Radio Free Asia: Falun Gong Practitioners Appeal for the Release of Lin Wenrong in Front of the Chinese Consulate in Bonn

School friends of the detained Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Lin Wenrong, established a team together with German Falun Gong practitioners to appeal for her rescue. Lin returned home to China from her studies in Germany at the beginning of 2003 and was arrested because she is a Falun Gong practitioner. She is now imprisoned in her home city of Wuhan. Last weekend, the Lin Wenrong rescue team held an activity in front of the Chinese consulate in the German city of Bonn to appeal to the authorities of Wuhan for her immediate and unconditional release. The following is a report from Radio Free Asia correspondent Tian-yi:

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3 March 2003

Last weekend, the weather was particularly good. It was sunny, so many people were outdoors. In front of the Chinese consulate in Bonn, the former Chinese Embassy, Ms. Lin Wenrong’s German schoolmates and many German Falun Gong practitioners gathered to appeal to the authorities of Wuhan, China for an immediate and unconditional release of Ms. Lin Wenrong, who was arrested when going back to visit her family in Wuhan. This activity attracted many German citizens’ attention. We spoke with the organiser and a participant of this activity:

“When we were informed of the news that Ms. Lin Wenrong was arrested in China, we were very shocked and worried, so we established a team to rescue Ms. Lin Wenrong. We gather here in front of the Chinese consulate in Bonn to appeal to the Chinese government to release this harmless and fragile woman, Ms. Lin Wenrong, and other Falun Gong practitioners who are under arrest. Today’s activity will start at 10 in the morning and end at 6 in the afternoon.”

They hung banners and slogans in English, German, and Chinese reading, “Immediately Stop the Suppression of Falun Gong in China” and “Immediately and Unconditionally Release Ms. Lin Wenrong.” Pictures portraying the persecution of practitioners in China and written accounts of the practitioners who have been persecuted to death were also on display to the public.

Radio Free Asia also interviewed a German practitioner, who stated, “After hearing the news, we contacted the city government of Dusseldorf and had a talk with the Mayor. Then, we contacted the Foreign Affairs Office in Dusseldorf and the city government of Duisburg, because Duisburg and Wuhan are twinned cities. The Foreign Affairs Office immediately showed concern and wrote a letter to the Chinese Embassy, strongly requesting them to help rescue Lin Wenrong, and appealing to the Chinese government to release Lin Wenrong. We will continue to make efforts in contacting the German government and media, until Lin Wenrong is released.”

One of Lin Wenrong’s good friends from Dusseldorf told the reporter, “I think that practising Falun Gong is good. But I was followed when I went back to China last October [because I am a practitioner]. Actually, I think that we do not do any bad things, and should not have been treated this way. The arrest of Lin Wenrong is absolutely unreasonable. This incident should not have happened. We hope that the Chinese government can stop the persecution of the many Falun Gong practitioners. There is no reason to persecute any Falun Gong practitioners. They should be allowed to practice freely like they are in other countries. We especially hope that Lin Wenrong can be released soon and unconditionally.”

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The reporter saw that many German citizens signed the petition immediately after learning the facts about the treatment of Lin Wenrong. They also expressed their support for this activity. According to the reporter, the activities to rescue Lin Wenrong will last from March 3 to March 6, and will then move to the Chinese Embassy in the German capital, Berlin.

Chinese version available at http://www.yuanming.net/articles/200303/18792.html