European Friends of Falun Gong Writes to UK Prime Minister Before Visit of CCP Leader

The Rt Hon Tony Blair MP
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA

31st October 2005

Dear Mr Blair

Re: Hu Jintao’s Visit to the UK

In view of the forthcoming visit of the Chinese leader to the UK, we are writing to express our concern over the continuing violation of human rights in China, particularly about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, which has been documented by the UN and many human rights organizations. We sincerely hope you can raise this issue to Hu Jintao during his visit.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been responsible for the deaths of 80 million Chinese people since 1949, and a recent Amnesty International report indicated that 90% of all deaths in the world are caused by the CCP and that they kill more people in three months than the rest of the world kills in three years. Recent defections in Australia and Canada by Chinese embassy officials bear witness to the strength of feeling even amongst Chinese people, many of whom can no longer stomach the outrages being committed by the CCP in the name of the Chinese nation.

President Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Martin both pressed Hu Jintao on the issue of human rights during his visit to North America earlier this month. On 9th September PM Martin even raised the specific issue of Falun Gong during his meeting with Hu, and President Bush gave him a list of human rights cases that the United States is concerned about, a list that a senior U.S. official said is headed by the lengthy imprisonment of a researcher for the New York Times on accusations of disclosing state secrets.

It is important that Mr Hu realizes that the UK respects justice, democracy and supports human rights and that this is the underpinning to sustain long-term stability and prosperity in our trade and economic partnership with China. We believe the UK’s responsibility is clear and our voice is critical in bringing an end to the systemic persecution in China. The UK must act according to international human rights agreements, otherwise the UK is sending a message that it condones genocide and human rights violations.

We would very appreciate your support and understanding in this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Vice Chairman
European Friends Of Falun Gong