Issues Around the Lawsuit Against Former Chinese Chairman, Jiang

The Seventh Circuit Appeals Court in Chicago will hear the case of Falun Gong practitioners vs. former Chinese chairman, Jiang Zemin on Thursday, May 27, 2004. The lawsuit was first filed in October, 2002 during Jiang's visit in the U.S.. Subsequently, the State Department has received unprecedented pressures from the Chinese government to withdraw the litigation. In facing the Thursday's court date, Falun Gong website published two articles aimed at clarifying several key questions that has been raised around the lawsuit by the public.

In response to the question, "The Chinese government is at wrong in the persecution of Falun Gong. Why is Falun Gong suing Jiang as an individual," each of the two interviewees gave his own response. Li, who responded first to the question, said that different societal policies result in different understandings of the people viewing the situation: In western nations, democratic governments represent the will of the people, and the three branches keep the checks and balances and can appropriately resolve problems that arise during governmental operations. Li went on further to say that dictatorship in China lacks these controls; trickery and conspiracies are controlled by the highest authority. It is this power that Jiang relied on to willfully initiative the repression, escalate the policies, and forcefully carry out the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners.

Cheng, the other respondent said that in reality, Jiang, himself, is the person who insisted on persecuting Falun Gong. The other Standing Committee members of the Chinese central government were unanimously opposed to it. Under the circumstances at the time, Jiang overthrew the decision by force, and held the entire governmental machinery under duress to persecute Falun Gong. Therefore, the lawsuit against the prime criminal of the persecution is reasonable, legal, and right.

The two interviewees also responded to the question: "Will the litigation against Jiang harm Chinese-American relationships?" Cheng noted that defining Chinese-American relationship as the relationship between Jiang and America, on the one hand, can be used to instigate and deceive people in China, and on the other hand, can facilitate escape from legal punishment abroad. All along, Chinese-American foreign and trade relationships have been used by Jiang to put pressure on the American government so as to impel administrative interference in the lawsuit. Cheng said that what must be clarified is that Chinese-American relationship is the relationship between Chinese and American people. It is established under the constitutions and the laws of both countries and is in accord with the interests of people in both countries.

Li continued to say that the founding principles of America have protected freedom, human rights and public interest. America's morality and justice and the rule of the law should not be tarnished by Jiang's idea of Chinese-American relationship nor economic interest. He asked if American presidents have been investigated during Office for misconduct, should Jiang have the privilege of being above the law?

In closing remarks, Li said that legally punish the crime against human rights will help China change its current human rights condition as well as its international image and will help it to advance and develop. Chinese-American relationships established on this ground will be of interest to both countries.