Open Letter to President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao from the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG)
June 8, 2007
Dear President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao:
We respectfully request that your government cease the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and its supporters, and allow an independent international investigation of the allegations of state-sanctioned organ harvesting.
As individuals and as an organization, we in CIPFG are concerned with social justice and basic human rights. The persecution endured by Falun Gong practitioners in China over the past eight years is so much to bear that we feel like we are going through almost the same experience.
Based on reports from the United Nations and other renowned human rights organizations, as well as extensive coverage from media around the world, we are aware that thousands of innocent Falun Gong practitioners have died as a result of this persecution. We are shocked to learn about the methods of torture practitioners are subjected to and the damage done to their lives. In addition, we are particularly disturbed by the reports on state-sanctioned harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners’ organs.
Knowing that tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners are still jailed in China, facing both torture and organ harvesting, we cannot keep silent any longer.
We understand that this crime against humanity was not instigated by either of you. We are aware that both of you have also attempted to put an end to this campaign of genocide that has involved almost all the people of China. We see humane qualities in you and a sense of responsibility as leaders of the state. This is one of the reasons we decided to write to you.
We are not hostile to China. In fact, we love the Chinese people, and we hold China’s 5000 years of civilization in high regard. Please remember that one day history will write its verdict on what you choose to do, just as it has done with all China’s previous rulers.
The 2008 Olympics is an opportunity for the Chinese people. When the international community awarded the Games to China, they expected that the Chinese people would benefit in many different ways, including in the matter of their basic human rights.
Nevertheless, we regret to note that since 2001, human rights overall in China have deteriorated to the extent that hideous crimes, such as organ seizures, are still occurring.
We believe that it would be a blur on the history of the Olympics and a shame to humanity as a whole if the Games and crimes against humanity were to take place simultaneously in China. Therefore, we request that you stop the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and prisoners of conscience such as human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng.
Whether more calls for an international boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympics will occur depends on your decision on these important issues within the next two months.
Yours sincerely,
The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG)
Rabbi Dr. Reuven Bulka , Religious leader and scholar, Chairman of the OrganDonation Committee of the Kidney Foundation for Eastern Ontario, Canada
President of CIPFG US-Canada Chapter
Andrew Bartlett, Australian Democrats Senator,
Co-Chair of CIPFG Australia Chapter
Lai Ching-Te, Taiwan Legislator,
President of CIPFG Asia Chapter
Baroness Caroline Cox, Member of the House of Lords (UK),
President of CIPFG Europe Chapter
Hon. David Kilgour
Former Canadian Secretary of State, Asia-Pacific
Co-Author of BLOODY HARVEST - An Investigation Report
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