U.S. Congressmen Call on Bush Administration to Pressure China for Release of U.S. Family Members
40 Family Members of U.S. Falun Gong Practitioners Illegally Held in China for Their Beliefs
NEW YORK (FDI) — Since July 2002, an international committee (website) consisting of over 100 families, from 16 different countries has been calling for the release of their loved ones who are illegally jailed in China because of their practice of Falun Gong (news).
Among those recently included in this rescue effort is Dr. Charles Li, a U.S. Citizen who was arrested upon his arrival in Guangzhou, China on January 22, 2003 while traveling to visit his relatives for the Chinese New Year (news).
This international effort has resulted in the early release of six Falun Gong practitioners in China. Many others have reported better treatment in labor camps because of their families’ efforts overseas.
Members of Congress have now joined the effort.
New Jersey Congressmen urge Secretary Powell to do “everything within your power”
In a joint letter to Secretary Powell dated January 22, 2003, ten members of Congress from New Jersey called for the “immediate release” of 37 individuals being held in Chinese labor camps for their practice of Falun Gong and who have family members residing in the United States.
“It is extremely disheartening to see that little progress has been made with respect to ending the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners,” the letter states. “The Chinese government continues to imprison, torture, and murder these peaceful individuals due to their fear and misunderstanding of the Falun Gong movement.”
The letter continues, “While we feel that all Falun Gong practitioners throughout the world should be freed from such persecution, of particular interest are those who have family members in the United States… There are currently 37.”
News of two more family members detained by authorities in China has since been reported, putting the current number at 40.
The New Jersey Congressmen called on the State Department to pass the names of the family members to the Chinese government and call for their “immediate release.”
The letter concludes, “The inhumane persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is an affront to human rights, and as such it can not be tolerated. Please do everything within your power to ensure that this grave injustice is brought to an end.”
The letter is signed by Congressmen Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Jim Saxton (R-NJ), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Mike Ferguson (R-NJ), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), and Donald Payne (D-NJ).
The 40 U.S. Family Members
1. | Zhou, Xuefei, Female, 28 Wife of Lu, Zhaohui, Atlanta, GA, USA Warehouse Manager |
Detained: November 1, 2000 Guangdong Women Labour Camp in Shangsui |
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2. | Wang, Zhiwen, Male, 53 Father of Wang, Xiaodan, Austin, TX, USA UT Austin Student |
Detained: July 20, 1999 Sentenced to 16 years in Tianjin Chading Labour Camp |
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3. | Zhang, Xingwu, Male, 60 Father of Zhang, Shuangying, New York, NY, USA Nurse |
Detained: January 1, 2001 Jinan Liuchangshan Labour Camp |
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4. | Liu, Pingjie, Female, 60 Mother of Zhang, Shuangying, New York, NY, USA Nurse |
Detained: January 1, 2001 Second Women Labour Camp in Shangdong |
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5. | Zeng, Linwen, Female, 67 Mother of Wu, Xueyuan, Troy, NY, USA Post-doctoral Researcher |
Detained: Before Spring Festival of 2002 Heizuizi Labour Camp, Jilin Province |
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6. | Huang, Yanyun, Female, 58 Mother of He, Haiying, Boston, MA, USA Biomedical Researcher |
Detained: July 20, 1999 Tuohuang Labour Camp in Xichang, now stays at home under monitoring |
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7. | He, Haiou, Male, 31 Brother of He, Haiying, Boston, MA, USA Biomedical Researcher |
Detained: October 1, 2000 Sentenced to 10 years illegally in Chongqing Labour Camp |
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8. | He, Haiyan, Female, 35 Sister of He, Haiying, Boston, MA, USA Biomedical Researcher |
Detained: December 1, 2000 Nanmusi Women Labour Camp in Zizhong, Sichuan. Now stay at home under monitoring |
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9. | Tiemu, Xuemei, Female, 50 Mother of Wu, Tie, Connecticut, USA Software Engineer |
Detained: August 1, 2002 Guizhou Women Labour Camp |
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10. | Chen, Jingjiang, Female, 54 Mother of Wan, Cheng, Minnesota, USA Ph.D. Student |
Detained: January 1, 2002 Wuhan Baofeng Road Women Prison |
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11. | Han, Jizheng, Female, 60 Mother of Wang, Yongsheng, Houston,TX, USA PH.D of Physics |
Detained: End of year 1999 Nanjing Spirit Hospital |
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12. | Zhang, Cui, Female, 59 Mother of Xu, Zhiwei, Chicago, IL, USA |
Detained: March 1, 2000 Now stay at home under monitoring |
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13. | Teng, Chunyan, Female, 38 Chunyan Teng is holding American Greencard |
Detained: December 1, 2000 Sentenced to 3 years in Beijing |
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14. | Yu, Fenglan, Female, 62 Mother of Yang, Chunguang |
Detained: date unknown Under monitoring at home, not allow to apply passport |
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15. | Yang, Dengyue, Male, 69 Father of Yang, Chunguang |
Detained: date unknown Under monitoring at home, not allow to apply passport |
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16. | Zhang, Ruifeng, Male, 38 Brother of Zhang, Ruili, Rhode Island, USA |
Detained: December 1, 1999 Sentenced to three and half years and Hebei Jidong Prison |
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17. | Xu, Yanxiang, Female, 38 Sister-in-law of Zhang, Ruili, Rhode Island, USA |
Detained: December 1, 1999 Shijiazhuang Labour Camp, Shenzhou Detention Center |
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18. | Liang, Shaoling, Female, 51 Sister of Liang, Yufeng, Boston, MA, USA |
Detained: January 1, 2000 Sanshui Labour Camp in Guangdong |
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19. | Dang, Zhenghua, Male, 33 Brother of Dang, Tongyun, North Carolina, USA |
Detained: date unknown Now becomes homeless |
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20. | Wan, Lilong, Female, 50 Aunt of Xu,Jianli, Chicago, IL, USA |
Detained: December 1, 1999 Sentenced to 3 years illegally |
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21. | Zhang, Yuhui, Male, 37 Wife of Huang, Hongjian, New York, NY, USA Sales |
Detained: December 16, 2000 Meixi 2nd Detention Center in Zhuhai, Guangdong |
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22. | Zhang, Meirong, Female, 56 Husband of Fu, Fucheng, San Jose, CA, USA |
Detained: February 2, 2002 Pixian Detention Center in Chengdu, Sichuang |
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23. | Lu, Jianghua, Female, 47 Sister of Lu, Zhonghua, San Jose, CA, USA |
Detained: August 29, 2002 Tieling Detention Center in Liaoning |
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24. | Hu, Zhiming, Male, 30 Brother of Hu, Zhihua, San Jose, CA, USA |
Detained: September 29, 2000 Shanghai Detention Center |
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25. | Hu, Zhiqiang, Male, 31 Brother of Hu, Zhihua, San Jose, CA, USA |
Detained: January 14, 2002 Dandong Labour Camp, Liaoning Province |
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27. | Zhang, A-lian, Female, 53 Sister of Zhang, Xiaoyan, Fremont, CA, USA |
Detained: August 29, 2002 Nanzhou Labor Camp, Zhuhai District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China |
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28. | Zhu, Junxiu, Female, 48 Mother of Yu Ye, Pennsylvania, USA |
Detained: September 28, 2002 Chengdu Labour Camp, Anjing District, Pi xian, Chengdu, Sichuan.Post code:610000 |
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29. | Yu, Jiaqing, Male, 50 Father of Yu Ye, Pennsylvania, USA |
Detained: September 28, 2002 Chengdu Labour Camp, Anjing District, Pi xian, Chengdu, Sichuan.Post code:610000 |
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30. | Yang, Jingfang, Female, Elder Sister of Yang, Jingduan, New Zersy, USA Doctor |
Detained: October 30, 2002 Hefei, Anhui, post code:230000 |
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31. | Zhang, Lixin, Female, 43 Sister of Zhang, Lizhi, New York, NY, USA Accoutant |
Detained: Sept, 2002 Beijing Tuanhe Labour Camp |
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32. | Yu, Benlan, Female, 60 Mother of Ke and Feng Yuan, New York, NY, USA Software Engineer |
Detained: Sept, 2002 Guoan Detention Center, Fangshan County, Beijing |
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33. | Lei,Shuangyan, Female, 56 Mother of Tang, Hongyang, Washington, DC, USA |
Detained: date unknown Under monitoring at home, not allow to apply passport |
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34. | Zhao, Caiping, Female, 43 Younger Sister of Zhao, Meifang, Washington, DC, USA |
Detained: Dec-18-00 San Shui Labor Camp, Guangdong Provinc |
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35. | Zhao, Meiyu, Female, 26 Elder Sister of Zhao, Meifang, Washington, DC, USA |
Detained: Jan-27-00 1.5 years in labor camp, now stays at home under monitoring |
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36. | Li, Wei, Male, 29 Elder Sister of Li, Zang , MD,USA |
Detained: Aug.,2000 2 years in labor camp, now no information from the camp |
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37. | Wang Fuling, Female, 57 Sister of Wang, Chunying, Washington D.C.,USA |
Detained: early of 2002 2.5 years in labor camp in Xian City |
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38. | Zen,Qing, Female, 38 Younger Sister of Zeng, Ming, Houston,TX, USA |
Detained: Oct,2002 Illegally sentenced 3 years at Zhuhai Labor Camp,Guangdong |
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39. | Xiao,Yan, Female, 71 Mother of Zeng,Ming, Houston,TX, USA |
Detained: Oct,2002 Dongkou County Dentention Center,Hunan |
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40. | Charles Li, Male U.S. Citizen and Fiancee of Ms. Yeong-ching Foo, Menlo Park, CA, USA |
Detained: Jan,2003 Yanzhou Detention Center |