(Clearwisdom.net) Police in Burma arrested Chan Wing-yuen, a 71-year-old Hong Kong citizen for unfurling a banner that reads "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance" in Rangoon, Burma's capital. On January 31, 2002, he was secretly sentenced to a heavy term of seven years in prison without the presence of his attorney or family. Such heavy sentencing that violates even the most common sense of law is shocking, and it is obvious that this action was a result of pressure from the Jiang regime.

Mr. Chan was visiting relatives in Burma and translating the main book of Falun Gong, Zhuan Falun. After learning that Jiang would visit Rangoon, he unfurled a small banner on the road leading to the airport. Prior to Jiang's arrival, the police arrested Mr. Chan. Many times the Chinese consulate in Burma and Burmese police authorities demanded Mr. Chan to write a "guarantee statement" and promise to give up Falun Gong, but Mr. Chan has steadfastly refused. It was learned that Mr. Chan is persisting in his faith even in prison and is still practicing Falun Gong.

A man in his 70's was shamelessly sentenced to seven years in prison, only because he unfurled a banner that reads "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance," even though he didn't affect any person or thing in any negative way. We are shocked at this complete disregard for justice, and we also see that the Jiang regime in China is perpetrating illegal persecution against overseas Falun Gong practitioners through Chinese consulates.

The Global Mission to Rescue Persecuted Falun Gong Practitioners urgently calls for all countries around the world to pay attention to this incident and the immediate release of Mr. Chan, who has already been illegally detained for one year; it calls for governments and media around the world to condemn the Jiang regime's criminal behavior of persecuting Falun Gong practitioners by exerting pressure on foreign governments through its consulates abroad; and it calls for the Jiang regime to immediately end its brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.