U.S. Congressmen Call on Bush Administration to Pressure China for Release of U.S. Family Members

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
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
3.	Zhang, Xingwu, Male, 60 Father of Zhang, Shuangying, New York, NY, USA Nurse	Detained: January 1, 2001 Jinan Liuchangshan Labour Camp
4.	Liu, Pingjie, Female, 60 Mother of Zhang, Shuangying, New York, NY, USA Nurse	Detained: January 1, 2001 Second Women Labour Camp in Shangdong
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
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
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
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
9.	Tiemu, Xuemei, Female, 50 Mother of Wu, Tie, Connecticut, USA Software Engineer	Detained: August 1, 2002 Guizhou Women Labour Camp
10.	Chen, Jingjiang, Female, 54 Mother of Wan, Cheng, Minnesota, USA Ph.D. Student	Detained: January 1, 2002 Wuhan Baofeng Road Women Prison
11.	Han, Jizheng, Female, 60 Mother of Wang, Yongsheng, Houston,TX, USA PH.D of Physics	Detained: End of year 1999 Nanjing Spirit Hospital
12.	Zhang, Cui, Female, 59 Mother of Xu, Zhiwei, Chicago, IL, USA	Detained: March 1, 2000 Now stay at home under monitoring
13.	Teng, Chunyan, Female, 38 Chunyan Teng is holding American Greencard	Detained: December 1, 2000 Sentenced to 3 years in Beijing
14.	Yu, Fenglan, Female, 62 Mother of Yang, Chunguang	Detained: date unknown Under monitoring at home, not allow to apply passport
15.	Yang, Dengyue, Male, 69 Father of Yang, Chunguang	Detained: date unknown Under monitoring at home, not allow to apply passport
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
17.	Xu, Yanxiang, Female, 38 Sister-in-law of Zhang, Ruili, Rhode Island, USA	Detained: December 1, 1999 Shijiazhuang Labour Camp, Shenzhou Detention Center
18.	Liang, Shaoling, Female, 51 Sister of Liang, Yufeng, Boston, MA, USA	Detained: January 1, 2000 Sanshui Labour Camp in Guangdong
19.	Dang, Zhenghua, Male, 33 Brother of Dang, Tongyun, North Carolina, USA	Detained: date unknown Now becomes homeless
20.	Wan, Lilong, Female, 50 Aunt of Xu,Jianli, Chicago, IL, USA	Detained: December 1, 1999 Sentenced to 3 years illegally
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
22.	Zhang, Meirong, Female, 56 Husband of Fu, Fucheng, San Jose, CA, USA	Detained: February 2, 2002 Pixian Detention Center in Chengdu, Sichuang
23.	Lu, Jianghua, Female, 47 Sister of Lu, Zhonghua, San Jose, CA, USA	Detained: August 29, 2002 Tieling Detention Center in Liaoning
24.	Hu, Zhiming, Male, 30 Brother of Hu, Zhihua, San Jose, CA, USA	Detained: September 29, 2000 Shanghai Detention Center
25.	Hu, Zhiqiang, Male, 31 Brother of Hu, Zhihua, San Jose, CA, USA	Detained: January 14, 2002 Dandong Labour Camp, Liaoning Province
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
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
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
30.	Yang, Jingfang, Female, Elder Sister of Yang, Jingduan, New Zersy, USA Doctor	Detained: October 30, 2002 Hefei, Anhui, post code:230000
31.	Zhang, Lixin, Female, 43 Sister of Zhang, Lizhi, New York, NY, USA Accoutant	Detained: Sept, 2002 Beijing Tuanhe Labour Camp
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
33.	Lei,Shuangyan, Female, 56 Mother of Tang, Hongyang, Washington, DC, USA	Detained: date unknown Under monitoring at home, not allow to apply passport
34.	Zhao, Caiping, Female, 43 Younger Sister of Zhao, Meifang, Washington, DC, USA	Detained: Dec-18-00 San Shui Labor Camp, Guangdong Provinc
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
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
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
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
39.	Xiao,Yan, Female, 71 Mother of Zeng,Ming, Houston,TX, USA	Detained: Oct,2002 Dongkou County Dentention Center,Hunan
40.	Charles Li, Male U.S. Citizen and Fiancee of Ms. Yeong-ching Foo, Menlo Park, CA, USA	Detained: Jan,2003 Yanzhou Detention Center