Amnesty International and U.K. Falun Gong Practitioners Work Together

A group of UK Falun Gong practitioners attended Amnesty International's Regional Meeting in London on 9 December 2000. Representatives of the various Amnesty Groups in London and the South East of England attended. These representatives are very influential because each Amnesty Group is autonomous - they do not have to do what Amnesty's headquarters say. It was important for the practitioners at the meeting to explain the truth about Falun Gong to each representative so that each local group will help.

Collum McAndrew, the Regional Representative of Amnesty International, was in charge of the meeting. He gave a very positive introduction about Falun Gong to the Group. One UK practitioner than gave a short introduction of Falun Gong: - what it was; why it was being persecuted; the extent and nature of the persecution; and how Amnesty could help.

We then played "Falun Gong -- Real Story 2" video. Following this, three practitioners told their personal stories of persecution.

Some of the members of the audience were in tears and clearly upset by what they saw and heard. One member of the audience was a psychiatrist and he has promised to write an article in a psychiatric journal about the abuses occurring in mental hospitals. He has also agreed to write to the Royal College of Psychiatrists. One of the representatives asked whether any Falun Gong practitioner was a "prisoner of conscience". Collum advised that Amnesty works slowly.

Collum McAndrew then asked each member of the audience to sign a letter to the Chinese Ambassador. The letter said:

H.E. Mr Ma Zhengang

Embassy of the People's Republic of China

49-51 Portland Place

London W1N 4JL

Your Excellency,

FALUN GONG SUPPORTERS

I am writing to express my deep concern at the treatment of followers of Falun Gong since your Government banned its practice in 1999.

I have received reports of many followers being intimidated, arrested, tortured and imprisoned. Those involved have been peacefully carrying out their inalienable right to freedom of expression. A right laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that China has signed and ratified.

I feel particularly disappointed in the actions of your Government, as I had hoped that its attempts to align itself with other countries on a business level would have secured an improvement in its people's rights.

I know how much your people value their independence and the pride they take in their considerable achievements. However these achievements must not come at the expense of the rights of your people.

I ask you to pass on my feelings on the treatment of Falun Gong supporters throughout China to your compatriots. Those currently imprisoned must be released immediately and unconditionally and those who have been tortured given access to proper medical treatment.

Yours respectfully,

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This letter was signed by most of the people at the meeting.

UK practitioners provided information packs and videos to the Amnesty members. Several Amnesty members asked UK practitioners to attend their local group meetings.

Overall the UK practitioners felt that the meeting was very useful in improving our relationship with Amnesty. A video recording was made of the meeting and this will be sent to Falun Dafa TV.

U.K. Practitioners