Chinese Falun Gong practitioners gathered outside Dublin Castle on Sunday to urge Chinese Communist Vice-President Xi Jinping to end the persecution of Falun Gong in China so they could return home.

The persecution of Falun Gong began under the order of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin on July 20th, 1999. Falun Gong continues to comprise the “largest group of prisoners of conscience in the world, numbering in the hundreds of thousands at any given time,” according to a press release from representatives of the spiritual movement. Falun Gong is a spiritual practice emphasising the virtues of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance.

China’s human rights record is appalling.

- Noeleen Hartigan, Programmes Director of Amnesty International Ireland

Around 40 Falun Gong practitioners meditated outside Dublin Castle in the spring sunshine with banners that called for the arrest of those who were, and are, involved in the persecution, and to ask Xi Jinping to end it. Many of them had experience of being in detention in China for practicing Falun Gong.

The group consisted of Chinese citizens, some with young children who have never seen their families in China.

Sunday was the second day of Xi Jinping’s visit; he had previously visited Shannon Development Centre and Bunratty Castle in the West of Ireland.

Mr Xi Jinping is widely tipped to be the next leader of the Communist Regime in China. He currently holds the role of vice-president, and is ranked among the most powerful men in the Chinese communist party.

Xi Jinping may have actually played a role in the persecution, according to the press release. He was, according to the release, put in charge of the “6521 project,” designed to attack Falun Gong, Tibetans, and democracy activists during a year of politically sensitive anniversaries in 2009.

According to the statement, “The campaign required all levels of government and neighbourhood committees to monitor and report on potential disturbances, such as instances where Falun Gong practitioners distribute informational literature about the persecution to their neighbours.”

The Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) criticised the “indulgent” welcome given by the Irish Government to the officials representing the Chinese Regime.

CEO of the IAWM, Mr Jim Roche, said: “While it is understandable that Irish people should welcome trade links with big economies like China, particularly in these difficult recessionary times, this must not be at any price. We must uphold Ireland’s long tradition of support for basic human rights around the world – including in China.

“The Chinese government has an appalling record in this regard, with the suppression of the Tiananmen Square pro democracy protesters in 1989, its continual harassment of the Falun Gong and dissidents and its suppression of the rights of the people of Tibet,” he added.

“The Irish Government seems willing to turn a blind eye to suppression of human rights. This must stop. They should use the visit by Xi Jinping to put pressure on him to allow the Chinese people to choose their government and to express their beliefs openly,” said Mr Roche.

Amnesty International called the visit of Xi Jinping “an opportunity”.

Noeleen Hartigan, Programmes Director of Amnesty International Ireland, said: “China’s human rights record is appalling. It is the world’s number one executioner. A minimum of 190,000 people are in ‘administrative detention’, many of them in forced labour camps. Human rights activists are targeted for harassment, arrest and some have even disappeared, while the use of torture is endemic.

“We welcome the fact that the Irish Government raises human rights issues with the Chinese government, including individual cases, both in Beijing and in Dublin, and that the Tánaiste intends doing so this weekend. 

“But it is crucial that our leaders speak with one voice and make clear the concerns of many Irish people about China’s abuse of human rights in their meetings with Vice-President Xi Jinping this weekend,” said Ms Hartigan. 

“It is obviously important that we build and maintain trading relations with a country like China. But even in the midst of a recession we cannot let trade opportunities blind us to our responsibility to support courageous Chinese human rights activists risking their freedom and their lives every single day,” she said.

Tomorrow will see the Vice-President sign a trade agreement at an Enterprise Ireland forum.