(Clearwisdom.net) On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, London Assembly Member Brian Coleman wrote the following statement to urge China to end its persecution of Falun Gong.

As a long-standing campaigner for human rights in China, I send you my heartfelt support and good wishes on International Human Rights Day, and again call upon the Government of China to cease all violations of human rights against its citizens.

I call upon the Government to release all prisoners of conscience immediately and unconditionally and to abide by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which expresses the belief that people should have the right to life, liberty, the security of their person, as well as freedom from torture and arbitrary arrest.

I also urge the Government to end its persecution of groups such as the Falun Gong spiritual movement, the Tibetans and the underground Chinese Churches, to abolish "Re-education Through Labour" and to ensure that all offences punishable with deprivation of liberty are brought within the scope of the Criminal Law.

It is difficult to believe that in 2008, the year that the Olympic Torch came to China, that the flicker of freedom has not yet taken hold. I wish you all the very best of luck in your brave and continued struggle to ensure that the fundamental rights we take for granted in this country should be enjoyed by all the citizens of China.