July 14, 2008- Special Falun Gong News Bulletin
Monitoring the recent events in Flushing, New York
Falun Dafa Information Center (FDI) Releases
• Aftershocks: Chinese Mobs Incited to Attack Falun Gong in New York, Elsewhere
• Chinese Consul General Boasts of Encouraging Violent Mob against Falun Gong in New York
• Hate Crimes Continue in Flushing for Eleventh Consecutive Day, 57-year-old beaten
Media Reports
• New York Post: ‘Gong’ Assault Hate Crime: DA
• New Tang Dynasty Video Footage: Chinese Communist Regime Incites Mob Attacks on Falun Gong in New York
• New York Daily News: Falun Gong supporters in Flushing say they’re targets
• Epoch Times: U.S. Marine Concerned after Mother Assaulted in Flushing
U.S. Government Response
• Agence France Presse: US lawmakers blame Chinese government for Falun Gong attack
• Macro World Investor.com: Congressman Trent Franks’ Opening statement at hearing – Impact of Olympics on Religious freedom in China
• Epoch Times: NYC Councilmember Calls for FBI Inquiry into Hate Crimes
Falun Dafa Information Center (FDI) Releases
Aftershocks: Chinese Mobs Incited to Attack Falun Gong in New York, Elsewhere
May 21, 2008- The Falun Dafa Information Center reported that mobs of hundreds have been assembled in Flushing, New York, daily since Saturday, May 17, to assail Falun Gong practitioners even as millions throughout China mourn. This and similar incidents occurring on the same days elsewhere, coupled with aggressive coverage from state-run media in China, suggest that Beijing authorities are orchestrating these events, post-earthquake, as a means of channeling emotions against political targets.
Several adherents of Falun Gong, including U.S. and Canadian citizens, up to 70 years of age, and including a mother whose two sons are serving in Iraq with the U.S. military, have been physically assaulted by the pro-communist crowds, with others receiving threats on their lives.
At least two arrests have been made by Queens police; hate crime charges are allegedly pending. Other Falun Gong members have been pelted with bottles, eggs, and stones, and been spit on by the assembled masses.
Full Story: /article/536/
Chinese Consul General Boasts of Encouraging Violent Mob against Falun Gong in New York
May 23, 2008- The Falun Dafa Information Center has obtained a recorded phone conversation with New York City’s Chinese Consul General, Mr. Peng Keyu, in which he confirms his role in encouraging a mob of several-hundred Chinese immigrants to assail Falun Gong practitioners in Flushing, New York, over the past four days.
During the recorded conversation, Consul General Peng described the Consulate’s influence with Chinese Community leaders and its frequent use of that influence to attack Falun Gong on U.S. soil. “I have done it very frequently…I would say I have kept a very good relationship with them [Chinese community leaders]… I pay them personal visits frequently… For example, they came over after they fought with Falun Gong and I shook hands with them one by one and thanked them.”
Full story: /article/728/
Hate Crimes Continue in Flushing for Eleventh Consecutive Day, 57-year-old beaten
May 28, 2008 – A pro-communist mob continued to assault Falun Gong adherents in the Flushing area of New York City Tuesday for the eleventh consecutive day. Reporters who attempted to cover the scene Tuesday were surrounded by the mobs, who reportedly threatened “I will kill you!” One Falun Gong adherent had her camera grabbed and smashed by some of the protesters over Memorial Day long weekend.
At least six arrests have been made by New York City police of members of the pro-Communist mob, with charges ranging from assault to resisting arrest. No arrests have been made against Falun Gong adherents, who have been congregating peacefully in Flushing since the attacks began.
On May 26, 57-year-old artist Ms. Wang Weixing was among the latest assault victims in Flushing. At approximately 3:30pm, she picked up a Chinese newspaper whose lead story was about the events in Flushing and was quickly surrounded by hecklers. One witness claims she also saw the man punch Wang in the chest, where she reported suffering severe pain.
Full story: /article/577/
For further details on Wang’s case see: /article/576/
For additional information and details on past instances of Chinese government interference in the rights of Falun Gong adherents and supporters in outside of China, see: http://www.faluninfo.net/topic/106/
Media Reports
New York Post: ‘Gong’ Assault Hate Crime: DA
June 30, 2008: The Brooklyn DA is seeking hate-crime charges against a Chinatown man who attacked a Falun Gong practitioner with a steering-wheel locking device.Victor Yau, 60, is accused of smashing software engineer John Yu, a devotee of the controversial Chinese spiritual movement, in the hand on June 15 in Sunset Park.
Full story: http://www.nypost.com/seven/06302008/news/regionalnews/gong_assault_hate_crime__da_117853.htm
For further details about the attack and charges filed against Victor Yau (also going by the name Qiu Wei), see: “Men Attack Falun Gong in Two Separate Incidents” http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-6-17/71962.html and “Man Faces Two Felonies for Attacking Falun Gong Practitioner” http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-6-28/72602.html
New Tang Dynasty Video Footage: Chinese Communist Regime Incites Mob Attacks on Falun Gong in New York
For video footage of the mob attacks in Flushing, New York and the full recording of the Consul General, see: http://www.youmaker.com/video/sv?id=b8ee83fcab794731814de9230ae03737001
New York Daily News: Falun Gong supporters in Flushing say they’re targets
May 30, 2008 – “Falun Gong practitioners are a common sight in downtown Flushing, standing by the library on Main St., holding signs criticizing the Chinese government. Sometimes they hear harsh words from passers-by, mostly Chinese-Americans sympathetic to the government. But those encounters have turned particularly nasty and violent in recent weeks, prompting a larger police presence.
Judy Chen, a Falun Gong practitioner who lives in Flushing, said she was punched by a woman last week as she tried to hand out literature detailing the group’s charges of persecution. The woman was part of a mob that attacked her group, Chen said.
Epoch Times: U.S. Marine Concerned after Mother Assaulted in Flushing
June 9, 2008 – “Lance Corporal John Lee Caldwell, 26, came home to New York from North Carolina’s Second Marine Division after hearing what happened to his mom. His mother, Mrs. [Judy] Chen had been beaten and threatened with death by a pro-communist mob during violent attacks against Falun Gong practitioners in Flushing, Queens on May 20.
Caldwell, who plans to leave soon for his second tour in Iraq, said that after receiving news of his mother’s attack on his birthday, May 21, he felt both concerned and angered by the incident. “It really just broke my heart,” said Caldwell. “No matter where I am in the world, if she needs me, I’ll be there. I’m very proud of her and I’ll help her to keep doing what she’s doing and keep going to let other people know what’s going on.”
[Regarding Chinese Consul General Keyu Peng’s admission of encouraging attacks], Caldwell said, “Deport him. If he’s going to commit crimes against innocent people, then he should be charged […] Get him out of the country. … He’s putting bad things in people’s minds and putting dirty words in their mouths.””
Full story: http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-6-9/71588.html
U.S. Government Response
Agence France Presse: US lawmakers blame Chinese government for Falun Gong attack
June 5, 2008 – “Republican lawmakers Tom Tancredo and Dana Rohrabacher charged Thursday that the Chinese government were behind the attacks [on Falun Gong adherents in Flushing] and called on President George W. Bush’s administration to lodge a protest with Beijing and seek an immediate explanation.
‘The government of the United States should investigate this and, if I am accurate in my assumption about the cause, should lodge a protest to the government of China, and take a strong an action as possible, including the request for the removal of the offending parties,’ [Tancredo] said.
Full story: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iFibnzllydzNtM-ZWvKLW70odg2w
Macro World Investor.com: Congressman Trent Franks’ Opening statement at hearing – Impact of Olympics on Religious freedom in China
June 23, 2008 – “Most of you have probably already heard about the attacks on Falun Gong adherents, human rights and democracy activists in Flushing, New York last month. The Falun Dafa Information Center obtained a copy of a recorded phone conversation with New York City’s Chinese Consul General, Mr. Peng Keyu, where he reportedly confirmed his role in countering their peaceful demonstrations.
As the New York City police look into the attacks on these demonstrators, I am very disturbed to even consider that the Chinese government may have been involved in intimidating these demonstrators here in the United States. Sadly, we have the Tian’anmen Square to remind us of what happens to those who protest inside China, but the freedom to peacefully assemble is a cornerstone to America’s freedom and, at the very least, we must do what we can to protect those who choose to express this right while they are here.”
Full Story: http://www.macroworldinvestor.com/m/m.w?lp=GetStory&id=311519261
Epoch Times: NYC Councilmember Calls for FBI Inquiry into Hate Crimes
June 28, 2008 – Councilmember Tony Avella (District 19) announced a resolution that he will introduce in the City Council this summer regarding the recent mob violence against Falun Gong in Flushing and other parts of the city. The resolution will ask the FBI to investigate allegations.
“I’m here to say on behalf of the members of Falun Gong, that here at the city we are not going to tolerate this,” Avella said. “I hope that some time during the summer I can get quick passage of the resolution… If the Chinese government is found in any way, shape, or form to have participated in, encouraged, or supported these attacks then those individuals should be expelled from this country”
The resolution calls on the Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown to charge those arrested in recent attacks on Falun Gong practitioners with hate crimes.
Full Story: http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-6-28/72592.html
