ASSOCIATION OF WORLD CITIZENS
世界公民聯合會
Case Postale 161.CH.1211 Genève 16. SUISSE
Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities 4 August 1999
保護及防止歧視少數民族分委員會
1999年8月4日
Item 2: Questions of violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms: The Banning of the Falun Gong and Subsequent Arrests of Practitioners in China
第二項(議題):侵犯人權與基本自由問題:中國取締法輪功並逮捕法輪功修煉者
René WADLOW
Permanent Representative
United Nations, Geneva
René WADLOW(雷.華德路)
常任代表
日內瓦,聯合國
The declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, adopted by consensus in the UN General Assembly on 25 November 1981 reaffirms rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and provides a framework for considering the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief.
譯文:1981年11月25日,聯合國大會一致通過《聯合國消除各種對宗教與信仰的排異和歧視宣言》。該宣言重申了《全世界人權宣言》所涵蓋的各種人權,提出了一個考慮保護思想、良心、宗教、信仰自由的行動協議框架。
Article 1 states 「1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have a religion or whatever belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.
譯文:第一條規定:「1.人人享有思想、良心、宗教信仰自由的權利。此權利包括:信仰宗教或自己選擇任何一種信仰的自由,以個人方式或與其他人一起以團體方式在公開或私人場合,以禮拜儀式、宗教儀式、練習、教導等方式表達自己的宗教或信仰的自由。」
2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have a religion or belief of his choice.
譯文:不得以脅迫、強制等方式侵害任何人的宗教與信仰自由。
3. Freedom to manifest one"s religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others. 」
譯文:3.表達自己的宗教或信仰的自由只受法律規定條款的制約,須要保護公共安全、秩序、健康或道德,或其他人的基本權利及自由。」
Article 6 specifically states the freedom:
譯文:第6條特別規定了以下自由:
a): To worship or assemble in connection with a religion or belief, and to establish and maintain places for these purposes;
譯文:a) 舉行和宗教或信仰相關的禮拜儀式或集會,建立並維持以供上述目的的場所。
b): To write, issue and disseminate relevant publications in these areas.
譯文:b) 撰寫、出版發行及在這些地區傳播散發相關出版物。
We are convinced that the banning by the Government of the Peoples Republic of China on 22 July 1999 of the spiritual movement Falun Gong/Falun Dafa and the subsequent arrest of leaders, massive destruction of publications and audio-visual material, and the prohibition of assembly of its practitioners are direct violations of the spirit and provisions of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, and of article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
譯文:1999年7月22日,中華人民共和國政府取締了精神運動--法輪功(法輪大法),並逮捕了法輪功輔導員,大規模地銷毀法輪功出版物及音像製品,禁止法輪功修煉者集會。我們確信中國政府的以上行為直接違反了《聯合國消除各種對宗教與信仰的排異和歧視宣言》的精神及條款,並違反了《國際公民及政治權利盟約》第18條的規定。
The limitations on the freedom of practice set out in article 18- 「 Freedom to manifest one"s religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others ? are no applicable in the case of the Falun Gong/Falun Dafa. The banning is arbitrary and is related to politically-motivated fears.
譯文:第18條規定的(信仰的)實踐自由的限制:「表達自己的宗教或信仰的自由只受法律規定條款的制約,須要保護公共安全、秩序、健康或道德,或其他人的基本權利及自由」--不適用於法輪功(法輪大法)這種情況。取締是武斷的,是出自於政治上的恐懼。
Fear is always a poor advisor when dealing with social movements. Therefore we appeal to the Sub-Commission to help the Government of the Peoples Republic of China to gain a harmonious perspective and to restore the rights of the practitioners of the Falun Gong/Falun Dafa spiritual movement.
譯文:恐懼在處理社會問題時從來都不會給人帶來明智之舉。因此,我們呼籲分會幫助中國政府獲得一個和諧地判斷當前局勢的方法,恢復法輪功(法輪大法)精神運動的修煉者的權利。
I will develop briefly three points
譯文:我簡要地陳述以下三點:
The nature of the movement
The extent of Government-led repression;
What is to be done.
譯文:法輪功精神運動的性質
政府領導的鎮壓(法輪功)的程度
我們應該採取的措施
Falun Gong/Falun Dafa has its roots in the rich history and practice of Taoism in China
譯文:法輪功(法輪大法)可以從中國燦爛的歷史和道家的修煉中找到淵源。
Taoism has been part of the all-pervading culture of the Chinese people, manifested in many folk practices but also in painting, poetry and philosophy.
譯文:道家學說是中國人民普遍傳統文化的一部份,它不僅表現在許多民間修煉事蹟中,還表現在繪畫、詩歌和哲學中。
Taoists often do not consider Taoism as religion but rather a method return to original way(Tao).
譯文:道教信徒通常並不認為道教是一種宗教,而認為是一種回到原始狀態(道)的修煉方法。
Rigid organization can be hindrance. 「The doors and windows built into a house fulfil their function by being void.」 is an aphorism attributed to the Taoist sage Lao-tzu.
譯文:嚴格的組織是一個(修煉的)妨礙,比如道家聖人老子有一句格言:「房子的門窗正因為它們的空才能發揮它們的功能 」。
Thus Taoism in China has never had an over-all religious organizational structure, though at times in the past, there were some large monasteries and societies based on Taoist thought.
譯文:因此,儘管在過去的某些時代,有過一些大的基於道家思想的道觀和團體,(但全局上看)中國道教從來沒有整體上的宗教組織結構。
Taoism is a way of seeking harmony with nature, practiced in everyday life, a preference for being inconspicuous, undemanding and uncombative. Taoists have a breath of vision to submit gracefully to adverse circumstances when submit they must.
譯文:道家學說追求與大自然的和諧,要在日常生活中去修煉,推崇不引人注目、沒有慾求和與世無爭。道家的遠見之一是,當必須忍受逆境時他們會心甘情願地忍受。
In China, there has never been a rigid wall of separation between Taoist and Buddhist ideas and practices.
譯文:在中國,道教徒和佛教徒的思想及修煉從來沒有過十分嚴格的分水嶺。
Thus the emphasis on Compassion (Shan) in the Falun Gong/ Falun Dafa draws upon this central virtue of Buddhism.
譯文:因此,法輪功(法輪大法)對「善」的強調正是利用了佛教的長處。
Likewise there is a Buddhist emphasis on attitudes to avoid, those which may interfere with wholesome morality and are thus a hindrance to higher states of consciousness: greed, covetousness, malevolence, anger, malice, hypocrisy, spite, envy, miserliness, deceit, treachery, obstinacy, impetuosity, arrogance, pride and conceit. ( of: the Buddha, Simile of the Cloth, Middle Length Sayings i, Discourse 7 ).
譯文:同樣,佛教徒提倡避免一切有礙整體道德素質的態度,因為那些東西,如:貪慾、貪婪、惡毒、憤怒、怨恨、偽善、敵意、嫉妒、吝嗇、欺騙、背叛、固執、衝動、傲慢、驕傲和狂妄等,妨礙人們達到更高的覺悟層次。(of: the Buddha, Simile of the Cloth, Middle Length Sayings i, Discourse 7)
The Falun Gong/Falun Dafa, created in 1992, made Taoist techniques of meditation, exercises and yoga available to a large number of people through lectures, workshops, publications and video-audio cassettes. It was however, largely by word of mouth and example that the movement developed. These techniques met wide-spread needs, and thus the movement spread quickly to all parts of China and englobed people from all walks of life.
譯文:法輪功(法輪大法)創立於1992年,通過講課、專題學習班、書籍出版物和音像磁帶等製品,使道家的靜坐技巧,身體練習以及瑜珈能夠為廣大公眾所用。同時,這種精神運動的傳播所依靠的更大途徑是通過人們相互之間的口頭推薦及身邊的實例證實。法輪功的技巧適應了廣泛傳播的需求,因而迅速傳遍了中華大地並吸引了全球各行各業的人士。
When it was first introduced to the public in 1992, Falun Gong/Falun Dafa was registered with the Qigong Research Association of China. Qigong, also drawing upon Taoist techniques of exercise and breathing, is popular in China although the exercises are now often done for reasons of good health and are separated from their moral foundations.
譯文:當法輪功(法輪大法)於1992年首次向社會傳出時,法輪功註冊在中國氣功研究會下。氣功也是利用了道教的一些形體動作和調息方法,雖然它現在往往只被作為健身手段採用,被從原來的道德基礎上隔絕開來,但氣功在中國仍很受歡迎。
As the Falun Gong/Falun Dafa"s goal is to guide people to higher dimensions of consciousness, and knowing that power gained from the exercises can be dangerous if not done in a firm framework of spiritual and moral values, the founder Li Hongzhi withdrew Falun Gong/Falun Dafa from the Qigong Research Association of China.
譯文:由於法輪功(法輪大法)的目標是指導人達到更高的覺悟境界,如果沒有一個堅實的精神和道德價值觀念框架限制,從功法練習中得到的力量可以形成危險,因而法輪功創始人李洪志先生讓法輪功從中國氣功研究會中退了出來。
It would seem that the Chinese Government, worried about the growing popularity of the movement then refused to allow it to be registered under any other category. This means that Falun Gong/ Falun Dafa had no legal protection and no legal status in Chinese society, a situation that practitioners peacefully and patiently tried to rectify so that they could follow the spiritual system of their choice safely and without interference.
中國政府似乎因為這種精神運動(法輪功)不斷擴大的受歡迎程度而感到不安,所以拒絕允許法輪功在任何一個類別的主管部門下註冊。這意味著法輪功(法輪大法)在中國社會沒有法律保護和合法地位。法輪功修煉者一直在和平地、耐心地設法糾正這種局面,以使他們自己能夠安全、不受干擾地追求自己選擇的精神體系。
The government of the Peoples Republic of China seems to have felt that the practices of Falun Gong/ Falun Dafa leading to harmony, joy and vitality were particularly needed in The USA and so facilitated the departure in 1995 of the founder Li Hongzhi to the USA where he now lives and teachers. However, the Falun Gong/ Falun Dafa is based on the practice of each individual, and the movement continued to grow despite the departure of Li Hongzhi.
譯文;中華人民共和國政府似乎覺得能夠帶來和諧、歡樂和活力的法輪功(法輪大法)修煉是美國特別需要的,於是為創始人李洪志先生1995年離開中國移居美國提供了方便。李洪志先生現在在美國居住並教授法輪功。可是,儘管李洪志先生離開了中國,法輪功在中國的傳播仍在繼續擴大,這是因為法輪功(法輪大法)是建立在每一個個人的自願修煉基礎之上的。
It was in April 1999 when practitioners of Falun Gong/Falun Dafa gathered to request registration of the movement outside the compound at Zhongnanhai in Beijing, where many Government leaders live, that Falun Gong/Falun Dafa drew wide attention to itself. It would seem that such a large assembly of people without advance police knowledge provoked Government concern. Some in the Government administration and the Party saw Falun Gong/Falun Dafa as a danger to the ideological monopoly which they wish to conserve.
譯文:1999年4月,法輪功(法輪大法)修煉者因聚集在許多中國政府領導人居住的北京中南海外面要求註冊而使得法輪功(法輪大法)本身引起了社會的廣泛關注。看上去這個事先警察不知道的、如此大的群眾集會引起了政府的擔憂。政府管理部門和中國共產黨內的某些人把法輪功(法輪大法)視為對他們所希望保持的意識形態壟斷的一個威脅。
Thus, by the middle of June 1999, the police and security forces had developed plans for wide-spread arrests and repression.
譯文:這樣,到1999年6月中旬為止,公安機關和安全部門已經制定了一個大規模逮捕和鎮壓法輪功學員的計劃。
By 22 July, all was in place. There was a governmental decree banning the movement, wide-spread arrests of leaders in many different provinces indicating the well-laid plans for repression. Book, audio-video cassettes have been seized and destroyed. These destructions have been widely shown on Chinese television -- a communications advance over Nazi book burning but hardly a moral improvement.
譯文:到7月22日,一切計劃付諸實施。政府頒布政令取締法輪功,大規模逮捕許多不同省份的法輪功輔導員,這表明這項鎮壓計劃是精心策劃的。法輪功書籍及音像磁帶被沒收並銷毀。中國的電視上廣泛地播出這些銷毀場面。--與納粹時代的焚書相比,他們的通訊手段先進了,但很難說這是道德上的進化。
As with past campaigns against dissident thought : Anti-Rightist Campaign(1957); Great Leap Forward (1958-1960); Cultural Revolution ( 1966-1976); Campaign to Eliminate Spiritual Pollution ( 1983-1984), There are now public confessions of errors by Party members who had practiced Falun Gong/ Falun Dafa, re-education sessions for Government civil servants, stories in the press of people who were not cured of illness by practices, Pressure is being put on people to stop Falun Gong/ Falun Dafa practice through threats to work, education, pensions, housing etc. There has even been a request to the US Government to extradite Li Hongzhi to China on a charge of unlawful assembly.
譯文:正如過去的各種反對異己思想的政治運動一樣,如反右派(1957)、大躍進(1958~1960)、文化大革命(1966~1976)、清除精神污染運動(1983~1984)等,修煉法輪功(法輪大法)的共產黨員要公開承認錯誤,修煉法輪功的政府公務員被接受再教育,新聞中播放著練習法輪功沒有治好病的人的故事。(中國政府)用工作、上學、養老金、住房等威脅手段對人們施加壓力,以迫使他們停止修煉法輪功(法輪大法),甚至還指控李洪志先生(組織)非法集會,要求美國政府引渡他回國。
What is to be done
譯文:我們應該採取的措施
This August session of the Sub-Commission is the first UN Human Rights body able to deal with the question fully after the 22July 1999 banning. The nature and the scale of the repression and arrests make this an emergency situation on which the Sub-Commission is mandated to act.
譯文:分委員會八月的會議是一個自1999年7月22日中國政府取締法輪功以來,聯合國人權團體第一次能全面地處理這個問題的機會。鎮壓和逮捕(法輪功學員)的性質及規模使得形勢非常緊急,要求分委員會對此作出反應。
The banning of the Falun Gong/Falun Dafa is a qualitative change in the practice of the Government of the Peoples Republic of China.
譯文:取締法輪功(法輪大法)是中國政府(干預信仰自由)的行動在性質上的一個改變。
In the past, there have been questions raised in the Commission on Human Rights concerning the rights to religious practice of Roman Catholic and Protestant Christians in China and of Tibetan schools of Buddhism. ( See the report of the in situ visit of Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance, Mr Abdelfattah Amor, E/CN.4/1995/91 and his subsequent yearly reports ).
譯文:過去,聯合國人權委員會提出的主要是關於中國的羅馬天主教和新教教徒的宗教修煉自由及藏傳佛教的宗教修煉自由的問題。
(見宗教歧視排異問題特別大會報告起草人的現場調查報告,愛德法塔?愛默,E/CN, 4/1995/91, 和他後來的年度報告)
In the case of the Christians and the Tibetan schools of Buddhism, there is usually a recognized clergy, buildings for worship or study, and specific scriptures. This is not the case for Falun Gong/Falun Dafa. Thus there is a danger that repression will be more widespread and arbitrary.
譯文:在基督教和藏傳佛教中,有公認的神職人員、做禮拜和學習宗教的專門場所、及特有的宗教經書典籍。法輪功(法輪大法)和它們相比,沒有這些東西。因此對法輪功的鎮壓有更趨擴大和更加任意專斷的危險。
There is danger that the Public Security Department forces still strike out arbitrarily at people doing meditation exercises of holding spiritual beliefs concerning reincarnation, spirits, cycles of human evolution etc.
譯文:還有一個危險趨勢是,公安機關的強制力還可以任意專斷地打擊,精神上相信轉世投胎、靈魂、人類發展的周期論等、行靜坐練習的人們。
The more a belief system is diffused, the closer it is to traditional folk beliefs often called superstitions by Government ideologues, the more arbitrary the repression can be. There are already many reports of police brutality in breaking up meetings of practitioners, usually meeting in public parks.
譯文:一個信仰體系普及越廣,就越接近於傳統的民間信仰,而這種信仰被政府的理論家稱之為「迷信」,這樣鎮壓就會越肆意妄為、越專斷。已經有報導說警察野蠻粗暴地驅散了通常在公園裏集體煉功的法輪功修煉者。
Thus, it is our duty to help the Peoples Republic of China to avoid another ideological campaign which not only violates international norms on freedom of belief but is also socially damaging.
譯文:因此,我們的職責是幫助中國政府避免另一場意識形態的政治運動,這種運動不僅違反了國際社會關於信仰自由的準則,而且也會對社會造成破壞。
China faces very real problems of unemployment due to economic restructuring; real problems due to rural to urban population movements, real problems due to population pressure upon the resources of food, water, housing etc. There are also real problems in the ideological philosophical sphere as Marxist explanations of society and history are inadequate, but there is no other dominant ideology or philosophy taking its place.
譯文:中國面臨著非常現實的由於經濟結構調整而產生的失業下崗問題、城鄉人口流動的現實問題、由於人口對食物、水、住房的壓力而產生的現實問題等等。在意識形態、哲學領域也存在現實問題,如馬克思主義者對社會和歷史的解釋是不完備的,但是沒有其它的佔主導地位的意識形態或哲學體系代替它的位置。
We can sympathize with Chinese intellectuals and administrators trying to meet all these problems at the same time. But we must say clearly that repression o spiritual movements will not provide solutions for these problems. Freedom of belief and exchange of ideas are essential to human progress.
譯文:我們能夠同情中國知識分子和政府管理者,因為他們必須努力同時解決所有這些問題。但是,我們必須清楚地指出,對一個精神運動(法輪功)的鎮壓不會為這些問題提供任何解決辦法。信仰和思想交流的自由對人類的進步是必不可少、十分重要的。
Thus we in human rights community have a duty to uphold the norms set out in the universally-recognized Declarations and Covenants. We also have a duty to help the governments and people of States to find proper solutions when, through fear and bad advice, they take short-sighted measures which are harmful and destructive of social harmony.
譯文:因此,我們人權團體有義務支持維護普遍公認的宣言和盟約所規定的各項準則。 我們也有義務來幫助(中國)政府和人民找到一個合適的解決方法,特別是當他們由於懼怕和壞的建議、誣告,而採取了近視的、對社會和諧有危害的、具有破壞性的措施時。
The banning and repression of Falun Gong/Falun Dafa is such a short-sighted and destructive measure. We are sure that the Sub-Commission will take strong and appropriate action to help the Peoples Republic of China to advance freedom of belief by lifting the ban on Falun Gong/Falun Dafa.
譯文:取締和鎮壓法輪功(法輪大法)就是這樣一種近視的、具有破壞性的措施行為。我們確信分委員會將採取強有力的、適當的行動,來幫助中華人民共和國通過解除對法輪功(法輪大法)的取締來推進信仰自由。