Sample Letter to the CEO of Hong Kong:

March 28, 2002

Mr Tung Chee Hwa
Chief Executive, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region People's Republic of China
Office of the Chief Executive
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
People's Republic of China
5/F, Central Government Offices
Main Wing, Lower Albert Road, Hong Kong

Dear Mr. Chief Executive,

I am very concerned about reports of the arrest of 16 Falun Gong practitioners who were peacefully meditating outside the Special Envoy's offices. Multiple eye witness testimonies, as well as close-up video footage show scenes eerily reminiscent of Tiananmen Square in recent days: police strangling elderly women, thumbing pressure points, and pulling hair, as the nonviolent demonstrators grasp hands with each other in an attempt to stay together.

Yet, despite overwhelming video and eyewitness evidence to the contrary, Hong Kong police have now claimed that they were "bitten" and "kicked" by the Falun Gong practitioners, and have even filed a lawsuit in an apparent effort to lend legitimacy to their claims. Such schemes are common in Mainland China, where police routinely turn the tables on the victims of their brutality by making false claims against their victims. It is disturbing, however, to see such behavior in the police of the Special Autonomous Region of Hong Kong, which historically has respected freedom of expression, human rights, and the rule of law.

Such disingenuous claims and calculated accusations are now commonplace among Beijing officials with respect to their handling of religious freedom and human rights, but the world expects better from Hong Kong, and knows Hong Kong is capable of deserving such respect.

In nearly three years of ongoing persecution, Falun Gong practitioners have won support and respect throughout the world for their strict dedication to nonviolence and peaceful, passive resistance in the face of overwhelming violence and brutality. In the tens of thousands of arrests and detentions carried out in China, not once has a Falun Gong practitioner fought back or committed an act of violence. These sixteen peaceful demonstrators in Hong Kong seem to be no exception.

It is disturbing that Beijing would go to such lengths to carry out the illegal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in the SAR of Hong Kong. We trust Hong Kong authorities will recognize that bending to such pressure from Beijing will destroy the goodwill and reputation of integrity Hong Kong enjoys within the world community, and will mark the beginning of the end for freedom of belief, conscience, and assembly in Hong Kong.

Sincerely,

Barbara Anello
anello@thot.net
975 McKeown Ave.
Unit 5A, Suite 162
North Bay, ON P1B 9P2

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Sample Letter to the Premier of the People's Republic of China

Premier of the People's Republic of China
ZHU Rongji Zongli
Guowuyuan
9 Xihuangchenggenbeijie
Beijingshi 100032
People's Republic of China

Your Excellency,

I am gravely concerned about the safety of Falun Gong practitioners in your country, particularly in the Changchun region. There are many reports reaching the US about horrible atrocities being committed by your government against these people. Please do not allow Falun Gong practitioners to be beaten, tortured, killed, or otherwise abused. Instead, see to it that those who do such things and order such actions are instead punished to the full extent of the law, as they are the true criminals.

I urge you to guarantee the safety of all those detained in connection with the takeover of the Changchun TV station and during the ensuing police operation, and to clarify their names and whereabouts.

I urge you to ensure that all those detained have immediate access to lawyers, their families and medical attention.

I call on you to release immediately and unconditionally all Falun Gong members detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their fundamental human rights.

Sincerely,

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Sample Letter to Governor of the Jilin Provincial People's Government

Governor of the Jilin Provincial People's Government
HONG Hu Shengzhang
Jilinsheng Renmin Zhengfu
11 Xinfa Lu
Changchunshi 130051
Jilinsheng
People's Republic of China

Dear Governor,

I am gravely concerned about the safety of Falun Gong practitioners in your country, particularly in the Changchun region. There are many reports reaching the US about horrible atrocties being committed against by your government against these people. Please do not allow Falun Gong practitioners to be beaten, tortured, or otherwise abused. Instead, see to it that those who do such things and order such actions are instead punished to the full extent of the law, as they are the true criminals.

I urge you to guarantee the safety of all those detained in connection with the takeover of the Changchun TV station and during the ensuing police operation, and to clarify their names and whereabouts.

I urge you to ensure that all those detained have immediate access to lawyers, their families and medical attention.

I call on you to release immediately and unconditionally all Falun Gong members detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their fundamental human rights.

Sincerely,

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Sample Letter to the Director of the Jilin Provincial Department of Public Security

Director of the Jilin Provincial Department of Public Security
ZHAO YONGJI Tingzhang
Jilin Gong'anting
42 Xinfalu
Changchunshi 130051
Jilinsheng
People's Republic of China

Dear Director,

I am gravely concerned about the safety of Falun Gong practitioners in your country, particularly in the Changchun region. There are many reports reaching the US about horrible atrocities being committed by your government against these people. Please do not allow Falun Gong practitioners to be beaten, tortured, or otherwise abused. Instead, see to it that those who do such things and order such actions are instead punished to the full extent of the law, as they are the true criminals.

I urge you to guarantee the safety of all those detained in connection with the takeover of the Changchun TV station and during the ensuing police operation, and to clarify their names and whereabouts.

I urge you to ensure that all those detained have immediate access to lawyers, their families and medical attention.

I call on you to release immediately and unconditionally all Falun Gong members detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their fundamental human rights.

Sincerely,

URGENT ACTION ALERT - PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Fear for Safety/Fear of Torture or iIl-treatment - Falun Gong practitioners in Changchun City

(Ed. note: since this alert was issued on March 15, 2002, inside sources now attribute more than 5,000 detained and dozens, possibly 100 dead) see updated story)


PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Fear for Safety/Fear of Torture or iIl-treatment Falun Gong practitioners in Changchun City

Dozens of suspected members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement have reportedly been detained during a security crackdown in Changchun City, Jilin Province. Amnesty International believes they are at serious risk of torture or ill-treatment.

A major police operation was launched after a group of Falun Gong members took over a state-owned cable television company in Changchun on 5 March and broadcast pro-Falun Gong films. Local police reportedly stated on 8 March that one person had been arrested in connection with the incident and that two other suspects were being sought. Other media reports suggested that three people had been detained, but no further details have been made available.

Since then, police "stop-and-search" checkpoints have reportedly been established across the city and dozens of alleged Falun Gong practitioners have been detained.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been arbitrarily detained in China since the spiritual movement was banned as a "threat to social and political stability" in July 1999. Some have been charged with crimes and sentenced after unfair trials, while others have been sent to labour camps without trial. Many of them are reported to have been tortured or ill-treated in detention.

Falun Gong sources have claimed that a special government taskforce, the "610 office", established to lead the campaign against the Falun Gong, issued unwritten instructions in 2001 allowing the police and other officials to go beyond legal restraints in the campaign, discharging them of responsibility if a Falun Gong member dies in detention due to beatings.

Over 350 Falun Gong practitioners are reported to have died in custody since the 1999 ban.

The programmes broadcast while the Changchun TV station was in the hands of Falun Gong members included footage of the US-based Falun Gong spiritual leader, Li Hongzhi, who was born in Changchun. They also included a film accusing the government of staging the incident in Tiananmen Square last year when alleged Falun Gong members set themselves on fire. Footage of the incident has been broadcast widely in China in an apparent attempt to turn public opinion against the group.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Chinese, English or your own language:

• urging the authorities to guarantee the safety of all those detained in connection with the takeover of the Changchun TV station and during the ensuing police operation, and to clarify their names and whereabouts;
  
  
• urging the authorities to ensure that all those detained have immediate access to lawyers, their families and medical attention;
  
  
• calling on the authorities to release immediately and unconditionally all Falun Gong members detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their fundamental human rights;
  
  
• expressing your concern at repeated reports that Falun Gong members have suffered torture and other serious human rights violations, and calling on the authorities to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

You can download, view and/or print, pre-addressed, written letters to Chinese officials from this pinpoint URL: http://dawn.thot.net/docs/hk.doc

Urgent Action Alert for Changchun, China - Email Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs
http://dawn.thot.net/falun_gong4.html

Letter to Premier of the People's Republic of China

Letter to the Governor of the Jilin Provincial People's Government

Letter to the Director of the Jilin Provincial Department of Public Security

COPIES TO:

Xinhua News Agency
E-mail: english_mail@xinhuanet.com and to diplomatic representatives of the People's Republic of China accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY ... Before 26 April 2002.