Beijing gave a predictable response to the Argentine genocide ruling on Christmas eve by dismissing the case, claiming it would damage ties with China.
Argentine federal judge Octavio de Lamadrid ordered on Dec. 17 the arrest of two former Chinese leaders for charges of genocide and torture against Falun Gong practitioners in China. A week later, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu faxed a statement to Reuters responding to the ruling.
The statement says it was a conspiracy of Falun Gong supporters, hinting that the court decision may undermine China’s relationship with Argentina. Jiang Yu said the Argentine government should “properly handle this matter.”
Judge Octavio de Lamadrid made the ruling against former Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Jiang Zemin and former security chief Luo Gan after a four-year investigation into the persecution Falun Gong, a discipline that combines slow-moving exercises and spiritual teachings. The judge collected testimony from 19 witnesses including 17 direct victims, and included investigative reports by organizations such as the United Nations in his report. Torture reported by Falun Gong includes individuals strapped to “tiger benches,” being hung for days, being tied up, injected with nerve damaging drugs, immersed in feces, raped and gang raped, and more atrocities.
In her statement, Jiang Yu did not deny or question any of the evidence, but accused Falun Gong supporters of “(using) foreign court proceedings to bring false charges.” The statement then proceeds to slander Falun Gong, using the same language that has been a cornerstone of the campaign to marginalize and persecute Falun Gong practitioners in China.
The CCP is obviously shaken by the decision, going so far as to pressure the Argentine government to squeeze out the judge who made it. The CCP puts enormous emphasis on its international prestige, and does everything it can to head off criticism of its human rights record, including establishing ineffectual closed door human rights dialogues and vetoing UN motions.
This decision in Argentina, and the one before it in Spain, is a mighty embarrassment for China’s authoritarian leaders, and the propagandistic response is typical. We can expect more of the same in the time to come; these rulings are just the beginning.
Argentine federal judge Octavio de Lamadrid ordered on Dec. 17 the arrest of two former Chinese leaders for charges of genocide and torture against Falun Gong practitioners in China. A week later, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu faxed a statement to Reuters responding to the ruling.
The statement says it was a conspiracy of Falun Gong supporters, hinting that the court decision may undermine China’s relationship with Argentina. Jiang Yu said the Argentine government should “properly handle this matter.”
Judge Octavio de Lamadrid made the ruling against former Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Jiang Zemin and former security chief Luo Gan after a four-year investigation into the persecution Falun Gong, a discipline that combines slow-moving exercises and spiritual teachings. The judge collected testimony from 19 witnesses including 17 direct victims, and included investigative reports by organizations such as the United Nations in his report. Torture reported by Falun Gong includes individuals strapped to “tiger benches,” being hung for days, being tied up, injected with nerve damaging drugs, immersed in feces, raped and gang raped, and more atrocities.
In her statement, Jiang Yu did not deny or question any of the evidence, but accused Falun Gong supporters of “(using) foreign court proceedings to bring false charges.” The statement then proceeds to slander Falun Gong, using the same language that has been a cornerstone of the campaign to marginalize and persecute Falun Gong practitioners in China.
The CCP is obviously shaken by the decision, going so far as to pressure the Argentine government to squeeze out the judge who made it. The CCP puts enormous emphasis on its international prestige, and does everything it can to head off criticism of its human rights record, including establishing ineffectual closed door human rights dialogues and vetoing UN motions.
This decision in Argentina, and the one before it in Spain, is a mighty embarrassment for China’s authoritarian leaders, and the propagandistic response is typical. We can expect more of the same in the time to come; these rulings are just the beginning.
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