(Clearwisdom.net)

Frank O'Bannon

Governor

State of Indiana

Oct. 17, 2002

Dear Mr. (name omitted),

Thank you for the packet of information on Falun Gong I received from (name omitted) during a recent visit to Evansville on October 15.

I also received a request from your fellow Falun Gong advocates traveling to Indianapolis for a news conference. While I am unable to be on hand for this event, I would like to express my strong support for freedom of religion and freedom of speech, and my hope that, someday, all countries around the world will value and protect these freedoms.

The U.S. government has conveyed its strong concern to the Chinese government on their crackdown on the Falun Gong and has called on the People's Republic of China to respect freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. U.S. officials have also called on the Chinese government to allow all persons to practice their religious faiths freely, and to end the cycle of repression on the Falun Gong. Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved a resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the government of the People's Republic of China should cease its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

Thank you, again, for contacting my office.

Sincerely,

Frank O'Bannon