Supporters of freedom of belief all over the world will greet the news of the imminent release of Zhao Ming, announced on 24 January 2002, by Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Cowen following his meeting in Beijing with Chinese Foreign Minister, Tang Jiaxuan, with widespread delight.
Mr Cowen was on a three-day official visit to China. During his two and a half hour meeting with Mr Tang Jiaxuan, he was given the news that Zhao Ming will be released and assured no physical ill-treatment of him.
Zhao Ming, a student at Trinity college, Dublin and a Falun Gong practitioner, returned to Beijing in December 1999 to appeal to the Chinese government to stop the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, but was subsequently detained in Tuan He Farm Labour Camp in Daxin County outside Beijing, where he has been tortured and beaten by guards.
After nearly 2 years in the labour camp, he will be allowed to apply to return to Ireland to resume his studies after his release on March 12th 2002, according to Mr Tang Jixuan. During his captivity, he was subjected to a horrific regime of torture, including being brought almost to the point of death on one occasion for not renouncing his belief.
Although the Chinese Minister’s statement made it clear that the release follows a long period of “re-education”, for which we understand as “brainwashing and torture”, European Friends of Falun Gong sincerely hopes that this may mark the beginning of a relaxing of the Chinese government’s attitude towards Falun Gong.
Friends of Falun Gong Europe
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