Maori Chief Sues Jiang Zemin
[Photo Caption: Amato Akarana, Maori Chief Files Criminal Complaint Against Jiang Zemin]
Auckland, New Zealand —
Amato Akarana, an Auckland-area Maori chief, has for years been a supportive friend of local Falun Gong practitioners, many of whom belong to his tribe. So, after two separate occasions on which the Chinese consulate in New Zealand enlisted one of its subordinate organizations to harass and verbally abuse Falun Gong practitioners as they peacefully protested in front of the consulate, Chief Amato stood up against the injustices. Believing his people’s human rights had been violated, Chief Amato responded by taking part in the growing wave of lawsuits filed against former Chinese communist leader Jiang Zemin, the architect of the persecution against Falun Gong.
Asked about his decision, Chief Amato said:
In New Zealand, in my Maori land, more than 70 people have sued Jiang. I am very impressed with their courage and completely support their great efforts. […] Maori condemn those who persecute good people. Live organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners is a crime against humanity. Maori will not tolerate this crime. I also understand that Jiang Zemin has extended the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners to New Zealand, and we will not allow that to happen.