U.S. Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) has led an effort to call on the U.S. Administration to give public and diplomatic support to the persecuted members of the religious group Falun Gong in the People’s Republic of China.

    In a letter to President Obama (click here to read entire letter), Smith, Rob Andrews (NJ-01) and 59 other members of Congress ask that official U.S. policy toward members of the Falun Gong religious group in China reflect strong U.S. concern about its repression by the Chinese government. Ten years ago, in response to a peaceful demonstration, the Chinese government virtually banned the practice of the Falun Gong faith.

    Falun Gong is a spiritual group that practices a religion described by its members as traditional Chinese spirituality with Buddhist characteristics. Since June 1999, the Chinese government has outlawed, vigorously pursued, and brutally persecuted Falun Gong members.

    “Our government has a duty to speak out on behalf of all those whose fundamental human rights are violated,” the July 8 letter reads. “In view of the extreme brutality of the persecution faced by Falun Gong practitioners, our government should speak very clearly and specifically on their behalf to the Chinese government. We hope you will take the opportunity to do so in the coming months, remembering the tragic 10-year anniversary of one of the most unjust and cruel persecutions of our times.”

    According to the 2008 Annual Report of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (Falun Gong section begins on page 87), of which Rep. Smith is the House Ranking Member, the Chinese government systematically persecutes the Falun Gong community. The central government established what is called its “6–10 Office” in 1999 to implement the brutal policy that outlaws Falun Gong, and issued an internal directive to local governments across China to suppress them. The report states members have been subjected to arrest, beatings, sexual molestation or rape, torture, re-education through labor camps and brainwashing.

    “The China Commission’s report recommended that in legislation and public statements related to China, the United States call for the Chinese government to guarantee freedom of religion to all Chinese citizens in accordance with Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” said Smith. “It also called for the release of confined, detained, or imprisoned individuals targeted simply for pursuing their right to freedom of religion. These are good recommendations, consistent with our country’s deep commitment to human rights for everyone. Ten years after the start of one of the most unjust and cruel persecutions in the world today, the President should speak out and let the Communist dictatorship know that the U.S. government objects to its actions and remains on the side of those seeking freedom and religious liberty in China.”

    The report is generated by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, a joint panel of Congress and the U.S. Administration to monitor human rights progress in China. The Falun Gong Information Center issued its own reaction to the letter in a statement Thursday.

 
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