U.S. House of Representatives Unanimously Passes A Resolution

[Juna]

U.S. House of Representatives Unanimously Passes Resolution Urging Chinese Government to Cease Its Oppression of Falun Gong Practitioners in the United States and in China

At 8pm Eastern Time on October 4, 2004, the House of the Representatives in the U.S. unanimously passed H. Con. Resolution 304, expressing the sense of Congress regarding oppression by the Government of the People's Republic of China of Falun Gong in the United States and in China. The resolution expressed the sense that the Government of the People's Republic of China should immediately stop interfering in the exercise of religious and political freedoms within the United States, such as the right to practice Falun Gong, that are guaranteed by the United States Constitution, cease using the diplomatic missions in the United States to spread falsehoods about the nature of Falun Gong, and release from detention all prisoners of conscience, including practitioners of Falun Gong.


The H. Con. Res. 304 was initiated by Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and co-sponsored by 75 congresspeople. It was unanimously passed yesterday evening (October 4) by the representatives.


The resolution expressed the sense that the president of the United States should take actions such as working more closely with Chinese human rights activists to identify Chinese authorities who have been personally responsible for acts of violence and persecution in the People's Republic of China; and the Attorney General should investigate reports that Chinese consular officials in the United States have committed illegal acts while attempting to intimidate or inappropriately influence Falun Gong practitioners or local elected officials, and, in consultation with the Secretary of State, determine an appropriate legal response.


The full text of the resolution is as below:


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





108th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. CON. RES. 304

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding oppression by the Government of the People's Republic of China of Falun Gong in the United States and in China.

HCON 304 EH


108th CONGRESS

2d Session


H. CON. RES. 304



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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas Falun Gong is a peaceful spiritual movement that originated in the People's Republic of China but has grown in popularity worldwide and is now accepted and practiced by thousands in the United States;

Whereas demonstrations by Falun Gong practitioners in the People's Republic of China and the United States have been peaceful, meditative sessions;

Whereas the Constitution of the People's Republic of China provides to the citizens of that country freedom of speech, assembly, association, and religious belief;

Whereas members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, members of Chinese pro-democracy groups, and advocates of human rights reform in the People's Republic of China have been harassed, libeled, imprisoned, and beaten for demonstrating peacefully inside that country;

Whereas the Chinese Government has also attempted to silence the Falun Gong movement and Chinese prodemocracy groups inside the United States;

Whereas on June 12, 2003, 38 Members of Congress filed an Amended Brief of Amicus Curiae in support of the Falun Gong at the United States District Court, Northeastern District of Illinois, Eastern Division;

Whereas Chinese consular officials have pressured local elected officials in the United States to refuse or withdraw support for the Falun Gong spiritual group;

Whereas Dr. Charles Lee, a United States citizen, has reportedly been mentally and physically tortured since being detained by Chinese authorities in early 2003;

Whereas the apartment of Ms. Gail Rachlin, the Falun Gong spokeswoman in the United States, has been broken into 5 times by agents of the Chinese regime since the regime banned Falun Gong in 1999 in China;

Whereas over the past 5 years China's diplomatic corps has been actively involved in harassing and persecuting Falun Gong practitioners in the United States;

Whereas on June 23, 2003, Falun Gong practitioners were attacked outside a Chinese restaurant in New York City by local United States-based individuals with reported ties to the Chinese Government;

Whereas 5 Falun Gong practitioners were assaulted outside of the Chinese Consulate in Chicago on September 7, 2001, while exercising their constitutionally protected rights to free speech, leading to battery convictions in Cook County Criminal Court of Jiming Zheng on November 13, 2002, and Yujun Weng on December 5, 2002, both assailants being members of a Chinese-American organization in Chicago, the Mid-USA Fujian Township Association, which maintains close ties with the Chinese Consulate;


Whereas individuals that physically harassed Falun Gong practitioners in San Francisco on October 22, 2000, were later seen at anti-Falun Gong meetings and the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco;

Whereas San Francisco City Supervisor Chris Daly, after receiving complaints that Chinese officials were intimidating his constituents, authored a resolution condemning human rights violations and persecution of Falun Gong members by the Chinese Government;

Whereas Mr. Daly and the other members of the San Francisco City Council subsequently received a letter from the Chinese Consul General in San Francisco, claiming that Falun Gong was an 'evil cult' that was undermining the 'normal social order' in the People's Republic of China, and that Mr. Daly's resolution should therefore be rejected, which it subsequently was;

Whereas in November 2000, the former Mayor of Saratoga, California, Stan Bogosian, issued a proclamation honoring the contributions of Falun Gong practitioners to the Saratoga community, which prompted the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco to write to Mr. Bogosian urging him to retract his support for local Falun Gong activities;

Whereas many local and national media organizations have reported that other local officials across the United States, including the mayors of several major cities, have been pressured by Chinese consular officials to recant statements of support for the Falun Gong;

Whereas journalists have cited fear of hurting trade relationships as the motivation for some local United States officials to recant their support for Falun Gong after receiving pressure from Chinese consular officials; and

Whereas the Constitution of the United States guarantees freedom of religion, the right to assemble, and the right to speak freely, and the people of the United States strongly value protecting the ability of all people to live without fear and in accordance with their personal beliefs: Now, therefore, be it


Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--

(1) the Government of the People's Republic of China should--

(A) immediately stop interfering in the exercise of religious and political freedoms within the United States, such as the right to practice Falun Gong, that are guaranteed by the United States Constitution;


(B) cease using the diplomatic missions in the United States to spread falsehoods about the nature of Falun Gong;

(C) release from detention all prisoners of conscience, including practitioners of Falun Gong, who have been incarcerated in violation of their rights as expressed in the Constitution of the People's Republic of China;

(D) immediately end the harassment, detention, physical abuse, and imprisonment of individuals who are exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of religion, including the practices of Falun Gong, freedom of expression, and freedom of association as stated in the Constitution of the People's Republic of China; and

(E) demonstrate its willingness to abide by international standards of freedom of belief, expression, and association by ceasing to restrict those freedoms in the People's Republic of China;

(2) the President should, in accordance with section 401(a)(1)(B) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401(a)(1)(B)), and with the intention of dissuading the Chinese Government from attempting to stifle religious freedom in the People's Republic of China and the United States, take action such as--

(A) issuing an official public demarche, a formal protest, to the Chinese Foreign Ministry in response to the repeated violations by the Chinese Government of basic human rights protected in international covenants to which the People's Republic of China is a signatory; and


(B) working more closely with Chinese human rights activists to identify Chinese authorities who have been personally responsible for acts of violence and persecution in the People's Republic of China;

(3) the Attorney General should investigate reports that Chinese consular officials in the United States have committed illegal acts while attempting to intimidate or inappropriately influence Falun Gong practitioners or local elected officials, and, in consultation with the Secretary of State, determine an appropriate legal response; and

(4) officials of local governments in the United States should--

(A) in accordance with local statutes and procedures, recognize and support organizations and individuals that share the goals of all or part of the local community, including Falun Gong practitioners; and

(B) report incidents of pressure or harassment by agents of the People's Republic of China to Members of Congress, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State.
Passed the House of Representatives October 4, 2004.

[joedoe]

So what China does to falun gong followers is opression, but what was done to the Branch Davidians is OK? :eek: :D

[Juna]

Look at the evil persecution!
According to incomplete statistics, within the past five years beginning on July 20, 1999, more than 1059 practitioners have been verified as being tortured to death in over 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. However, according to the government's official internal statistics, the actual number of practitioners who died after being arrested had reached 1,600 by the end of 2001. In addition, there are at least 6,000 Falun Gong practitioners who have been illegally sentenced to prison. Over 100,000 practitioners have been sentenced to forced labor camps. Thousands of practitioners have been forcefully sent to psychiatric hospitals to be tortured with injections that are damaging to the central nervous system. Large groups of Falun Gong practitioners have been forcefully sent to local brainwashing classes, where they have been subjected to both physical and mental torture. Many more practitioners have been severely beaten and had large sums of money extorted from them by so-called "law-enforcement officials." When large numbers of Falun Gong practitioners are beaten to death, injured, and their families are broken up, when they have to leave home and go from place to place because of the persecution, millions of Falun Gong practitioners' families, relatives, good friends and colleagues are also implicated and brainwashed to varying degrees.

Listed below are the names of the Falun Gong practitioners who have died from torture, and a brief description of their cases. Hopefully, these dreadful experiences and agonizing scenes will arouse consciences and stir hearts all over the world.

http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/special_column/death_list.html

[joedoe]

Yes, it is terrible. But what you also have to remember is that China is not the USA and you do not have the same rights as a citizen of China as you do in the USA. What is more, China has outlawed the movement and it does not muck around in enforcing its laws.

I am not saying that it is right. I am just saying that that is the way it is.

[Juna]

Here are the three reasons for the unwarranted crackdown on Falun Gong provided by most analysts and China specialists:

1. The popularity of the practice: Falun Gong practitioners outnumbered the Chinese Communist Party.

Falun Gong was first introduced to the public on May 13, 1992. By the end of 1998, by the Chinese government's own estimate, there were 70 - 100 million people in China who had taken up the practice. Falun Gong had become "the largest voluntary organization in China, larger even than the Communist party." (U.S. News and World Report February 1999 issue)

2. Party officials scapegoat Falun Gong to gain politically

As economic and technological developments have become top priorities for China as a nation, many government officials who specialize in political propaganda and ideological battles will engender political unrest to provide them with a "cause" to gain political power. Falun Gong was made a scapegoat for this purpose. The propaganda was released through government-run media to defame Falun Gong and its founder from June 1996, and escalated to the mobilization of police and the use of physical violence in Tianjin on April 23, 1999. The development and escalation of the Falun Gong persecution actually happened over a period of three or four years.

3. Totalitarian Paranoia: Suspicious that there might be a hidden "mastermind" behind Falun Gong, Chinese President Utilizes persecution to demonstrate political muscle
On April 25, 1999, over ten thousand Falun Gong practitioners held a peaceful gathering at the China's State Council Appeal Office to appeal to the Central Government for the release of the citizens arbitrarily detained by police in Tianjin over the previous two days. China's Premier Zhu Rongji personally came out to meet with practitioners and the situation was resolved peacefully. Despite this, Chinese President Jiang Zemin authored and circulated documents to other government officials stating his belief that some political rival or "mastermind" within the Communist Party's top leaders was behind Falun Gong.
Consequently, Jiang equated his ability to "eradicate Falun Gong" with his ability to remain in power, and initiated the crackdown.

As CNN's Willy Lam reported a Communist Party veteran providing his analysis: "By unleashing a Mao-style movement [against Falun Gong], Jiang is forcing senior cadres to pledge allegiance to his line. This will boost Jiang's authority-and may give him enough momentum to enable him to dictate events at the pivotal 16th Communist Party congress next year."

[scotty1]

Re. the site: f*cking hell :(

[FuXnDajenariht]

The worst part is that their being turned in or persecuted by their own family and friends.... A guy killed his wife? How brainwashed do you hafta be to do sumthin like that? Thats sick bro...

[Juna]

Originally posted by FuXnDajenariht
The worst part is that their being turned in or persecuted by their own family and friends.... A guy killed his wife? How brainwashed do you hafta be to do sumthin like that? Thats sick bro...
Read the article please:
Fu Yibin's mental history disclosed by an insider

I am a Falun Gong practitioner. Prior to her death, Fu Yibin's wife was a very good friend of my cousin. Many years ago Fu Yibin was diagnosed as having a mental health disorder, and he would intermittently lose control of his faculties. His wife was very sad about this, and had frequently expressed her concern to my cousin. Even before 1996, Fu Yibin had run outside wearing only underpants. He had also seriously beaten his mother. His colleagues also knew he had a mental health problem.

Prior to his attack of his family he had shown signs of mental instability. He was unable to sleep, he was frequently in a daze, and every morning his wife saw his eyes became redder, and his manner was quite terrifying.

Before the incident, all his family members had been to the home of my cousin and his wife, had told my cousin about this matter. Later, the couple planned to go to the home of Fu Yibin's parents, but their child insisted that they should stay home. In the end they went without their child. After they arrived at the home of his parents, his wife called the child by telephone and asked him to come. Right at the time of her calling, Fu Yibin was murdering his parents. Luckily their child was not there at that time; otherwise something bad would have happened to him also.

After Fu Yibin was sent to the Xicheng branch police station, more than 30 psychologists diagnosed him as mentally unfit to stand trial. Afterwards, he was sent to a prison hospital for medical treatment. A policeman there said: "The family can take him back home after two years of treatment."

However, it has now been over three years since he was placed in the prison hospital. The hospital and police have asked his family members to pick him up, but they have refused, as they fear he will kill again. They said: "It's good for him to live in the prison hospital because he is cared for there and the government pays for the treatment."

After the incident, my cousin was threatened by police: "You must not speak out that he is a mentally ill."

Although I knew the truth about the incident and was eager to tell the world the truth, I could find no way to contact Minghui.org. Later, I was illegally sentenced to re-education through forced labor. So it is only now I can clarify the truth.

[Juna]

Falun Gong Practitioners hold themselves to high moral standards in both action and deed in the society. The principles of Falun Gong explicitly state that killing or suicide is a sin.

[Juna]

"Capital Murder Case's" Fu Yibin Was Insane According to Relative



By a Person Who Is Starting to Uphold Justice



http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2002/2/2/18336.html




I am a spectator, but I can't help saying some truthful words for Falun Gong.



Originally, I knew one of Fu Yibin's relatives. After CCTV showed "The Capital Murder Case" committed by Fu Yibin, I asked his relative about the case out of curiosity. According to him, Fu Yibin had been insane for a long time and would lose control of himself very often.



Since Falun Gong was criticized by Jiang, the TV Stations have defamed Falun Gong endlessly as if there were not a single good thing about it. Then the so-called "1400 Cases" (fabricated cases of people who were alleged to have died as a result of practicing Falun Gong) were publicized. I felt something was wrong with this at the time I heard about it. I had a relative who practiced Falun Gong, and not long after he started, all of his diseases went away. Not only that, he also became a better person. Why is this so different from what was shown on TV?



Later on, the "Tiananmen Self Immolation" was broadcast. It made me totally confused. One time it said five people, another time it said seven people. I didn't realize what had happened until the Falun Gong practitioners brought me the "Self Immolation" VCD. The "Tiananmen Self Immolation" was completely fabricated in order to frame Falun Gong. Those who had been deceived and bribed to participate in the "Self Immolation" were burned so badly. Some of them were burned to death and one was beaten to death on the spot by the police. Isn't the Party killing innocent, ordinary people in broad daylight? On the other hand, Falun Gong teaches that it is sinful to kill sentient beings or commit suicide, and is absolutely not allowed at all.



Now "The Capital Murder Case" has been brought out. In fact it can be seen on TV that Fu Yibin had a mental disorder. The more I see it the more I know that CCTV is putting on a play to deceive us ordinary people and to defame Falun Gong. Jiang's regime is really out of tricks. Again and again they try to deceive people using nasty tricks that have already been exposed.

[FuXnDajenariht]

I'm alil confused. I understand the part about his mental illness. But are you saying that the murder he committed was blamed on him practicing Falung Gong? Or are you saying the murder was fabricated?

[Juna]

Originally posted by FuXnDajenariht
I'm alil confused. I understand the part about his mental illness. But are you saying that the murder he committed was blamed on him practicing Falung Gong? Or are you saying the murder was fabricated?

CCP's media have taken this case as an important evidence to libel Falun Gong.

As CCP's media slandered that he murdered his fimily members because he practiced Falun Gong.

But, as I have post that Falun Gong forbids killing and suicide.

A patient with mental illness did sth bad, and we could not say he did the bad thing because of practicing Falun Gong.

Falun Gong has no membership, no name list, no formal organization.

Furthermore, Falun Gong does not allow people with mental illness to practice.

Thi case is obviously a trick to defame Falun Gong.