TANZANIA ¬C A State Councilor and former Minister of Education who utilized the Chinese education system to indoctrinate teachers and students against Falun Gong ¬C inciting untold violence ¬C has been sued for torture and extra judicial killing in a Tanzanian court.
The civil suit was filed on July 19th as the former Minister of Education, Ms. Chen Zhili, was visiting several African nations. The suit was filed on behalf of Falun Gong practitioners. Chen was summoned to appear before the Tanzanian court.
As the representative lawyer stated, we request that the due process of the law will take course, and that justice will not only be done, but be seen to be done. This we hope will act as a difference against further persecution of peaceful and compassionate practitioners of Falun Gong.
The suit is the latest in a string of lawsuits in over a dozen countries filed against senior Chinese officials known to have carried out former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin's orders to "eradicate Falun Gong."
Between 1999 and 2003 as Minister of Education, Chen launched a Cultural Revolution-style campaign throughout China's education system ¬C including graduate schools, colleges, middle schools, primary schools, and even kindergartens ¬C ordering teaches and students to undergo "political shaping of thoughts" with respect to Falun Gong.
Amidst the campaign, teachers and students who practiced Falun Gong were often sent to brainwashing centers where they underwent psychological and physical torture.
Sixty-one are known to have died as a result.
"We would like to give credit to the government, the legal system, and the people of Tanzania for accepting this lawsuit and enabling justice to be done," says John Nania, a Falun Gong practitioner from the U.S. who is assisting with the lawsuit. "It is a historic contribution to the international community and people in this part of the world can rightly be proud of this."
The suit against Chen comes less than a month after a Falun Gong practitioner was shot in South Africa shortly after arriving in the country to assist locals in raising awareness about the persecution of Falun Gong, as well as the particular role of two Chinese officials, Vice President Zeng Qinghong and Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai, who were visiting South Africa at the time.
Zeng and Bo are known to be responsible for murder and torture of Falun Gong practitioners in China.
Contacts: Mr. Jie Liu, 082-9543505 (South Africa) Mr. John Nania, 1-612-237-3232 (United States)
BACKGROUND:
What is Falun Gong?
FALUN GONG (also called Falun Dafa) is an ancient form of qigong, the practice of refining the body and mind through slow-moving exercises and meditation. Yet Falun Dafa is different from other qigong practices in that it goes beyond the pursuit of health and fitness to the goal of wisdom and returning to one's original, altruistic nature.
At the heart of the practice are the principles: Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Through a combination of studying the Falun Dafa books and performing the exercises, practitioners strive to become better people by embodying these principles in everything they do.
The Evolution of Falun Dafa
Falun Dafa was introduced to the public in May of 1992, when Mr. Li Hongzhi gave his first lecture in Changchun City, China. Soon afterwards he traveled with several students to the Oriental Health Expo in Beijing where Falun Dafa earned several awards, prompting organizers to invite Mr. Li to give several lectures on the principles of Falun Dafa. During the following two and a half years, Mr. Li lectured on invitation in almost every major Chinese city. Since 1995, Mr. Li has traveled to countries around the world to give lectures and answer questions. All lectures have been free and open to the general public. By the middle of 1999, Falun Dafa was practiced in over 40 countries around the world.
The Persecution of Falun Dafa in China
Many Chinese leaders applauded the health benefits the practice brought to the nation, but Communist Party head at the time, Jiang Zemin, grew fearful of such a large number of people practicing andÁ»believing that the peaceful nature of Falun Gong made for an easy target banned the practice in 1999. Failing to "eradicate Falun Gong in three months," as planned, Jiang intensified the campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it.
Over 200,000 have been detained without due process, over 100,000 held in forced-labor camps, and at least 1,000 forced into mental hospitals. As of August 2, 2004, 104 deaths have been verified since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. Due to extreme difficulty in discovering and verifying information in China related to wrongful deaths, the true death toll is most likely much higher.
"Intensifying the Campaign Overseas"
Soon after Jiang began persecuting Falun Gong in China, the international community reacted by condemning his actions. This response put pressure on Jiang to end his anti-Falun Gong campaign. Jiang, however, responded by issuing a directive for "intensifying the campaign overseas." Thus, Chinese embassies and consulates around the world began escalating efforts outside China to stamp out support for Falun Gong and to disrupt or have Falun Gong activities banned. Practitioners have also been harassed and physically assaulted, had their passport renewals denied, and been illegally monitored.
Chinese Leaders and Media Sued in World Courts
In countries around the world, Jiang and other high-ranking officials are facing charges of genocide and crimes against humanity. During the past two years, lawsuits have been filed in over a dozen countries, charging various Chinese diplomats, media outlets, and organizations outside the Mainland with slander, defamation, and intimidation. Countries include the U.S., France, Poland, U.K., Australia, Canada, Korea, Germany, Taiwan, Cyprus, Spain, Moldova, Armenia, Finland, Iceland, and Belgium.
By Jie Liu and John Nania posted 4 August 04
More detailed informaiton can be found at:
Falun Info
Uphold Justice.org
628 Watch.net
Related:
Falun Gong Practitioner in South Africa Shot
The drive-by shooting of a Falun Gong practitioner in South Africa on Monday marks a new level of violence and recklessness in former Chinese leader Jiang Zeminis worldwide persecution of Falu Gong.
