Chinese Agents Lead Beating of Falun Gong during President Hu’s Argentina Visit

BUENOS AIRES (FDI) – Over thirty Chinese men who appeared to be working with Argentina’s Chinese Embassy beat Falun Gong practitioners and tore their banners with knives Tuesday. The beating took place outside the Hilton Hotel where Chinese President Hu Jintao and his delegation were visiting.

Upon arriving in Argentina, witnesses say Hu was clearly seen reading the Chinese banners from his car. The banners did not criticize Hu, but rather called for former president Jiang Zemin and three of his associates to be brought to justice for persecuting Falun Gong in China.

“It seems hard to imagine that Hu didn’t know about this incident,” says Falun Dafa Information Center Spokesperson Mr. Erping Zhang. “Since Hu took power in November 2002, we’ve never accused him or targeted him in any way, and only called for an end to this genocide and for those responsible to be brought to justice. Does Hu Jintao want to shoulder the criminal responsibility for this persecution alongside Jiang Zemin?”

Also during Hu’s visit, two Chinese Embassy officials pressured the Argentinean presidential office to arrest the Falun Gong practitioners and their banners.

“The authorities, the police etc. all know the truth,” says an Argentinean Falun Gong practitioner, “but China is presenting herself as Santa Claus coming with gifts to this part of the world.”