July 9, 2003

A case consideration of a year - this long a period of time was needed before the Association of Falun Gong was allowed to return to their permanent position for demonstration on the sidewalk in front of the Chinese embassy on Oregaards Allé in Hellerup.

Everyday a small group of faithful Falun Gong practitioners have been demonstrating against the persecution they believe is happening to the practitioners of the movement. Calmly and with dignity the adherents have expressed their displeasure, however, the demonstration have been like a thorn in the flesh of the Chinese embassy, which, last year in June wrote a letter of complaint to the police in Gentofte, accusing Falun Gong of upsetting law and order.

The consequence of this was that the adherents had to move to the street corner. Here they continued their daily demonstration and meditation.

This Monday they were finally able to move back to the original location. During the weekend the Falun Gong received a letter from the Ministry of Justice which guaranteed them their constitutional rights.

Apparently, the Chinese embassy hadn't been informed about the decision. In any case they immediately contacted Gentofte police department claiming that the demonstrators were obstructing the entrance when taking up their former position. The police arrived soon after but found that all regulations had been observed after which they drove away.

"The embassy is trying to harass us in all kind of ways. Earlier on they accused us of using a megaphone and during our meditation, they turn on a big motorized garden machine in order to cause disturbance during the meditation. This latest complaint to the police in Gentofte is another case of harassment", says Marco Hsu, Chairman of Falun Gong in Denmark.

The Danish born Chairman is nevertheless happy about the Ministry of Justice's decision: "It did take a year to get this far but we do, however, understand that politically it is a difficult case. To us it's a question of principles that our constitutional rights are guaranteed and that a foreign authority doesn't decide over a Danish authority."