(Clearwisdom.net) Regarding the violent assaults against Falun Gong practitioners in Chinatown, Jakarta, two legal organizations in Jakarta—Jakarta Legal Assistance Organization, and Disappearance and Victims of Violence Organization, held a press conference with Falun Gong practitioners on August 16, 2006. At the press conference, the two organizations showed video and photos of the violent assaults which took place on August 5, and explained the fact that Falun Gong practitioners’ activities have often been harassed. Wu Siman, the spokesman of the Disappearance and Victims of Violence Organization hopes that the president of Indonesia and the police department will take these incidents seriously. Mr. Wu called upon the police department to take action to eliminate the violent assaults, and protect citizen’s freedom of speech.

The representatives of the two organizations and Falun Gong practitioners

Mr. Wu said that harassment of Falun Gong practitioners’ activities in Chinatown have happened many times. Many people know that Falun Gong practitioners have held a lot of activities, but few people know their purposes. Since many people have a misunderstanding of Falun Gong, the harassment exists. Mr. Wu hopes that the media will report these incidents truthfully, and not mislead readers.

In the video, it can be seen clearly that a group of attackers were beating Falun Gong practitioners, who were doing peaceful exercises. They also took off a young photographer’s clothes and insulted him. Mr. Wu said that the policemen should have stopped the attack right away. Mr. Wu said that people should respect others' freedom of speech, and violent assaults are against the law.

Mr. Wu hoped that the President of Indonesia and the police will take this incident seriously. He called upon the Police Department to take action to eliminate the violent assaults, and protect citizen’s freedom of speech. Mr. Wu said that he will investigate the role that the Chinese Embassy in Jakarta played in this incident. Mr. Wu hoped that the Chinese Embassy will stop passing out the materials which slander Falun Gong and instigate people’s hatred towards Falun Gong. Mr. Wu said that people don’t have real freedom in China. The CCP eliminates all dissenting voices with violence.

Mr. Wu emphasized that people should support Falun Gong practitioners’ activities and encourage them to clarify the truth. The practitioners’ peaceful appeals are worthy of everybody’s respect.

The following is the joint announcement by the two organizations.

The harassment of Falun Gong Practitioners’ Activity Reflects the Failure of Department of Police’s Action of Eliminating Violent Assaults:

We are disappointed that policemen didn’t stop the violent assault against Falun Gong practitioners, for it is a violation of human rights, and Falun Gong practitioners’ activities are protected by the law. However, the police ignored this protection. It is a crime that a group of people harassed and attacked Falun Gong practitioner with violence. But the policemen didn’t stop them.

It ruins the effort of the Department of Police to improve its image. Policemen should stop the interference with Falun Gong practitioners’ activities. But policemen didn’t take any action even after receiving Falun Gong practitioners’ report.

According to the Constitution, policemen’s task is to keep the activity in order and help it, instead of helping the attackers to harass it. Falun Gong practitioners lawfully applied for permission for the activity, but their rights were not protected.

If this law is ignored, where is this nation going to then? Is it true that policemen have already became bullies, and help the attackers to violate this law? We jointly publish this announcement and hope the National Police Department will take the following actions:

Bring the assailants to justice.

Punish the policemen who helped the assailants.

Training policemen and explaining the importance of protecting human rights

Investigate the reports by the police

It is a crime that policemen didn’t stop the violent assault, so the National Police Department should investigate it and take actions to stop the crime

Jakarta, August 16, 2006