Sir, - In Dr Da-wen Sun (September 7th) claims "there are only a couple of Chinese practising Falun Gong in Ireland, but there are hundreds and thousands of Chinese in Ireland against it".
An odd claim. If he had strolled down Grafton Street any weekend this summer, he would have seen many more than a "a couple" of ethnic Chinese peacefully and patiently demonstrating Falun Gong routines on the street, handing out free literature and explaining to anyone interested what they believe.
Ireland and other democratic countries raise the issue of Falun Gong with visiting Chinese leaders because its members are just the latest victims in a long record of repression. Any group that does not accept the right of the Chinese Communist Party to control the beliefs of China's citizens is at risk. There is a constant procession through China's labour camps and prisons of Buddhists, Muslims, Baptists, Catholics, trade unionists and intellectuals.
The Chinese Government gave foreigners the right to protest at this state of affairs when it joined the United Nations and bound itself to the UN Charter. It also bound itself to accept international standards of human and related rights when it signed the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Ireland can be proud of the contribution made to the campaign for China's observance of its human rights obligations by our former president, Mary Robinson, through her personal lobbying of the Chinese Government and her public rebukes for its misconduct. Would Dr Sun wish to challenge either the credentials or the good faith of Mrs Robinson in discharging her duties as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights? - Yours, etc.,
F.X. Brennan, Francis Street, Dublin 8.