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In this edition:
Falun Gong practitioner Peter Yuan Li was assaulted and robbed by armed Asian men yesterday in his Atlanta home. What happened to Peter Yuan Li is part of a larger pattern of violence perpetrated against Falun Gong activists by Chinese agents in the United States.
In Thailand and Argentina peacefully protesting Falun Gong practitioners were attacked.
Hong Kong Office of the Epoch Times ransacked by Chinese Government henchmen.
Hearing held in the Supreme Court of NSW in relation to the lawsuit filed by Sydney resident and Falun Gong practitioner against former Chinese dictator Jiang Zemin and the 610 Office for torture she suffered in China because of her belief.
Chinese Embassy pressures Malaysian police to detain three practitioners
Falun Gong Techie Beaten and Bound in Atlanta Home; Computers Stolen
FDI Asks U.S. Government to Crack Down on Chinese Communist Agents
Dr. Peter Yuan Li hours after being beaten and bound in his Atlanta home by assailants who took only computers and documents, leaving other valuables untouched. Dr. Li says the assailants were agents of the Chinese Communist regime aiming to thwart his efforts to expose human rights violations in China. |
NEW YORK (FDI) – The Falun Dafa Information Centre has learned that Falun Gong practitioner Peter Yuan Li was assaulted and robbed by armed Asian men yesterday in his Atlanta home. Li is an information technology specialist who has been active in Falun Gong human rights advocacy over the past six years.
Around noon yesterday an Asian man, feigning a water delivery, appeared on Li’s doorstep. Before Li knew it, two men had forced their way in, pulled out a gun and knife, and wrapped him up in a blanket, attempting to suffocate him. They then used duct tape to cover his mouth, eyes, and ears, and an extension cord to tie up his arms and legs. The men beat him severely about the head and face, probably with the butt of the gun, Li said. He bled profusely. Moments later he heard one to two other men enter his home and one of them spoke Chinese (Mandarin). Half an hour later, they left. They had overturned his file cabinets and stolen two laptop computers and potentially other important documents, Li says, but no valuables. The wounds on Li’s face required 15 stitches.
“The incident was a deliberate attempt to undermine Li’s technical work against human rights violations in China and to intimidate him,” stated FDI spokesperson Gail Rachlin. A few years ago Li began working as a lead technical specialist with The Epoch Times, a newspaper known best for its highly critical Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, which exposes the tyrannical reign of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), including the violent suppression of the Falun Gong. Staff members of the paper speak of numerous attempts by the Chinese government to thwart their efforts. In a February 8 article The Epoch Times stated, “[The incident against Li] breaks new ground in the Chinese Communist regime's campaign against The Epoch Times.”
Of today’s incident, Li noted, “They seemed to be a well-coordinated team” and were “clearly very familiar with tying people up, not like regular people.” “This [happened] because the Chinese communist regime wants to destroy my computers,” Li continued, “But they have gotten it wrong: My computers are highly encrypted. Nor will I be scared.” Li holds a Ph.D. in computer science from Princeton.
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“Thousands of us [throughout the U.S.] are having to look over our shoulders, lock our doors, and be wary of our surroundings at all times because agents of a foreign Communist regime may be lurking.”
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What happened to Peter Yuan Li is part of a larger pattern of violence perpetrated against Falun Gong activists by Chinese agents in the United States. Congress has recognized the problem and in 2003 passed House Congressional Resolution 304, stating, “Over the past 5 years China's diplomatic corps has been actively involved in harassing and persecuting Falun Gong practitioners in the United States.” In 2002, about 50 Falun Gong followers filed a lawsuit in the D.C. district court against two ministries of the People’s Republic of China government, alleging a systematic campaign of criminal activities designed to intimidate, harass, injure, limit, and terrorize U.S. citizens and residents who practice Falun Gong.
Despite Congress’ concerns, the incidents continue. “Congress has recognized the problem, law enforcement has recognized the problem, but what is being done? It’s time our government take concrete action to stop Chinese agents from running around this country and harming Falun Gong practitioners,” stated Gail Rachlin. “Thousands of us are having to look over our shoulders, lock our doors, and be wary of our surroundings at all times because agents of a foreign Communist regime may be lurking. This absolutely has to stop. We’re living in America, not communist China.”
The Falun Dafa Information Centre calls upon U.S. law enforcement to investigate this matter. It is an assault on a U.S. resident by agents of the Chinese regime. The Centre also calls upon the U.S. federal government to communicate to Chinese consular officials in clear and public terms that there will be zero tolerance for such illicit behaviour here in the United States.
Dr. Li is available for interviews: 770-495-3941
NEWS - Feb. 09, 2006
Falun Dafa Information Centre, www.faluninfo.net
Germany: We Will Not Allow the Chinese Communist Regime to Spread the Persecution of Falun Gong Overseas
By a German practitioner
 
Protest outside the Argentine consulate |
Practitioners in Hamburg learned some alarming news about two separate incidents during November of last year. In Thailand and Argentina, two countries where democratic values are held in high esteem, peacefully protesting Falun Gong practitioners, who did nothing more than exercise their fundamental human rights by appealing against the persecution of their fellow practitioners in China, were attacked. The spread of the persecution of Falun Gong to countries outside China is a threat to democratic values worldwide.
Here in Germany, we did not hesitate to find ways to expose such incidents as soon as we heard about them. We decided to hold two protests outside the Argentine and Thai Consulates that same day. We also decided to visit the consular officials for a chat; we felt that they should know about those incidents in their countries, and that they definitely would condemn them once they heard the details.
Small Protests with Big Impacts
Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful protests have become common activities in many cities throughout the world. Throughout Europe, Asia and North America one can regularly find Falun Gong protests outside the local Chinese Embassy or Consulate.
By themselves, such activities appear at first glance small and unimportant. Yet, the efforts of the many small groups accumulate into a collective power and impact, because the commitment and courage of the individual are aimed at the common goal of saving practitioners in China. Activities that expose the persecution in China are unwelcome to the Embassy and Consulate staff because they reveal the injustices occurring in China. On the orders of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Embassies and Consulates in many countries spread lies and cause disturbances, so that they can justify the persecution of Falun Gong in the eyes of the public and broaden the persecution to foreign countries. They are trying to prevent the truth from coming to light by all possible means.
The incidents in Thailand and Argentina show that the CCP puts pressure on all national governments to interfere with Falun Gong practitioners in their own country, and even to persecute them. The recent incidents against Falun Gong practitioners occurred in Argentina and Thailand during December of last year.
The Incident in Thailand
Three men, two women and three of their children, aged five, six and fourteen were arrested in Thailand on December 15, 2005, only because they meditated across from the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok. Those arrested were actually Chinese refugees with UN refugee status. The grown-ups were officially charged with trespassing. Apart from the fourteen-year-old girl, all others were held in the internment camp for immigrants, located in Bangkok. The reason for the practitioners' peaceful protest was the cruel and despicable rape of two middle-aged female Falun Gong practitioners by a policeman in China.
Among those arrested were a father and his four-year old daughter. His wife, in her fifth month of pregnancy, was murdered in China. Father and daughter had fled to Thailand. How does a person or child feel, when they have to escape from their homeland to a country where they hope to find protection, but suddenly find themselves persecuted again? How will this incident affect a small child? If all nations throughout the world can be manipulated for economic reasons, where can security be found? One has to ask oneself whether this incident affects the sanctity of human rights.
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Protest outside the Thailand consulate in Hamburg
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Practitioners on their way to meet with the Thai consul
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The Incident in Argentina
In Argentina, Argentine police stood by and watched when protesting Falun Gong practitioners were beaten up by Chinese thugs hired by the Chinese Embassy. The reason for the protests by Falun Gong practitioners was the state visit by Luo Gan in Argentina. He is one of those directly responsible for the persecution of Falun Gong. The practitioners' intention was to file a complaint of genocide and crimes against humanity against Luo during his visit to Argentina. Luo Gan was not pleased about this. He even stooped to instigating violence against Falun Gong practitioners outside China.
We Will Take this to the Highest Authorities
Two practitioners had the opportunity to deliver a letter in person to the Consul of the Thai Consulate. The Consul was pleasant when meeting the Falun Gong practitioners and was happy to accept the informational materials and the letter. He immediately mentioned when meeting the practitioners that he was already aware of the incident. He was taking the situation seriously and promised to read the informational materials, after which he would send them to the highest authority. The materials included information about Falun Gong and the persecution, a letter and the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. After meeting with the Consul, the practitioners had the opportunity to meet with two staff members from the Consulate and one of the police officers on duty who knew little about the incident. After they had listened to the details, they condemned such injustice.
During these activities, many of the passers-by heard about the incidents in Thailand and Argentina. Many people stopped by, showing great interest about the reason for the protest and to take informational materials.
http://clearharmony.net/articles/200602/31278.html
Hong Kong Office of the Epoch Times ransacked by Chinese Government Henchmen
Four men smashed their way into the offices of the Hong Kong Epoch Times on Tuesday and took hammers to an expensive new piece of printing equipment. The men shattered the outer glass doors of the office and then apparently targeted this one machine, which plays a key role in producing the newspaper.
Spokesperson Cheryl Ng, present during the break-in, later linked this incident with the worldwide pattern by the Chinese communist regime to silence The Epoch Times, including a recent beating and robbery of Atlanta Epoch Times employee Yuan P. Li.
Ng said that, on Tuesday after the thugs stepped through the shattered door at 7:10 p.m., they stalked through the office as though looking for something specific.
The men ordered the seven staff members present to remain where they were, but the staff followed them, asking them what they were doing. One staff picked up a phone to call the police but one of the intruders raised a hammer as though to hit her, so she hung up the phone.
'Here It Is'
After spotting the new machine, a CTP developer, one of the men said, "Here it is." They smashed the machine with their hammers, and then left immediately. They did not touch any other equipment in the office or hurt any of the staff.
The print shop was recently brought on line. The CTP (computer-to-plate) developer was a brand new machine, costing US$129,000. It generates microfilm from the computerized newspaper layout; the microfilm is used in printing the newspaper.
Hoodlums smashed their way through the door of the Hong Kong Epoch Times office.
Chinese Communist Campaign against the Epoch Times
Ms. Ng noted that this was the latest incident of a long-running campaign of the Chinese communist regime against The Epoch Times.
Ms. Ng related this incident to difficulties The Epoch Times encountered in finding printing contracts in Hong Kong. In May 2005, after a contract for printing the newspaper expired, The Epoch Times was unable to secure an ongoing contract with any printing company. The company was forced to go with one shop on a day-to-day basis until recently opening their own print shop.
Ms. Ng says, "None of the print shops would come out and say the Communist Party had put pressure on them to refuse our business. But why would they refuse perfectly good business? It was obvious what was happening."
In order to ensure continual printing, The Epoch Times purchased equipment and set up its own print shop. That print shop had been in operation for two weeks at the time of Tuesday night's attack.
Ms. Ng also pointed to other incidents. On Feb. 9 in an Atlanta suburb, there was an attack on Yuan "Peter" Li, the Epoch Times chief technical officer. Four thugs forced their way into his home, beat him with the butt ends of a knife and gun, and then, ignoring valuables in the home, stole his two laptops.
Epoch Times staff report that their relatives in mainland China have received threats from Chinese communist officials. In Malaysia, the government banned the printing of The Epoch Times —under pressure from the Chinese communist regime, according to press watchdog groups.
In addition there is constant ongoing phone harassment in Hong Kong, on staff members' private phones, and on the office phone. Epoch Times staffers around the world have also reported receiving harassing phone calls.
The Nine Commentaries
Ms. Ng believes The Epoch Times publication of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party is key to understanding this recent string of incidents.
The Nine Commentaries is a series of editorials published by The Epoch Times in late 2004. The Nine Commentaries is a hard-hitting, honest dissection of the history of the Chinese Communist Party. Hong Kong Epoch Times has distributed over 7 million copies, many of which have been carried by tourists back into mainland China.
The damaged CPT developer, the apparent target of the attackers.
The publication and distribution of the Nine Commentaries has inspired over 8 million Chinese to renounce all association with the Chinese Communist Party.
In general Ms. Ng says that The Epoch Times is recognized by the common people of China as their voice, and within Hong Kong as a benchmark for freedom.
She states this latest incident will not stop The Epoch Times from printing in Hong Kong.
Epoch Group Officers Comment
Zhu Tongbin, director of Hong Kong Epoch Times, told a reporter that, "This is another crime against The Epoch Times that the CCP has committed since Dr. Yuan Li , global IT director for The Epoch Times, was beaten at his home in Atlanta by CCP thugs wielding a gun and a knife. Right now, there are already over eight million Chinese people that have published their statements of withdrawal from the CCP and its affiliates. There are a significant number of such statements, due to the CCP's Internet blockage, that cannot get published. Each day, there are tens of thousands of Chinese people returning to China via Hong Kong so The Epoch Times publishes the news about the massive withdrawal from the CCP."
Epoch Times staff watch as Hong Kong police search for evidence. |
Mr. Zheng, Director of the Hong Kong Epoch Times printing house, said the Chinese Communist Party tried to intimidate the honest media in Hong Kong and those who dare to speak the truth. The CCP was trying to create an atmosphere of terror. It has undermined freedom of the press in Hong Kong by employing mafia tactics, bribery and enticement. As a result, the Hong Kong Epoch Times could not find a printing contractor in Hong Kong, the city with the most developed printing sector in the world.
Mr. Zheng said, "With global moral support, The Epoch Times set up its own printing house despite an acute shortage of funds, techniques, and personnel. Inspired by justice, we are resolved to tell the Hong Kong public the truth and spread it to mainland China by breaking through the CCP's news blockade. Our shop has been printing papers for two weeks now, and they are of very good quality! It's really a miracle and a blow to the CCP's suppression. "
Epoch Group President Tang Zhong said, "The CCP is about to disintegrate in the face of the rising wave of quitting the CCP in China. The Hong Kong Epoch Times made its contribution by distributing millions of copies of the Nine Commentaries to its public and reporting the Party resignations which the CCP censored. The newspaper also frightened the CCP by carrying major events, such as popular movements for rights, resistance against violence and the CCP's brutal suppression in Shanwei."
Mr. Tang said, "The CCP's suppression and violence against The Epoch Times is a proof that the newspaper is playing an important role in disintegrating the CCP. Epoch Times staff will not be intimidated by the CCP's gangster-like terror, and will continue to defend the freedom of press by truthfully and objectively covering the Chinese and international events. The exposure of the CCP's cowardly acts will only reveal its violent and evil nature and speed up its disintegration. The Epoch Time will become more popular in the world community and among the people in China. We will overcome all difficulties and continue to serve our Hong Kong readers."
Mr. Tang called on the international community to pay attention to the violence against the Hong Kong Epoch Times print shop. The fact that such an incident occurred in Hong Kong, a territory with a policy of "one state, two systems", showed that the CCP has exported its violence and undermined normal civilization and moral dignity, Tang said. He called on people from all walks of life to step forward and resist the CCP.
Epoch Times editor-in-chief Ms. Guo Jun said that the Hong Kong Epoch Times has never stopped reporting to mainland China and Hong Kong the shocking truths the CCP has tried to block and conceal.
She said, "At present, the CCP has resorted to violence in silencing dissenting voices all over the world, not just within China, but also in Africa, North America, Latin America, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Australia. So many beautiful cities, such as Paris, Madrid, Marseilles, London, Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo, Bangkok, and Atlanta, have become silent witnesses to the CCP's brutality and savagery. "
Ms. Guo said that the Hong Kong Epoch Times will not be intimidated and will continue to provide service to its readers.
Austria: Falun Gong Protest against the Visit of a Chinese Minister
By a practitioner in Austria
On February 3, 2006, as the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) Foreign Minister, Li Zhaoxing, held talks with the European Union "Troika" and other Foreign Ministers in Vienna, Falun Gong practitioners conducted a peaceful protest against the CCP's brutal persecution of Falun Gong.
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Practitioners demonstrate the exercises
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Reporter conducts interview
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| Falun Gong practitioners peacefully protest |
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Practitioners held up banners and demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises along roadsides where the Chinese entourage was to pass, and also in front of Austria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As the Chinese delegation was afraid of seeing Falun Gong's banners, the motorcade instead took an out-of-the-way route. But they could not escape the Falun Gong practitioners who had been waiting for a long time in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Austria's national TV station taped live interviews with the practitioners. Shortly after the protests were over, a program covering the peaceful protest and the CCP's brutal persecution of Falun Gong was aired on TV.
Li Zhaoxing was once the CCP's Ambassador to the United States. After Jiang Zemin's regime started the persecution in 1999, Li has done everything in his power to instigate a smear campaign against Falun Gong overseas to actively support the CCP's brutal persecution of Falun Gong. Currently he has been listed as one of the key targets for investigation by the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong.
Source: http://clearharmony.net/articles/200602/31355.html
Hearing brought forward for Chinese torture lawsuit
Plaintiff seeks court assistance to compel DFAT to serve claim
A Falun Gong practitioner, Ms. Zhang Cuiying, a citizen of Australia, is about to serve a lawsuit against former Chinese President Zhang Zemin.
Ms. Zhang had been imprisoned for 8 months in China and suffered torture at the hands of the Chinese authorities.
Tuesday 7 March 2006, a hearing will be held in the Supreme Court of NSW in relation to the lawsuit filed by Sydney resident and Falun Gong practitioner, Ms Zhang Cuiying, against former Chinese dictator Jiang Zemin and the 610 Office for torture she suffered in China because of her belief.
At the hearing the plaintiff will seek a court order to compel the Department of Foreign Affairs to serve the claim document to the defendants in China without further delay. The court requested DFAT to serve the document in August 2005; however the request has been ignored. The plaintiff believes that this is an intentional delay and is essentially obstructing the legal proceedings of the case.
“This is a human rights issue. One wonders if the Australian Government and DFAT in particular realise that [by not serving the papers] they are actually helping a totalitarian Communist regime that is responsible for over 80 million unnatural deaths under its reign and for the on-going brutal persecution of tens of millions of Falun Gong practitioners.” said Ms Zhang, plaintiff for the case.
Chinese Embassy Pressures Malaysian Police to Detain Three Practitioners
On the morning of February 23, three Falun Gong practitioners and a human rights advocate went to the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia to protest the Chinese Communist regime's persecution of Falun Gong and deliver a letter to Ambassador Wang Chungui. During their protest, police arrived and arrested them under pressure from the Embassy. Reportedly, the Malaysian police are planning to charge them with "illegal assembly."
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A handcuffed practitioner
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Among the detainees, the human rights advocate is a Chinese, the three practitioners include two Chinese with permanent residency and one Malaysian. On February 24, the police authority applied to extend their detention to 72 hours.
According to the practitioners' attorney, the four were brought to a special division of the police department for investigation. However, the investigation was not about illegal assembly and the authorities did not observe normal procedures. According to a reliable source, the Chinese Embassy has been continuously pressuring Malaysian police to take action against the practitioners.
The three practitioners and the human rights advocate are now conducting a hunger strike to protest the illegal arrest and injustice charge as well as the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in Malaysia by the Chinese Communist regime.
We call on the Malaysian government not to become accomplices with the evil regime to persecute Falun Gong.
Chinese Embassy in Malaysia:
Ambassador: Wang Chungui
Telephone: 603-2142 8495
Fax: 603-2141 4552
Sweden: Falun Gong Practitioners Protest the CCP's Violent Conduct at the Chinese Embassy and Consulate
On the morning of February 15, 2006, Falun Gong practitioners in Sweden held a protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in Stockholm and the Chinese Consulate in Gothenburg to condemn the attack on Falun Gong practitioner Dr. Li Yuan, as well as the ransacking of French Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Chen's home.
Li Yuan is a head of IT for the Epoch Times newspaper. At around noon on February 8, 2006, while Li was at home in Atlanta, GA, several men broke in at gunpoint. The assailants tightly covered Li with a quilt and then beat him up. Li was left bleeding profusely, especially around his temples. The attackers then tied him up, sealing his eyes and mouth with tape to the point where he could not move, see or make a sound. The criminals pried open Li's file cabinet and took away computers, but left other valuables behind. After neighbours called the police, Li Yuan was taken to a hospital by ambulance, where he received fifteen stitches in his face.
Winter in Northern Europe is very cold. It was especially eerie near the Chinese Consulate. For three hours Falun Gong practitioners from Gothenburg and south-western cities in Sweden sat silently in front of the Chinese Consulate, distributed leaflets to passers-by and told them what had happened.
Many kind-hearted Swedish people already knew about the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong. When they heard that Dr. Li was robbed and beaten by suspected CCP gangsters in his own home, they immediately condemned such a vicious attack.
After reading the news on our display boards and seeing photos of the victim, an older lady said with indignation, "This is outrageous! Terrible! How can the Olympics be held in a country controlled by such a government?" A gentleman said to the practitioners, "Well done! Please keep it up!"
Some drivers slowed down to read the news content on the information boards. Some stopped, and some rolled down their windows to ask for material. A middle-aged lady asked which building was the Chinese Consulate. She shook her head at the closed doors and windows with curtains drawn. Upon leaving, she told the practitioners, "I support you."
http://clearharmony.net/articles/200602/31612.html
Italy: Grand Parade Held in Turin before the Winter Olympics
Before the 12th Winter Olympics in Turin in northern Italy, many European organisations and individuals made it to this beautiful mountainside city to participate in a grand parade organised by the Italian Centre for quitting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on February 4, 2006, to mark the figure of some eight million withdrawals from the CCP. To let people know a little more about Falun Gong and expose the seven-year persecution of innocent Falun Gong practitioners, nearly one hundred Falun Gong practitioners participated in this activity.
The grand parade set out from the city hall. To show their support for the activity, a representative of the Mayor, a City Councillor and a Member of Parliament walked in the front row.
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Falun Gong practitioners' waist-drum performance
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The representative of the Mayor, a City Councillor and a Member of Parliament walked in the front row
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The Falun Gong waist-drum performance was especially eye-catching. To watch the performance and see the various banners, passers-by stopped on the two sides of the street, while others stepped out of shops or opened their windows one after another. Other participants holding various colourful banners and posters followed the waist-drummers. Among them were lovely children. The banners reading, "Dissolve the CCP and Create a New China" were exceptionally striking in the sunshine. Several representatives of the media came to report the activity.
Many people were very angry over the evil CCP's human rights abuses after hearing the facts about the persecution. Many people expressed their support for those being persecuted and wished them a bright future, while others were reading the information regarding the movement of withdrawals from the CCP and the flyers exposing the CCP's atrocities. After talking with Falun Gong practitioners, some athletes and staff members participating in the Olympics came to know the facts about the Chinese Communist regime's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and other religious groups.
A press conference was held after the parade concluded at Statuto Square. On behalf of the Council of Regione Piemonte, the Provincial Assembly and Turin City Council, Mr. Leo made a speech to support the millions of people withdrawing from the CCP. Besides lauding these Chinese people as "courageous" and "genuine heroes," he also condemned the Chinese Communist regime's persecution of Falun Gong. Among others, he expressed his appreciation for Falun Gong practitioners' extraordinary courage in their peaceful petition.
As one of the organizers, Mr. Tecchio, representative of the CISL Association, condemned the Chinese Communist regime's atrocious rule of Tibetans and the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners, members of House Churches, independent associations and others defending human rights.
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