April 11, 2002
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I write to you today to express my grave concern regarding the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese government. I was both astonished and disturbed to learn about the relentless persecution carried out by the Chinese Government against Falun Gong believers. This has not only caused great suffering to the Chinese people, but harm to practitioners both in Texas and the entire United States.
On February 14, 2002, approximately sixty western Falun Gong practitioners, including two dozen U.S. citizens, were shamelessly beaten in Tiananmen Square during a peaceful appeal for an end to the crackdown on the practice of Falun Gong. It is my understanding that some people were arrested, beaten and robbed in their hotels.
Additionally, a University of Texas at Austin student, Danielle Wang, has made an appeal for the release of her father, Zhi-Wen Wang, to the Chinese Consulate in Houston. Zhi-Wen Wang is a well-known Falun Gong practitioner in China and was sentenced to sixteen years for the perceived "crime" of being a major Falun Gong contact person. In her desperation, Ms. Wang staged a four-day hunger strike in front of the Consulate's office. Her courage in defending justice is inspiring.
Danielle's story is not the only one. The persecution has been going on for nearly three years and has included all forms of torture, both physical and mental, imprisonment without trial, and even murder. According to reports, at least 380 practitioners have been tortured to death while in custody.
During these months of violence and torture, Falun Gong practitioners have shown unparalleled kindness and forbearance. Not a single practitioner has struck back or physically retaliated against police. Worldwide, all practitioners have used only non-violent, peaceful, and legal means to appeal.
This kind of conduct, in the face of such torment and injustice exhibited on such a large scale, has spoken eloquently to the world about the fundamentally peaceful and compassionate nature of Falun Gong.
Mr. President, I request that you call for the release of Danielle Wang's father and help end the campaign of terror by Jiang Zemin's Communist regime. This would not only bring freedom to the Chinese people, but also to Americans who choose to practice Falun Gong and enjoy the practice of "truthfulness, compassion and forbearance," without fear.
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Sincerely,
Elliott Naishtat
