On April 10, after a press conference in Geneva, Professor Zhang Kunlun said to western reporters that though Jiang Zemin and his followers were propagandizing to the international media, diplomatic world and human rights organizations that Falun Gong was illegal, in fact it was Jiang Zemin and his followers who were violating the law, not Falun Gong. Professor Zhang said that, as the Chinese Constitution was the root law for all the other laws in China, no individual or group of individuals should override the Constitution. The decisions made by the Chinese Public Security Ministry could only serve as a supplement and refinement to the Constitution, they are not to go against the Constitution. However in order to persecute Falun Gong, the Public Security Ministry made the so-called "Six Clauses for Public Security" depriving Chinese citizens' legal rights, while the "Six Clauses" were completely contrary to the Constitution. Professor Zhang said, it was clearly stipulated in the Chinese Constitution that citizens of the Peoples Republic of China are entitled freedom of faith. Falun Gong is a very good faith since it requires its practitioners to be persons with high ethical standards by practicing the principles of "Truthfulness, Benevolence and Forbearance," and practitioners should enjoy the freedom of faith in Falun Gong. Professor Zhang also said that the Chinese Constitution provides that the citizens of the People's Republic of China are entitled to the right to appeal to the government. Appeal is not only a right, but also an obligation. A government cannot govern the country well unless it listens to its people's suggestions and complaints. It should feel happy when the people positively try to help manage the country well by reporting issues to the government. Why is the government arresting, beating and even killing the people who appealed, and completely ignoring the laws of the country? Professor Zhang pointed out that Section 247 of the Constitution provides that anyone who forces a citizen to make a confession shall be sentenced to a prison term of no more than three years. However, forcing Falun Gong practitioners to confess is a common practice in the Chinese police system, which is happening all over China now, the brutal tortures and beatings are done for the purpose of forcing confessions. He also said that Jiang Zemin announced, without any legal procedures, that Falun Gong was an "[slanderous words omitted]" during his visit to foreign countries. No individual or group of individuals has the right to do so without a formal legal procedure. Jiang Zemin started collecting and fabricating Falun Gong's "criminal evidence" after he announced his conclusion. The Chinese Central Government had never restricted the practice of Falun Gong before the sudden countrywide mass arrests of Falun Gong volunteers on July 20, 1999. They had not declared Falun Gong an "illegal organization" and an "[slanderous words omitted]" until after the arrests of people. This is just illegal. Therefore, it is Jiang Zemin and his followers who are violating the law. A U.S. Falun Gong practitioner April 10, 2001

Category: Journeys of Cultivation