La Voz

Issue date: 3/1/04 Section: News

The student senate unanimously voted to condemn China"s human rights violations against Falun Gong practitioners last Wednesday.Student Yeong-Ching approached the senate and asked them to vote for the resolution. She explained that Falun Gong is a meditation practice intended to bring peace to one"s mind and body.

The senate"s resolution stated over 100 million people in over 60 countries practice Falun Gong regularly.The practice was banned in China in 1999. Since then, the resolution reads, 'a brutal campaign of brainwashing, torture and murder' was initiated upon those who practice Falun Gong.The resolution calls for the condemnation of the persecution of those who practice Falun Gong. Copies are being sent to elected officials nationwide, including U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, U.S. Ambassador to China Clark Randt and President Bush.

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved a resolution in 2002 opposing China"s oppression of those who practice Falun Gong. It also called for China to cease human rights violations toward practitioners.Copies of De Anza"s resolution will also be sent to various universities" student governments in California with a recommendation to vote for the resolution and to form a joint action among California schools.

Ching argued that if many schools and organizations come out in opposition to the persecution of Falun Gong followers, China"s government will listen to their demands.

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