Congratulatory Letter to the Eighteen Judges-elect to the International Criminal Court

March 11, 2003

International Criminal Court
Division of Common Services
P.O. Box 19519
2500 CM The Hague
The Netherlands

To The Honorable Judges-Elect:
René Blattmann
Maureen Harding Clark
Fatoumata Dembele Diarra
Adrian Fulford
Karl T. Hudson-Phillips
Claude Jorda
Hans-Peter Kau
Philippe Kirsch
Erkki Kourula
Akua Kuenyehia
Elizabeth Odio Benito
Gheorghios M. Pikis
Navanethem Pillay
Mauro Politi
Tuiloma Neroni Slade
Sang-hyun Song
Sylvia H. de Figueiredo Steiner
Anita Usacka

As counsel to the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (“WOIPFG”), I would like to offer the organization’s warmest and most sincere congratulations upon your election as the eighteen judges who will sit on one of the most important tribunals in world history, the International Criminal Court.
WOIPFG’s mandate is to protect the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners around the world, to investigate and expose violations of those rights, and to restore and uphold justice in society. Since outlawing Falun Gong in July 1999, Jiang Zemin’s regime has systematically attempted to eradicate the practice and those who follow it by reeducation through forced labor, torture, and even murder. Although these evil practices have been well documented by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the rulers of China have yet to learn from the Nuremberg Tribunal and the Bosnia War Crimes Trial that crimes against humanity will not be tolerated by civilized nations and that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
To this end, WOIPFG wholeheartedly endorses, as a cornerstone of international criminal law, the establishment of the principle of individual criminal accountability for all rulers, public officials, or private individuals who commit genocide. We are confident that each of you shall serve with distinction during your respective terms of office and shall uphold the mandate of the ICC to ensure that those who are responsible for crimes against humanity are prosecuted to the fullest extent of international law.
Once again, WOIPFG recognizes your wonderful personal achievements and wishes you much success in your future endeavors on the ICC.
Very truly yours,

Stewart L. Weisman, Esq.
Counsel to WOIPFG