "Falun Gong News Bulletin" appealed to Chinese government to "stop persecution of the good." International Human Rights Group, Russia Culture and Human Rights Protection Committee, Amnesty International, New Zealand Foreign Affairs Ministry and France Foreign Affairs Ministry, etc. all condemned and protested China's persecution of Falun Gong.
Latest News from China
Today, 79 people published their solemn declarations. They deeply regret everything they have said and done (against their will) that does not conform to Dafa, while under the evil's persecution. They solemnly declared that all of those things are completely null and void. They will redouble their efforts in the future cultivation to compensate for the losses they caused to Dafa. They will take righteous paths in their cultivation, clarify the truth to people of the world with more effort, expose the evil, and save more people deceived by the evil.
Perpetrators responsible for the death of Dafa practitioner Chen Zhenli (from Dalian City, Liaoning Province):
Shahekou District Police Department: 86-411-460-2317, 460-6628. Officer Fang Guangji and Bao Jiyi.
Quchejia Village Police Station: 86-411-443-0562
Hujia Village Police Station: 86-411-443-1567
Dalian City Party Committee: 86-411-271-6666
Unlawful police in Sichuan Province persecute benevolent people. The police in Chongqing City compete for jobs by persecuting Dafa practitioners. A lady over 60 years old was cuffed and hung up in the air for 15 hours. The atrocities brought disasters to the local residents: on Feb 16, there was a major traffic accident in Chongqing City, causing 10 deaths and 48 injuries; on Feb 1, a gas leak occurred at Nantong Coal Mine in Chongqing City, which caused 10 deaths and 2 serious injuries. Another 9 people are still missing.
People and units responsible for the persecution of Dafa practitioners in Changchun City:
Changchun City Police: Operator: 86-431-896-3344. Secretary's Office: 86-431-892-6260. Petition Section Office: 86-431-892-7153. Labor Re-education Decision-making Office: 86-431-896-7734. Office of Veteran Officials: 86-431-896-1964.
Tiebei Detention Center: 86-431-293-8768. Police Distribution Office: 86-431-892-6083
News Summary from Abroad
On February 17th, the Amnesty International Branch in mid-west England's Wolverhampton invited local practitioners to introduce Falun Gong in their monthly meeting. Practitioners talked about the courageous act of more than fifty Western practitioners in Tiananmen Square during the Spring Festival. They also showed the video clips on "suspicious points in the self-immolation incident" and "SOS! Urgent rescue."
On February 8th, having been invited by Professor Robinson of Carlton University, Falun Gong practitioners gave a very lively speech on Falun Gong and the truth concerning the persecution during her human rights class that has almost 70 students.
In a Spring Festival Party, German practitioners clarified the truth to many precious Chinese people. Most of them accepted the materials. Practitioners did not encounter any interference.