Zhao Ming Becomes Focus of Irish Media

In 2001, during the period when Premier Zhu Rongji visited Ireland, Falun Gong practitioner Zhao Ming had once been the media focus in Ireland. At that time, all kinds of media reported on the human rights issue in China at length. Most of the reports focused on the persecution of Zhao Ming and Falun Gong in China. During that period of time, the Irish Premier, the Irish President and the President of Trinity College in Dublin all brought forward the Zhao Ming issue to the Chinese Premier, which marked the milestone of the campaign that overseas people with senses of justice from all walks of life participated in to rescue Zhao Ming.

Under pressure from the strong voice of justice worldwide, Zhao Ming was released on March 12 after nearly two years of detention in the forced labour camp sponsored by Jiang's government. He returned to Ireland on March 23. Zhao Ming has become the media focus in Ireland again. On March 25, the "Friends of Zhao Ming," Graduate Student Association and the Student Association of Trinity College held a press conference to celebrate Zhao Ming's return. Many reporters and photographers from various media outlets came to interview Zhao Ming. On the next day, at least 5 newspapers reported Zhao Ming's story with his photos. In addition, Zhao Ming also accepted a live telephone interview from RTE, an Irish national radio station. Television station, TV3, invited Zhao Ming to their studio for a live interview. Irish national TV station, RTE, also sent reporters to one of our practice sites, Merrion Square, at the weekend to do a feature story. They asked Zhao Ming to talk about his experiences in the forced labour camp and the persecution he had endured. They also asked Falun Gong practitioners from Ireland to demonstrate the exercises and asked some practitioners to share their experiences in cultivation. This camera crew filmed and produced the special program introducing Falun Dafa and broadcasted it on TV.