Falun Gong Persecution Must Stop
The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development strongly condemns the Chinese government's persecution and nationwide ban on the practice of Falun Gong aimed at suppressing the group.
Montreal, July 29, 1999 The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development strongly condemns the Chinese government's persecution and nationwide ban on the practice of Falun Gong aimed at suppressing the group.
"The large-scale arrest of Falun Gong practioners in China and the arbitrary detention of its leaders contravene international law, including the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which China recently signed," Warren Allmand, President of the International Centre, said today in a statement. "China is not only making a mockery of its international obligations but it also violates its own constitution which guarantees the rights to freedom of belief, assembly and association," he said.
Last week, the Chinese government branded Falun Gong an "illegal organization", banned its practice in public and private, accused it of "illegal activities" and of "jeopardizing social stability." There have been reports of hundreds of Falun Gong followers detained in cities around China as they attempted to protest against the arrest of their leaders.
Falun Gong, an organization inspired by martial arts, Buddhism and Taoism, is committed to the improvement of its practioners' physical and mental well being through exercise and meditation.
Mr. Allmand called on China to release all Falun Gong detainees and lift the ban against the organization. He also called on Canadian Foreign Affais Minister Lloyd Axworthy to condemn the persecution and jailing of Falun Gong practioners and to suspend dialogue with the Beijing.
In April 1997, Canada opened a bilateral human rights dialogue with China and established the Joint Committee on Human Rights. Canada has defended the move saying it allows unprecedented access to Chinese agencies whose cooperation is essential to improving the human rights practices of China."
In a letter sent today to Mr. Axworthy, Mr. Allmand stressed there is little evidence that bilateral dialogue is helping the human rights situation in China. "In the last year, we have seen the sham trials of labour and human rights activists, the imposition of long prison sentences against them, the continuing crackdown against dissidents and a lack of progress on the Tibetan question."
The International Centre reiterated its call that Canada should conduct a substantive and public assessment of this bilateral human rights policy and to suspend further sessions of the Joint Committee.
The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development is an independent Canadian organization with an international mandate. It works with citizens' groups and governments in Canada and abroad to promote human rights and democratic development through advocacy and institutional capacity building.
For More Information
Patricia Poirier, Director of communications, ICHRDD Tel : (514) 283-6073 Fax: (514) 283-3792
