Chen opened the “Truth Compassion Tolerance” International Art Exhibition at the Phoenix Art Gallery in Garapan on Monday.
Chen said DPL Secretary John S. Del Rosario Jr. rejected their group’s request to use a portion of public land for displaying Falun Dafa posters, banners, booklets and handouts.
“We’ve been doing our exercises on Banzai Cliff for many years,” Chen said.
But DPL said the government has no record that Falun Dafa has been allowed to use any portion of public land on Banzai Cliff.
In a Feb. 11, 2009 letter, Del Rosario said a recent site inspection conducted by DPL’s compliance staff revealed that the group was displaying two banners on their vehicles in the area.
DPL gave the group 30 days to remove all their structures and personal properties on Banzai Cliff.
“You must promptly remove and properly dispose of all trash and other waste debris presently on the public land,” Del Rosario said.
Del Rosario said legal action will be taken against the group if it fails to comply with the order.
Mark B. Hanson, lawyer for the Falun Dafa Association of Saipan, said they responded to DPL’s letter and told Del Rosario that he can’t prevent the group from gathering.
“This is a violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution — the freedom of religion, press, expression,” he told Variety.
In 2007, Hanson said he filed an Open Government Act request with the Office of the Governor to inquire whether the CNMI government and China had an agreement in dealing with the Falun Gong, which is banned in China.
The governor’s office didn’t reply at all, he said.
Hanson said while the CNMI government can limit to a certain extent the activities of Falun Dafa, it can’t prevent its practitioners from their peaceful assembly as long as they acquire a permit.
The group, he said, performs meditation exercises.
“That isn’t bad,” he added.
Yesterday, Chen said they will again ask DPL for a permit to temporarily use some portion of the public land on Banzai Cliff for their activities.
Hanson said if DPL again rejects the request then he will find a legal recourse to address the problem.
In previous years, Hanson said the Marianas Visitors Authority also tried to restrict the group from assembling at the Garapan street market.
Regarding the art exhibition, which displays the work of Chinese artists and Kathy Gillis of Canada, Chen said it intends to convey the message of Falun Gong and depict how the group is being persecuted in China.
The art exhibition is open until April 9 from Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Chen held her first art exhibit on Saipan in 2005.
