(Clearwisdom.net) From 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on August 6, 2002,
Japanese Falun Gong practitioners peacefully appealed in front of the Chinese
Embassy to call on the Hong Kong government to immediately stop its political
prosecution against the 16 Falun Gong practitioners.
Japanese practitioners called on the Hong Kong government and people: to drop the case and return freedom to its people.
Hong Kong is famous for its prosperity. Hong Kong people are diligent and kind-hearted, and live in a free and relaxed environment. However, over the past two or three years, the universal value they have enjoyed -- freedom, has met with an unprecedented test.
Falun Gong is a legitimate association in Hong Kong. Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful appeals enjoyed the rights endowed by the law. The recent ongoing case against 16 Falun Gong practitioners is a great retrogression of Hong Kong justice system and it blatantly tramples upon freedom.
Falun Gong was introduced to the public in May 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi from Changchun in the northeast of China. Within a short period of time, the number of practitioners has reached nearly 100 million, covering more than 60 countries and regions around the world. Falun Gong cultivates "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," teaches people to be good, upgrades morality and improves health. It has brought tremendous benefits to society, the country, families and individuals. It has been warmly accepted and won over 700 awards.
However, out of his own selfish interests, disregard for the country's Constitution, beginning in July 1999, Jiang Zemin launched a brutal persecution against innocent Falun Gong practitioners. Up until now, 450 practitioners are verified to have been tortured to death; thousands of practitioners have been sent to mental hospitals; over ten thousand practitioners have been sentenced to forced labor camps without trial; at least 6000 practitioners have been sentenced to jail; countless families have been implicated. Except for few "show cases" that attempted to deceive the public, the majority of the sentences have been given at will without going through any legal procedure. There are numerous examples of practitioners being beaten and suffering other abuses and mistreatment while in police custody.
In the face of this evil and despicable persecution, whether taking the side with the evil persecutors to assist them to do evil deeds, or standing with innocent people to prevent the extension of the persecution, is the question everyone has to take seriously.
Last July 1, on the occasion when Hong Kong celebrated its fifth anniversary of return, about 100 Falun Gong practitioners from around the world were refused to enter Hong Kong without any valid reason. This has seriously damaged the international image of Hong Kong. All this is resulted from the persecution of Falun Gong. Hong Kong succumbs to the pressure and becomes the accomplice of the persecutors.
As the Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong enjoys high autonomy in its judicial system. But, with regard to their attitude toward Falun Gong practitioners, Hong Kong obviously received the pressure from the Jiang Zemin's regime.
We sincerely hope the Hong Kong government to drop this case, to safeguard Hong Kong's free and democratic international image, to protect Hong Kong people's legitimate rights, to resist the evil persecution and lay a solid foundation for Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability.
We hope the Hong Kong government and people to protect the good, and to stop the evil, so as to have a glorious future.
