FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 23, 2002 [ http://www.faluninfo.net/ ]

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Open letter from Falun Gong practitioners to Iceland government, requesting conclusive dialogue. [ Full text... ]

NEW YORK, August 23, 2002 -- Practitioners of Falun Gong from Europe and North America intend to meet with top Icelandic government officials to resolve concerns remaining from the June ban on practitioners entering Iceland. Today's announcement is accompanied by the letter ( full text ) sent on August 6 to Iceland's Prime Minister, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, which was also copied to Members of the Icelandic Parliament. Receipt of the letters was confirmed.

On government orders in June, more than 100 practitioners had visas denied, were turned away at the border, were held in a makeshift detention center, and/or denied boarding Icelandair flights in Europe and North America. The practitioners were identified by means of a blacklist.

The Chinese president was making a state visit to Iceland during this time period. He bears personal responsibility for the brutal persecution campaign waged against tens of millions of Falun Gong practitioners in China, resulting in imprisonment, torture, families torn apart, and more than 400 dead. Falun Gong practitioners traveled to Iceland, not for their own benefit, but to give voice to the innocent people being persecuted in China. They hoped to appeal for an end to the persecution in a peaceful, lawful, and compassionate manner. In China, participating in such appeal activities could cost one's freedom, and even one's life.

By barring Falun Gong practitioners, and discriminating against people travelling peacefully and lawfully, the government damaged Iceland's good reputation and standing in the international community as a bellwether of democratic freedoms and integrity. Falun Gong practitioners believe that the ban was a consequence of incorrect information received by the Icelandic government. Through dialogue, these matters can be directly addressed, leading to improved mutual understanding.

Falun Gong practitioners have been making continual good-faith efforts to resolve these issues, beginning during their visit in June. They have made numerous requests for meetings, sent several detailed letters explaining the situation, and telephoned the relevant offices. Governments of other nations have made requests on behalf of the practitioners.

Thus far the Icelandic government has made no constructive response. The Falun Gong-Iceland Dialogue Committee (FIDC) seeks an open dialogue leading to mutual understanding and timely corrective measures to reverse the damage from the unfortunate situation in June. With appropriate corrective measures taken as an outgrowth of the dialogue, the damage can be reversed, the FIDC believes. Citizens of Iceland have been strong and vocal in their repudiation of the government's actions in June. The people of Iceland and the government have much to gain through a sincere dialogue with the FIDC, which is hoped to begin as soon as possible, and to be concluded by September 6, which would be within three months of the ban being put in place.

FIDC believes it will benefit all concerned to come to a timely resolution. Among the possible outcomes: a public admission of mistakes; compensation of affected individuals; public denunciation of the persecution in China; and full disclosure to practitioners regarding the blacklist, and its destruction.

Falun Gong representatives will travel to Iceland in the first week of September. The Falun Gong practitioners are being advised by noted human rights lawyer and Advocate to the Icelandic Supreme Court Ragnar Adalsteinsson.

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Full text of open letter available here: http://faluninfo.net/DisplayAnArticle.asp?ID=6152

For further information, Falun Gong-Iceland Dialogue Committee contacts:

Canada: Shawn (Xun) Li +1-613-852-7494 (cell), +1-613-599-7494 (home/fax)

USA: John Nania +1-612-724-4991 (office), +1-612-237-3232 (cell)

Website: ttp://www.faluninfo.net/