WONG:
According to an Epoch Times report, more than 120 Falun Gong practitioners have been arrested in Jilin province of China alone, leading up to the Olympics in August. A Chinese lawyer speaking out for Falun gong practitioners says they should be protected by the law, but instead, the lawyers who stand up for Falun Gong are persecuted themselves. Here’s the full report.

STORY:
According to an investigation from the ‘World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong’ (WIOPFG), the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has implemented a policy to arrest Falun gong practitioners in the name of security ahead of the Olympic Games. This action involves more than 29 provinces, town and autonomous regions. Between the 1st of January 2008 and the 11th of March, there have been almost 2,000 cases indicating the illegal arrest of Falun Gong practitioners.

Chinese lawyer Guo Guo Ding was one of the first lawyers to stand up for Falun Gong in China. He currently lives in Canada.

[Guo GuoDing, Chinese Lawyer]:
‘I believe the spiritual side of Falun Gong only brings benefit to China, it has hundreds advantages but nothing bad. According to the Chinese constitution people should have freedom of belief; it should a basic right for people in China.”

Lawyer Guo started helping Falun Gong practitioners in 2003. He was the defending lawyer for six practitioners, but never had chance to meet his clients during the process. In the end, his attorney qualifications were nullified by the CCP, and he escaped overseas. But Guo says he’s not the only one this happened to.

[Guo Guo Ding, Chinese Lawyer]:
“100% of Falun Gong cases’ defending lawyers have been persecuted by government. Two lawyers are in the jail, two were sentenced, two were put in labor camp, two were fired, I chose to run to overseas.”

We’ll keep updated on further reports of the crackdown on Falun Gong leading up to the Olympics.

NTD New York