The World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong recently launched an initiative targeting assets and properties of Chinese government officials who have participated in the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

“Many high-ranking Chinese officials have been smuggling dirty money overseas,” explains Mr. Weisman. “Among them, many are followers of Jiang's policy of genocide against Falun Gong practitioners…we want to confiscate the properties of these corrupt government officials.”

Mr. Weisman is legal council for the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG), a U.S.-based organisation established to investigate the persecution of Falun Gong in China as well as Jiang Zemin’s efforts to implement the persecution in other countries.

Announced on April 9, the WOIPFG’s latest initiative seeks to target assets and properties of Chinese government officials who have participated in the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

WOIPFG’s President, Mr. John Jaw, says investigations are well underway.

In addition to WOIPFG’s own investigation, Mr. Weisman says the organisation is tapping other agencies for assistance. “WOIPFG is requesting that appropriate federal agencies, such as the FBI, assist our efforts to amass evidence against responsible parties, commence criminal prosecutions, seize assets under applicable federal laws, and ensure that those who are found guilty are appropriately sentenced,” says Mr. Weisman.

Mr. Weisman also indicated that Senator Patrick Leahy’s recent proposal of the Anti-Atrocity Alien Deportation Act of 2003 by is “very encouraging.”

“The proposed law is intended to close loopholes in our immigration laws that have allowed war criminals and human rights abusers to enter and remain in this country,” says Mr. Weisman.

WOIPFG was founded in Boston, MA in January 2003. A European sister organisation of the same name was founded in March with its headquarters in Berlin, Germany.

Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance.” It is a practise that was taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and separate from other practises such as the religions of Buddhism and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practised in over 50 countries.

With government estimates of as many as 100 million practising Falun Gong, China’s President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practise in July 1999 (report), fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions who had experienced improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong, Jiang’s regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practise while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practise it.

The European Falun Gong Information Centre has verified details of 654 deaths (reports / sources) since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. Government officials inside China, however, report that the actual death toll is well over 1,600, while expert sources estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labour camps, typically without trial.