Philippine Government Must Not Press Charges against Peaceful Protesters
The Philippine Falun Dafa Association is calling on the government not to press charges against adherents who were peacefully protesting human rights abuses committed in China.
During the ASEAN conference in July 2007 in Manila, four Falun Gong practitioners held an appeal calling for an end to the brutal persecution of Falun Gong adherents in China. The four were illegally detained and then charged with violating the government’s “No permit, no rally” policy.
"We hope that the Philippine government and police do not succumb to the Chinese Communist Party’s economic and political influence, trading its conscience for temporary material or political benefits," says Michael Santos, Spokesman for the Philippine Falun Dafa Association. “Today it’s Falun Gong, tomorrow it will be another group. We cannot let the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) chip away at our hard-earned freedoms.”
On September 19, the four submitted a counter-affidavit to Pasay City court, asserting that the practitioners’ arrest by the police without just cause violated Articles 124 of the penal code prohibiting arbitrary detention, as well as their right to freedom of expression guaranteed in the Constitution (Article III, Section 4). Meanwhile, they are calling on the government to drop the charges all together.
“For the past eight years of the persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party, the Party has repeatedly exported its persecution beyond China's borders,” says Santos. “The detention and the charges against these four practitioners is part of this systematic, global harassment.”
The Philippine government has recently had much contact with the Chinese Communist Party, including visits from top officials like the Foreign Minister Yang Jie Chi who came during ASEAN. Bo Xilai, China’s current Minister of Commerce, was also in the Philippines. Bo, who had previously been governor of one of the deadliest provinces for Falun Gong adherents, has been sued in more than ten countries, including the United States, Russia, Australia and others.
“We are not against China and the Philippines having a good business relationship, but this must not be used as an excuse to be an accomplice to crimes against humanity, tarnishing the Philippines’ international image,” says Santos.
Background:
Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) is a practice which includes exercises, meditation and teachings that are based on the principles of "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance".
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) supported and endorsed it for years until July 1999, when the number of people practicing Falun Gong in China outnumbered the membership of the Party, and the practice was declared illegal by former CCP leader Jiang Zemin.
Since then, hundreds and thousands of Falun Gong adherents have been sentenced to prisons, labor camps and mental hospitals, often without trial. Widespread torture has been documented by human rights bodies, including the United Nations Special Rapporteurs, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. To date, more than 3,000 deaths of Falun Gong adherents at the hands of the Chinese authorities have been documented. Those who escape detention suffer systematic discrimination, including being fired from their jobs and expelled from school if they persist In their faith.
Soon after Jiang Zemin initiated the brutal persecution of Falun Gong in 1999, incidents of individuals hired by Chinese authorities threatening, harassing and assaulting Falun Gong practitioners overseas began occurring. Chinese diplomats have also been known to threaten, harass and pressure other countries’ officials, business and media to try and entice them to also violate the rights of Falun Gong adherents.
Nonetheless, Falun Gong has received international support from governments and legislative bodies, such as U.S. Congress, the European Union and Canadian Parliament. Falun Gong has also received more than 1,000 awards and recognition from different NGO's and governments. The founder of Falun Gong Mr. Li Hongzhi is a three time Nobel Peace Prize Nominee.
From Falun Dafa Association of the Philippines
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA ASSOCIATION of the PHILIPPINES
Contacts: Michael Santos (+63928-420-5687), or Jobo Laviña (+63921-427-8116).
Email: jb54321@fastmail.fm
, Bulacan@fastmail.fm
Website: www.falunpilipinas.net ; http://www.faluninfo.net/