The Ambassador of France

Régis de Belenet
Kongens Nytorv 4
1050 København K

Open Letter

Copenhagen, 16 January 2004

Your Exellency,

I urgently write to you regarding the upcoming celebrations of the Chinese New Year 2004, to be held in Paris from January 23-25.

It has come to my attention that Falun Gong practitioners have been refused admission in the Chinese New Year’s parade to be held on Champs Elysées on January 23, as well as having been refused the permission to conduct a separate parade at other Paris locations.

It is worrying that the French Association of Falun Gong, which is a legally registered association recognized by the French authorities for its peaceful activities, has been barred from representing the100 million Falun Gong practitioners in China and in more than 60 countries worldwide.

As other Falun Gong Associations in dozens of countries, the French Falun Gong Association has a profound respect for the law and has always been non confrontational in its form of expression, as such Falun Gong is both a worthy representative of the Chinese people and their culture as well as exponent of a great Chinese cultural heritage.

The media has reported that the Chinese Embassy in France have exerted pressure on the French authorities to make them disallow Falun Gong’s participation in the parade. The Chinese authorities have threatened to cancel all of their participation in the celebrations which has consequently resulted in the undesirable situation where a great nation like France, known to be protective of human rights and equality, have been intimidated by China’s leadership to rescind from its democratic principles. Furthermore to bar Falun Gong practitioners from participating would be an act of discrimination and a great injustice to a peaceful group of people.

The pattern of repression that the Chinese regime is using is an act that deliberately violates the civil rights of citizens in free countries as well as an indecent attempt to control the authorities of sovereign states. It is something that unfortunately has been going on ever since the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners began more than 4½ years ago. It is a shame if Falun Gong’s performances of Lion Dance, Chinese Drummers Dance, decorated floats etc., which twice won the Edinburgh Festival Cavalcade’s First Community Prize, should be missing from this great New Year Celebration for peace and friendship between nations.

The principles of Falun Gong are Truth-Compassion-Forbearance whilst the principles of the French people are Liberty-Equality-Fraternity; let us live up to these noble principles and visions in a compassionate and truthful way, allowing good people to live out their good intentions, while at the same time not giving in to pressure from a dictatorial regime that tramples on human rights and dignity.

We are trusting your government’s good sense of judgement and are confident that you will do your best to serve the people’s interest in this case allowing Falun Gong practitioner’s contributions in the festivities.

I sincerely wish you a Happy Chinese New Year 2004.

Respectfully yours,

Marco Hsu
Chairman
On behalf of the Danish Association of Falun Gong

Rialtovej 7
2300 S – Copenhagen
Tel. : +45. 61 34 37 10
Email : marcohsu@ziplip.com

A copy of this letter has been sent to :

Danish Premiere Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs Per Stig Møller, Danish Minister of Justice Lene Espersen, MP Peter Skaarup, MP Anne Baastrup, MP Søren Søndergaard, MP Elisabeth Arnold, The Danish Embassy in France, Tyge Lehmann Danish Ambassador of International Law, members of the Danish press, AFP as well as various NGO’s.