[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 100 (Wednesday, July 18, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN SUPPORT OF THE FALUN DAFA

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR.

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 18, 2001

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize the 
determination and perseverance of the Falun Dafa, a peaceful movement 
seeking freedom to think as they wish and believe as they choose.
  But freedom they cannot have, as long as the Chinese-dictatorship 
government remains strong; i.e., as long as the rest of the world is 
willing to ignore the pervasive human rights abuse ongoing throughout 
China.
  The Chinese government is ``cracking down,'' i.e., executing as many 
followers they can capture, while much of the rest of the world looks 
the other way. Unbelievably, the world even awards China as host of the 
2008 Olympic Games--Games meant to celebrate life and the human spirit. 
China celebrates neither; rather, China bathes in blood. As Amnesty 
International recently reported, more people have been executed in 
China during the past three months than in all the rest of the world 
during the past three years.
  I support the efforts of the Falun Dafa to realize freedom, and pray 
that the day may soon come when the citizens of China, and all the 
world, will be free to worship the religion of their choosing and enjoy 
the basic human right of religious freedom. That is what the Pilgrims 
came to America for, and it is disheartening that freedom remains 
elusive for so many people nearly four-hundred years since the 
Pilgrims' perilous departure across the seas.
  It is past time for America and the world to take a proactive stand 
against the alarming human rights abuse in China. As we speak, another 
will likely be executed, or as the Chinese officials may report, 
another will commit ``suicide.''
  Ladies and Gentlemen, we are looking down the fangs of a dragon. 
There have been forty-nine Falun Dafa deaths reported in the past 
month; tens of thousands are suffering in labor ``re-education'' camps 
where the use of torture, forced confessions, arbitrary arrest, rape, 
and denial of due process are reportedly rampant. We must stop this 
death and dying at the hand of Communist Chinese dictators. I hope that 
the world will soon unite in proactive support for the freedom of 
mankind that so many have given their lives for. Let them not die in 
vain.
  I appreciate this opportunity to lend my support to the efforts of 
the Falun Dafa Practitioners to realize freedom, and I wish them well 
in their quest for this ideal. May this serve as opportunity for the 
world to do right.

                          ____________________