Columbus Consolidated Government

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Columbus, Georgia

November 26, 2003

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Southeast US Falun Dafa Experience-Sharing Conference 2003:

Greetings! It is my pleasure to extend best wishes to all who are gathered in Atlanta for the Southeast US Falun Dafa Experience-Sharing Conference 2003. I hope the conference is completely successful and inspirational for all the attendees.

I commend Falun Dafa for its peaceful behavior and rejection of violence, especially when confronted with repression and persecution. Please know that I deplore the persecution of Falun Dafa in China and I have grave concerns over reports that those who oppose Falun Dafa have attempted in various ways to cause repression of Falun Dafa in this country.

Religious freedom is protected by the constitutions of the United States and the People's Republic of China, and is recognized around the world as a basic human right. As long as Falun Dafa continues its religious practices in a peaceful manner it should enjoy the respect of other people and complete freedom to practice and promulgate the religion. I concur with United States House Concurrent Resolution 304, in which Congress calls for an end to "oppression by the Government of the People's Republic of China of Falun Dafa in the United States and in China."

I earnestly hope the persecution of Falun Dafa will cease permanently. May you have a wonderful conference in Atlanta, and may peace and freedom attend you in the days and years ahead.

Sincerely,

Robert S. Poydasheff