As world leaders gathered in New York on Tuesday for the United Nations General Assembly, local Falun Gong practitioners appealed in front of the UN for individuals persecuted in China.
[Yi Rong, New York Falun Dafa Assocation]: (female, Chinese, 1st quote in footage)
“We are asking for an immediate end to the persecution of Falun Gong, stop the arrest of Falun Gong practitioners and release all those imprisoned. At the same time, we want the four main culprits behind the persecution: Jiang Zemin, Luo Gan, Zhou Yongkang and Luo Jing to be brought to justice.”
These wishes—also stated on the banners—were shown along with a demonstration of the Falun Gong exercises. The group has been appealing around the world since July 1999, after the Chinese regime began cracking down on the practice.
A New York Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Mei wanted to give Wen Jiabao a personal message.
[Ms. Mei, New York Falun Gong practitioner]: (female, Chinese, 2nd quote in footage)
“I want to tell Wen Jiabao to stop this persecution. Tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners are still being persecuted, and many more are having their organs removed while they are alive. I hope Wen Jiabao can try his best to end this persecution, and do a good deed for himself and the Chinese people.”
These calls are echoed by those who learned about the persecution.
[Anonymous, New York Resident]: (3rd quote in footage)
“I think every country that persecutes religion, history has shown that they suffer as a result. If you want your country to flourish, you should let people express themselves, and you would be much better off down the road.”
According to the Falun Dafa Information Center, the Chinese regime had estimated that between 70-to-100 million people in China practiced Falun Gong by 1999. But for the past 11 years, the regime has systematically vilified, detained, tortured and killed many of these individuals, with the aim of eradicating the practice.
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