Irish Falun Dafa Association

30 January, 2003

I am writing to you to make you aware of a miscarriage of justice in Myanmar (Burma). It has come to my attention in recent days that a 71-year-old Hong Kong man has been illegally sentenced to 7 years in jail. His crime was to hold a small yellow banner reading, "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance" in view of the Chinese chairman as his motorcade drove past on the way to the airport. Before Chairman Jiang arrived this peaceful protest ended, as Chan Wing-yuen was taken away by police.

A month before Chan Wing-yuen was sentenced he was put under pressure by the local Chinese Embassy to renounce his faith in Falun Dafa in return for his freedom. He would not give up his faith and he was subsequently sentenced to seven years in jail. His family where put under pressure from Chinese officials not to make this case public. Chan Wing-yuen has been in jail for over a year.

According to the media Myanmar is working hard to improve its human rights record. It is clear that this violation of human rights was due to pressure from the Chinese Chairman Jiang Zemin, an individual described by Amnesty International as a "human rights scoundrel". According to the media the foreign Affairs Minister of Myanmar has been issued a special visa (despite sanctions) to travel to Belgium for the ASEAN-EU joint meeting. Can the Minister for Foreign Affairs use this opportunity to question Myanmar's Foreign Minister Win Aung on the case of Chan Wing-yuen? This is such an incredible miscarriage of justice I am absolutely certain by placing pressure on Win Aung to release Chan Wing-yuen, he will surely gain his freedom very soon.

Sincerely,

Gerald O'Connor

Director of Irish Falun Dafa Association