My name is David Gallup and I speak on behalf of the World Service Authority, and on behalf of all world citizens who World Service Authority represents. World Service Authority works hard to protect the rights of ALL people regardless of political, religious, national or any other affiliation. We have recently provided legal advocacy to Falun Gong practitioners, writing letters of protest regarding the inhuman and illegal treatment they have suffered at the hands of the Chinese government.
We appreciate this brief opportunity to explain why we, as world citizens, must speak out. We know that all human beings have universal, innate, and inalienable rights, such as the rights to freedom of association, freedom of expression, and freedom of movement. As part of humanity, the women and men of the Falun Gong are no exception; indeed, there ARE NO exceptions. Falun Gong practitioners in China, however, are being subjected to arbitrary arrest and detention, as well as to torture, among other human rights violations. These acts violate Articles 5 and 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which state that "No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" and "No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile." As you know, even affiliation with the Falun Gong is criminalized in China. This violates Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states "Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association."
Falun Gong practitioners should be able to sue the Chinese government in a World Court of Human Rights for the violations they are suffering. But this court does not yet exist. We therefore call upon all world citizens, whether through letter writing, protesting or other peaceful means, to come to the aid of Falun Gong practitioners, our sisters and brothers in our one human family.
Category: Voices of Support Worldwide
