Radio Free Asia: Report on Liu Feng's Return to Ireland

After great efforts from Falun Gong practitioners, human rights organisations and Irish society in general, Falun Gong practitioner Liu Feng finally returned to Ireland to continue his studies. Below is the recorded report by RFA special reporter Tian Yi in Germany.

We have reported several times on activities held by Irish Falun Gong practitioners and human rights organisations, calling on the Chinese Government to release Liu Feng immediately. Recently our reporter learned that Liu Feng has finally regained his freedom and returned to Ireland to continue his studies.

Our reporter interviewed Ms Dai Dongxue, who has participated in appeal and rescue activities during the past three years. Regarding Liu Feng’s situation, she explained, “Liu Feng was arrested when he went back to China in December 1999 to appeal for Falun Gong. Zhao Ming and Yang Fang also went with him. After going back, he wrote a letter to Zhu Rongji, the Chinese Premier, telling him the truth about Falun Gong. The police then arrested him. He was released after a period of time in jail. In the summer of 2002, he went to apply for a visa and extend his passport to return to Ireland. But when he went shopping he was arrested once again by the police. He was then detained at Yao Jia Detention Centre. After a few months of detention, he was sent to Dalian Re-education School, and was 're-educated' for two years.”

Due to the efforts of members of the Irish society, Mr. Zhao Ming was released in 2002 and returned to his studies in Ireland. Since 2002, Zhao Ming has been everywhere in Europe, devoting his activities to freeing Liu Feng and Yang Fang.

“Coincidentally and with great timing too, from January to June was Ireland’s turn to chair the European Union. This gave us lots of chances to lobby the Irish Government and there were lots of European Union conferences and some others, for example China’s human rights forums. They were all held in Dublin. In this period, Premier Wen Jiabao visited Ireland. Ireland’s Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs mentioned the two students’ situation to Premier Wen Jiabao. After Premier Wen Jiabao left, the Chinese Embassy’s Ambassador Mr Sha Hailin said that Liu Feng could be freed and be able to return to Ireland. So, on the 25th of July, Liu Feng came back to Dublin.”

Ms Dai Dongxue also said that they learned that now, apart from Yang Fang, another student called Jiang Xiaofeng, who went back to China from Ireland to visit his family, was illegally arrested because of Falun Gong issues and then sent to Shenyang City’s Zhang’s Re-education Centre. They will continue to put every effort into seeking the freedom of Yang Fang and Jiang Xiaofeng.