People Around the World Express Concern about the South Korean Government's Deportation of Falun Gong PractitionersSuccumbing to pressure from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the South Korean Government deported three Falun Gong practitioners in July on two occasions. The practitioners had applied for asylum. Currently, two more practitioners may face the same treatment. The deportation incidents have astonished the international community. Many practitioners in other countries have contacted local Korean embassies and expressed their urgent concern. Many people are calling on the South Korean Government to protect the victims and not to succumb to the CCP's pressure. Concern from practitioners in Malaysia 
Practitioners in Malaysia call on South Korea not to succumb to CCP regime |
At 10 a.m. on August 11, 2009, practitioners in Malaysia delivered a petition letter urgently calling on the South Korean government to immediately stop deporting Falun Gong practitioners and re-examine their asylum policies. The Korean ambassador, Steven Kim, met with the practitioners and accepted the petition letter. Practitioner Wu Wenqiang handed over the letter to Mr. Kim and explained its purpose. Mr. Wu reminded the Korean Govern official that the CCP has been persecuting Falun Gong since 1999. The international community has condemned the CCP's atrocities. But South Korea yields to the CCP regime and deports Chinese Falun Gong practitioners in Korea. During the event, practitioners held banners that read "Stop deportation of Falun Gong practitioners", "CCP tortures Falun Gong practitioners by various means", and "Falun Dafa is good". Practitioners in Japan deliver petition letter to Korean Consul-General in Nagoya On the afternoon of August 12, 2009, Falun Gong practitioners in Japan went to the Korean Consulate and visited Mr. Lee, the Consul-General. They handed over a petition letter calling on the South Korean Government stop deporting Falun Gong practitioners to China, since a brutal persecution is occurring there. The practitioners explained to the Consul-General what Falun Gong is and exposed the CCP's brutal persecution of Falun Gong in China. They expressed their concern about the incident and pointed out that the practitioners could face losing their lives in China. In addition, South Korea signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Out of humanitarian concerns, the South Korean Government should not deport Falun Gong practitioners to China who are applying for asylum. Mr. Lee expressed his understanding of the practitioners' feelings. The practitioners asked him to extend their hopes and voices to the South Korean Government. Hong Kong politicians condemn the South Korean Government's deportation of Falun Gong practitioners 
Szeto Wah, the chairman of The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China |
Mr. Szeto Wah, the chairman of The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, condemned the South Korean Government for its yielding to the CCP for economic interests and assisting in the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong. He said, "You know that these people will face unfortunate treatment once deported to China. Such a country like Korea sides with the bully. I hope all people, especially Korean people, pay attention to this issue. If they allow their government to conduct itself like that, they themselves will be harmed in the future." He pointed out, "Such countries succumb to political pressure for economic interest. From that point on, they are not truly democratic countries and will not safeguard their own people." 
Albert Ho Chun-yan, member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong |
Mr. Albert Ho Chun-yan, member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, said, "Everyone knows that Falun Gong practitioners are persecuted in China. If they are deported to China, they will face inhumane treatment. It's just like throwing a sheep to lions. "Any civilized country should follow the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and allow these people to have political asylum, at least temporary protection. They should be provided with a safe place to stay or reside. As a democratic country, South Korea is disappointing in this incident. I call on all economically developed countries not to put human rights behind economy. It is an act against civilization." 
Lee Cheuk-yan, member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and General Secretary of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions |
Mr. Lee Cheuk-yan, member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and General Secretary of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, said, "South Korea is a democratic country. There are many human rights organizations and movements in the country. The Korean government is mistreating Chinese citizens by deporting them back to China. Such an act is not what a democratic country can conduct. There are human rights conventions in the world. No people should be forced back to their home country for potential persecution, imprisonment, or any inhumane treatment. Every country has a responsibility to protect them. "We call on the South Korean Government to respect international conventions, and for the human rights organizations in South Korea to speak out for the Chinese citizens in Korea who face potential persecution in China." Mr. He Zhi Dies in Custody in Guangxi Region Prison, and His Wife Is ThreatenedName: He Zhi
Gender: Male
Age: 48
Address: Baise City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
Occupation: Computer Science Teacher in Baise City Third High School
Date of Death: April 2009
Date of Most Recent Arrest: August 2, 2004
Most recent place of detention: Guangxi Regional Prison in Litang Town, Binyang County, Nanning City (广西黎塘监狱)
City: Nanning
Province: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
Persecution Keywords: Torture By a correspondent from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Clearwisdom.net) Mr. He Zhi died while in custody in April 2009. His wife was threatened, and she does not dare to live at home or speak about her husband's death. At midnight on August 2, 2004, more than one dozen officers arrested Mr. He at his home and confiscated his two computers along with truth clarifying CDs. His wife was working the night shift, and their ten year old daughter was left alone at home. The police detained Mr. He in the Youjiang District Detention Center. At the beginning of 2005, the Youjinag District Court sentenced him to eight years in prison. At the beginning of April 2009, Mr. He died in Litang Prison. A source said his death was very tragic. His wife went to his funeral at the prison and was severely threatened. When she returned home, she did not dare to live in her home or speak about her husband's death. She keeps silent, and Mr. He's parents still do not know about his death. There are many practitioners still detained in Litang Prison, and some of them have been there eight or nine years. They must have endured numerous tortures based on how emaciated they are and how weak their voices are. The details of how Mr. He died and how practitioners are being brutally mistreated are yet to be revealed. We call on all practitioners' families and people around the world who believe in justice to please pay attention to Falun Gong practitioners who are still detained in Litang Prison. Litang Prison zip code: 530413
Ning Zhengguang, Litang Prison CCP Director
Huang Changying, CCP Director of 12th Ward He Xiaolin, Warden of 19th Ward
Chen Chunfu, Warden of 7th Ward
Lu Jiaxi and Huang Keming, Prison Hospital employee
Guard Pan: 86-13878657199 (Cell), QQ: 93758188
Huang Yanling, Prison Accountant Written on August 18, 2009 Posting date: 8/22/2009
Category: Death Cases
Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2009/8/19/206788.html UK: Falun Gong Participates in Edinburgh International Arts Festival ParadeOn August 9, 2009, Falun Gong practitioners from UK and Scotland were again invited to take part in the famous parade of Edinburgh International Arts Festival.   |  |  | | Falun Gong practitioners participate in the famous Edinburgh International Arts Festival Parade |
In previous years, the Edinburgh International Festival parade was held on the well-known Princes Street. The route of this year's parade was changed to Holyrood Park because of road construction. The park is open, spacious and beautiful. A shower about one hour before the parade made the park look cleaner and fresher. According to the parade organizing committee, about 75,000 people gathered on the parade route and many more people climbed the hill to watch the parade. The Falun Gong procession consisted of banners, dancers, a float with the theme of "Falun Dafa is Good" and a waist drum group. Dancers in brightly-coloured "celestial maiden" costumes danced with fans in their hands, following the music "Falun Dafa is Good". 
Demonstrating the Falun Gong Exercises | 
Diana and her granddaughters all said that Falun Gong parade entry is "Great!" | 
Mr. John and his wife said, "We have never seen such peaceful exercises." |
Among the audience were many Chinese faces including a lot of tourists from mainland China. Some of them were moved by the momentum and harmony of Falun Gong procession in the parade. With Falun Gong practitioners walking by, many spectators got the message of "Falun Dafa is Good" and "The World Needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance". A man named Zen said, "I have been here for many years. I see Falun Gong in the parade every year. I feel that they have become a representative of Chinese traditional culture." 
Gary said, "I felt very strong energy when Falun Gong passed by." |
A man named Gary said: "I felt very strong energy when your group passed by just now. I felt very comfortable. I'd like to know more about Falun Dafa." In addition to the participation of the parade, Falun Gong practitioners were also invited by the parade organizing committee of Edinburgh International Art Festival to demonstrate the exercises. Many audience members were very interested in the exercises. Mr. John said, "We have never seen such peaceful exercises. We will go home and learn more about it on the Internet." Almost all Scottish media such as The Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Edinburgh Evening News and Metro showed photos of Falun Gong in their parade reports. The Times chose a photo of the fan dance as the only photo in its cover report. Helsinki, Finland: Tourists and Locals Inspired by Practitioners' Peaceful Resistance to the Communist Regime's Persecution
Visitors learn the details about the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong in China | 
Visitors sign a petition to condemn CCP's persecution |
At the beginning of August, 2009, Falun Gong practitioners in Finland held activities in a riverside park near downtown Helsinki to introduce Falun Gong and expose the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) ten-year persecution. The park is a popular place for locals and tourists. The practitioners hung banners that read "Falun Dafa is good" and "Stop the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong", set up poster boards and handed out flyers and newspapers. On square of the famous Helsinki Cathedral, the practitioners also held activities to expose the persecution of Falun Gong and promote quitting the CCP and its affiliated organizations. A local resident said he had seen Falun Gong practitioners' events there during the past several years. He said, "You do valuable things here. What you do is important as long as there is the persecution by the CCP regime in China." A boy Rafael viewed the poster boards and came forward to sign the petition calling for an end of the persecution. Jenny, a tourist from England, was shocked at the brutal persecution in China after viewing the posters. She did not know that the CCP was so cruel. She asked for more information about Falun Gong and the persecution. She said she strongly supported Falun Gong practitioners. A man jogging paused to talk with the practitioners, "The communist party is so evil. If there is no communist party in China, it will become better there. It would be good if there is no communist party in the world. It is very good that you conduct such an event. I sincerely hope you'll soon see the day that the persecution ends." A couple of Russian tourists said emotionally to the practitioners, "We know what has happened in China and that the CCP is evil. The CCP uses its army to kill innocent people. The CCP should be destroyed." They also said, "You must keep going." Another couple stood in front of the poster boards for a while. They said, "We know Falun Gong. We have visited many countries, where there are Falun Gong practitioners. I feel you should have an armed uprising to stop the persecution." The practitioners explained that Falun Gong practitioners always protest the persecution in a peaceful way and expose the persecution to the world's people. The couple said, "This is very good. We stand on your side." |
