Recently, Chinese and Western Falun Gong practitioners in France met with government officials. They provided the officials with the comprehensive and detailed information of the brutal persecution carried out by the Chinese government against Falun Gong practitioners, as well as the role Jiang Zemin has played in the persecution, and the responsibility that he cannot shirk.
On October 16, the assistant of the leader of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Senate met with two Western practitioners for a long time and expressed his interest in Falun Gong. He had read through the book of Falun Gong (Revised) and bought Zhuan Falun since he found himself so interested in the practice. He felt deep regret for the terrible situation in China. He would like to help Falun Gong practitioners let the French government learn more about the real situation of Falun Gong. Meanwhile, he suggested that practitioners send brief information with pictures depicting the plight of Falun Gong practitioners to all senators monthly. Before leaving, the practitioners asked the assistant to attend the activities of practitioners to learn more about the real situation of Falun Gong. The assistant expressed his wish to help Falun Gong practitioners in his spare time.
On October 18, French congressman Gerard Charras met with two Western practitioners and a Chinese practitioner. The meeting lasted for two hours. The practitioners introduced the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China (including the pictures of practitioners who were tortured) and the disgraceful role Jiang Zemin has played. The information was comprehensive and detailed. The congressman expressed his regret. He would like to submit a report to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France and the Premier of France to draw their attention to the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. He also indicated his interest in keeping in contact with practitioners.
On October 19, two French practitioners met congressman Noel Mamere in the House of Congress. The congressman used to be the host of Channel 3 of French National TV. He showed great concern about the human rights issues in China. When the practitioners ran across Mr. Mamere in the House of Congress, they shook hands warmly. (It was a pity that they could not have a long conversation because both sides had other appointments). Practitioners told him that they would contact him and discuss the issues related to Falun Gong in detail. On that day, at the news conference held by the House of Congress, some attendees strongly condemned the brutal persecution in Mainland China. Mr. Mamere also asked everyone to pay more attention to the plight of Falun Gong.
On the same day, Vice Chairman of the House of Congress, Mr. Pierre Lequiller spared some time from his busy schedule to meet with two [practitioners. When the practitioners talked about the brutal crimes committed by the Chinese police, instigated by Jiang Zemin, Mr. Lequiller carefully recorded those crimes and queried about the accurate numbers and dates. At the end of the meeting, he expressed that he would discuss the issue of Falun Gong at the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Congress.
On October 27, Mayor of Paris, Mr. Jean Tiben met with three Falun Gong practitioners at the Modern Art Hall. He shook hands with practitioners when they extended the greeting to him. Later, he received the "Falun Gong, the Real Story" from the practitioners and stopped his visit for a while to read the material. He asked if the two recently constructed labor camps in Xinjiang province had been used to detain Falun Gong practitioners. He fell into silence when he got an affirmative answer.
One day in November, a Falun Gong practitioner took part in a research meeting sponsored by a major newspaper in France and met with some government officials. The practitioner took the chance to introduce the detailed information of the brutal persecution carried out by Jiang Zemin towards Falun Gong practitioners. He also answered their questions. The government officials told him that at the beginning, due to the negative influence of the Chinese media, many people misunderstood that Falun Gong was related to XX. However, with the development of the situation last year, more and more people, after thinking it over, realized that it was the Chinese government that spread rumors. More and more people are willing to know the real situation of Falun Gong.
French Practitioners
November 24, 2000
Category: Rallies & Protests
