"Let Your Yes be Yes and No, No": Christian Discloses Falun Gong Cult "

("People's Daily," March 22, 2001)

In the Bible, Jesus Christ tells people "simply let your 'yes' be 'yes' and 'no', 'no'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."
"Following his instruction, when we Christians make an argument on the Falun Gong issue, we should first make clear what on earth Falun Gong is and what it is not," said Deng Fucun, vice chairman of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee of the Protestant Churches of China (TSPMCPCC).
Deng happened to live in the same hotel in Los Angeles with a group of Falun Gong followers during his religious visit to United States in late February this year, which helped him recognize the true nature of Falun Gong cult, Deng said.
These Falun Gong activists were all overseas Chinese in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Taiwan. At the daily gatherings during the breakfast time, "I always heard the ringleader of the gang instruct his followers to pay close attention to American people," Deng recalled.
"If they show any interest in us, you should dress them up quickly with our yellow jackets (printed with Falun Gong logos) and take photos of them. This will definitely satisfy the US media."
The ringleader kept reminding his members to "always follow the step of the Falun Gong troop, for it is an excellent opportunity to get the US green card", Deng added.
During their three-day trip in Los Angeles, these Falun Gong activists spent most of their time sitting in front of China's consulate general in Los Angeles and being interviewed by US media. They only spared a half-day gathering to exchange experience in practicing the Falun Gong, though Li Hongzhi never appeared, according to Deng.
So far, the Falun Gong cult has been completely under the control of overseas political forces to work against China, and to my understanding, Falun Gong is an evil cult with an anti-human, anti-society and anti-science nature, Deng said.
The cult instigated its followers to attack everyone that opposes or questions their "belief" and actions. Numerous innocent victims were deceived by the fallacy to commit suicide or even slaughtered their family members. Li Hongzhi, the prime malefactor, oversold his mysterious power by saying that he was able to postpone the earth's explosion by 30 years and escape from the limits of time and space.
"I will never forget the tragic suicidal 'event that seven Falun Gong practitioners set themselves on fire at the Tiananmen Square," said Deng in deep sorrow, and" I'm also shocked to hear about the US human rights report smearing China's efforts in eradicating the destructive cult and saving those bewitched Falun Gong followers as 'religious persecution'".
"A professional US clergyman, who has bothered to make research on some books published by the Falun Gong cult, confirmed to me that Falun Gong is not a religion, because it does not has a real sutra, though it has managed to plagiarize a lot of religious languages from other religions," Deng said.
"The Falun Gong cult is just like a vulture who has decorated itself with colorful feathers. But any dithering will shake off all the feathers, and it is still an ugly bird indeed," the clergyman made a comparison.
The Bible says "...to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." Chinese Christians will hold such affection to save those people who have lost in the heresy, eradicate the evil and carry forward the justice, Deng declared.

"Overseas Chinese in Russia Denounce Falun Gong"

("People's Daily," March 22, 2001)

Overseas Chinese residing in Russian held a meeting recently to condemn the Falun Gong cult in Moscow.
All participants condemned the evil nature of the cult and expressed their determination to fight it to the end.
Addressing the meeting, Han Cunli, president of the Overseas Chinese General Council in Moscow, said that the Chinese Government encourages efforts to invigorate China through science and education.
But Li Hongzhi, the ringleader of the cult, opposes science while indulging in feudal superstition, he noted.
Zhao Lin, chairwoman of the Overseas Chinese Women's Federation in Moscow, said that irrefutable facts have shown Falun Gong cult's reactionary nature of opposing society and killing innocent people.
"The International Olympic Committee will vote in Moscow in July to decide on the 2008 Olympic hosting city. We will never permit the diehard Falun Gong followers to prevent China from bidding the Olympic Game," said Wen Jinhua, chairman of the Great Wall Hotel in Moscow.
The declaration adopted by the meeting states that overseas Chinese residing in Moscow and Russians of Chinese origin resolutely support the Chinese Government stand to ban the Falun Gong cult. It also appeals to the Russian Government to take measure to prevent the Falun Gong from infiltrating into Russia.
Wu Tao, China's ambassador to Russia, said that the Falun Gong cult has thrown itself into the lap of the anti-China forces in the West and become the enemy of the Chinese people and the instrument of the anti-China forces.
He asked all overseas Chinese to heighten their vigilance and act to halt the cult from causing disturbances in Russia.
Jiang Shiyun, a leader of the Overseas Chinese Federation of Saint Petersburg, said that Falun Gong Cult has become the tool of the Li Hongzhi in his attempt to overthrow the Chinese Government.
Chen Yichu, China's consul-general in Saint Petersburg said, "Falun Gong Cult is a major scourge in the world and a big malignant tumor of the Chinese society. If the tumor were not removed, China would not enjoy social stability."
He also called on all Chinese residing in Saint Petersburg to wage tit-for-tat struggle against the Falun Gong cult.

"Tung: Hong Kong to keep wary eye on Falun Gong "

by Ikuko Higuchi ("Daily Yomiuri, March 22, 2001)

Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa suggested the government may tighten its control on Falun Gong activities in Hong Kong in the near future, in an interview with The Daily Yomiuri at a Tokyo hotel Thursday.
Nonetheless, he said that for the time being it would only monitor the group.
According to Tung, neither the one-country-two-systems principle nor religious freedom is at issue.
"Falun Gong is a cult. This is about keeping Hong Kong's social stability," Tung said, suggesting the government may take some action to regulate their activities in Hong Kong.
Concerning specific measures, however, Tung only said, "We are watching carefully what they are doing in Hong Kong and we will continue watching."
Falun Gong activities were banned in mainland China in 1999.
Meanwhile, regarding China's expected entry in the World Trade Organization, Tung sees more positive than negative impact on the Hong Kong economy.
"Trade will increase, there will be more foreign direct investment in China, and there will be a greater need for professional services," Tung said.
"The domestic market will be more open to foreigners and I suggest that Japanese businesses, especially small size companies, will have a much easier entry into the domestic market in mainland China if they choose partners from Hong Kong," he added.

"Falun Gong followers ask to stay in Singapore"

(AP, March 22, 2001)

SINGAPORE - Thirteen Falun Gong followers arrested for holding a vigil in a park pleaded Thursday to be fined rather sentenced to jail, saying prison records might get them sent back to China. The 13 Chinese citizens, along with two Singaporeans, pleaded guilty to illegally holding a vigil in Singapore on Dec. 31 in memory of Falun Gong followers they say died in custody in China.
They face up to three months in jail and maximum fines of $2,800.
Defense lawyers read letters at Thursday's hearing in which the Chinese defendants said they were terrified of returning to China.
"I cannot imagine what will happen to my wife and daughter if we were sent back to China," wrote Gao Hau, 28, in a letter read by his lawyer.
Beijing banned the Falun Gong spiritual movement in 1999, calling it a threat to the Communist Party's grip on power. Thousands of suspected followers have been detained in China.
Lawyers for the Chinese defendants asked the Singaporean judge to limit their punishment to fines. Jail terms might give immigration officials a reason to revoke their visas or make it harder for them to get visas elsewhere, they said.
Prosecutor David Chew argued that the 15 defendants remained in the park hours after police orders prompted dozens of other Falun Gong followers to leave.
"These 15 accused had ample time to join the others. They had ample time to consider the implications of their act," he told the court.
Chew did not, however, recommend that the nine men and six women be jailed.

"Britain denounces rights abuses in China, Zimbabwe, at UN forum"

(AFP, March 22, 2001)

GENEVA - Britain denounced human rights abuses in China and Zimbabwe, and expressed concern at the plight of Chechen civilians in Russia, at the UN's annual human rights hearings in Geneva on Thursday.
Junior foreign minister John Battle said Britain was "concerned about the use of the death penalty and administrative detention, and incidents of torture and degrading treatment of detainees."
He mentioned in particular the plight of democracy activists and followers of the Falun Gong sect during his address to the session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva.
Battle also talked about Tibet, saying he hoped China would "enter into a meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama on a long-term solution in Tibet."
And he expressed alarm over a deteriorating human rights situation in Zimbabwe, citing attacks against judges, anti-democratic actions and "orchestrated violence against members of the legitimate opposition."
On Russia's conflict in Chechnya, he said: "There is an urgent need for a thorough and transparent investigation into the multiple allegations of human rights violations."
But he welcomed Russia's willingness to work with the Council of Europe on the conflict.
Looking ahead to the World Conference against Racism in South Africa from August 31 to September 7, Battle also raised the issue of reparations for slavery.
While some countries, especially in Africa, want to see the issue raised, reports in the South African press suggest that countries such as the US and France might boycott the conference if the issue was put on the agenda.
"We need to understand the past and recognize the history of the problems we see today in order to address them," Battle said.
"But the international community cannot afford to be diverted from the fundamental responsibility of dealing with the problems of contemporary racial discrimination," he added.
"I hope the conference will not overlook the daily problems of a wide range of diverse ethnic communities," he said.
On Monday, European Union ministers said the EU would express its concern about "serious human rights violations" in China during the Commission's annual six-week session, which began here on Monday.
While the EU said it would not co-sign a United States-sponsored resolution against China, it said it would vote for it. The US resolution is due to be presented in the second week of April.

"Falun Gong members ask S'pore court for leniency"

(Reuters, March 22)

SINGAPORE - Fifteen followers of the Falun Gong spiritual movement asked a Singapore court to be lenient with them on Thursday, after pleading guilty to obstructing police and or illegal assembly.
The 15, two Singaporeans and 13 Chinese nationals, were arrested and charged after holding a New Year's Eve vigil commemorating Falun Gong members the movement says has died in jails in China and in incidents there following a crackdown.
Eight face a S$500 (US$280) fine or three months in jail or both on charges of illegal assembly and obstructing police. Seven have been charged with illegal assembly and face a maximum fine of S$1,000 (US$560).
In a 90-minute mitigation plea, five lawyers representing the nine men and six women presented an image of law-abiding engineers, students on scholarships and pregnant homemakers who were unaware that they had broken the law, and were fearful of losing their livelihoods and being expelled from Singapore.
Falun Gong is legally registered in Singapore but all organisations require a permit to assemble in a public place.
About 60 followers of the group gathered in a local park before midnight on New Year's Eve with two large placards bearing the names and photographs of dead adherents.
Police said they refused an order to disperse and blocked officers trying to seize the placards as evidence.
The prosecution said in court that police had warned the group for three and a half hours and allowed 45 other adherants to go free before making their arrest.
"They had ample time to think of the implication of their act," the public prosecutor said. "They chose to remain."
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, combines meditation and exercise with a doctrine loosely rooted in Buddhist and Taoist teachings. It first shocked Beijing with a 10,000-strong protest in April 1999 and was banned in China later that year.

"Religion, cult different terms "

("China Daily," March 21, 2001)

Religion and cult seem to be two words that some US politicians do not separate when using them in relation to other countries.
On March 14, a human rights organization called the US Freedom House recognized Falun Gong as "China's defender of religious rights" at a ceremony attended by some US Congress members.
"There is no religious freedom there, only religious persecution," the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jesse Helms was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Helms' unfounded words exposed his ignorance of China's religious freedom policy and spoke volumes for the deep-rooted discrimination against China.
Since the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, the Chinese Government has been pursuing a religious freedom policy. Under this, the Chinese people have freedom to believe or not to believe in any religion.
China has now established relations with religious organizations in 70 nations. The government has made huge efforts to rebuild and revamp churches.
For example, to ensure people in the Three Gorges Dam area can engage in normal religious activities after resettlement, China has freed up tens of millions of yuan to build churches and religious sites in the new resettled areas. This move has been greeted with a warm response by the 150,000 relocated people.
The Chinese Government's ban of Falun Gong is only a step to safeguard real religious activities from being smeared by the evil cult, which has claimed thousands of lives.
Given the evil nature of Falun Gong, the Chinese Government has every reason to impose a ban on the cult which led to 1,600 deaths including several members setting themselves on fire.
For those followers who have been deceived by Falun Gong founder Li Hongzhi's heresy, the Chinese Government has been taking a lenient attitude in an effort to pull them out of the mire.
The Freedom House's recognition of Falun Gong and four other groups for defending religious rights only attest to some China-bashers' desires to interfere in China's internal affairs and to portray the Chinese Government in the worst possible light.
This could have a ripple effect and encourage evil cults to flourish throughout the world.

"China Aims PR Attack at Falun Gong"

(AP, March 21, 2001)

BEIJING - China launched a new propaganda attack on the Falun Gong spiritual group Tuesday as Beijing prepared to fight U.S. efforts to have the U.N. Human Rights Commission censure its crackdown on the movement.
The state television evening news broadcast a report claiming Falun Gong had encouraged 136 followers to kill themselves. The official Xinhua News Agency carried a similar report calling Falun Gong heretical and a threat to public safety.
On Jan. 23, five people who the government said were Falun Gong followers set themselves on fire in Beijing. Falun Gong spokesmen abroad have denied that the five were group members.
Falun Gong was banned in 1999 as a threat to the Communist Party's grip on power. Thousands of people have been detained, and human rights groups say 112 people have died in custody.
The new government accusations come as the United States is preparing to propose a resolution for the U.N. Human Rights Commission to condemn the crackdown. China has defeated similar measures in the past.
The European Union said it would support the resolution at the commission's six-week session that began this week in Geneva.
Falun Gong draws on Buddhism, Taoism and traditional Chinese beliefs. It was founded by a former government clerk who now lives in the United States. Before the crackdown, official estimates of its membership ranged as high as 70 million.
China has often accused Falun Gong of causing the deaths of followers by encouraging them to refuse medical treatment or kill themselves.
The new campaign Tuesday included a half-hour program broadcast after the news detailing what state television said were suicides by Falun Gong members. The broadcast included footage of people who it said burned themselves to death, threw themselves in front of trains or killed themselves in other ways.

"Falun gong: la gaffe de la Ville!"

par Laurence Bézaguet ("Tribune de Geneve", 20 mars 2001)

André Hediger continue à se défendre d’avoir baissé ses culottes devant les autorités chinoises. Et invoque un malheureux quiproquo. Il n’empêche! Quels que soient les réels motifs qui ont poussé le Conseil administratif à refuser aux adeptes du Falun Gong le droit de manifester à la place des Nations, les autorités de la Ville n’en sortent pas grandies. Même si l’exécutif genevois, inspiré par le feu vert de l’Etat, a fini par faire amende honorable en permettant lui aussi, hier matin, à environ mille pratiquants de se rassembler devant le siège de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.
La gaffe initiale n’en reste pas moins ridicule, voire choquante! Ridicule parce que nos élus genevois soutiennent inlassablement et à juste titre le droit à la liberté d’expression des uns et des autres. Le Conseil administratif a d’ailleurs encore récemment fait la preuve de ses bonnes dispositions en autorisant une grève de la faim contre la répression en Turquie. Alors que l’Etat s’y était opposé.
Au delà des divergences aussi curieuses qu’incompréhensibles des deux pouvoirs politiques, la gaffe de la Ville reste enfin et surtout choquante. Comment avoir pu, sciemment ou pas, faire le jeu du régime chinois en cette ouverture de la 57e session des droits humains? Loin de nous le désir de faire du prosélytisme pour le Falun Gong. Ce mouvement qui allie gymnastique et spiritualité semble de toute façon suffisamment bien organisé et motivé pour se charger lui même de sa communication.
Non! Ce qui révolte, même si l’avenir devait nous démontrer le caractère sectaire du Falun Gong, c’est que les tortures à mort dont font l’objet ses adeptes en Chine, ne soient pas sanctionnées. Les victimes de cette répression espèrent simplement être entendues cette semaine à Genève.

"La Chine et le Falun Gong s'empoignent à Genève"

par Pierre-Antoine Preti ("Tribune de Geneve" 20 mars 2001)

Mille adeptes du Falun Gong se sont retrouvés hier matin sur la place des Nations. Ils y ont pratiqué leur gymnastique matinale face à l'ONU. Cette «pratique spirituelle» en terre genevoise a fait office de protestation contre la répression à l'encontre des pratiquants situés en République populaire de Chine. C'est ainsi que le Falun Gong a été informé sur le moment même par André Hediger qu'il pouvait prendre position sur la place des Nations, ainsi que cet après-midi et demain matin. Cette occupation se fait en alternance avec leurs opposants directs: la Coordination des étudiants chinois.
En ce lundi matin, la discipline des membres du Falun Gong est impeccable. Un service d'ordre, composé principalement de Chinois «de chez nous», fait respecter la signalisation des passages piétons. Au centre de la place et sur les abords de la campagne Rigot, les 1000 personnes se sont alignées en rangs d'oignons. Elles ont pratiqué les exercices de la méthode. Une musique chinoise, agrémentée d'indications vocales, donne la cadence. Les bras ondulent. Les corps se plient sans casser, à l'image du roseau sous la brise. Certains se sont regroupés par appartenance nationale. Une forte communauté taïwanaise brandit sa pancarte. On communique en anglais ou avec les mains. Un Suédois en habit de mandarin prête son tapis d'exercice à un vieux Chinois parisien. L'ambiance est bon enfant. Mais les regards, tournés en direction de l'ONU, restent graves. Du côté du Palais des Nations, on a posé une couronne mortuaire «en mémoire des 162 victimes de la répression chinoise». Pour expliquer le but de la manifestation, une conférence de presse a lieu au Restaurant Vieux-Bois de l'avenue de la Paix. Le président du «Comité international des droits de l'homme du Falun Gong» en est l'hôte principal. Erping Zhang a l'oeil doux mais sait être ferme. Un Chinois se disant journaliste est exclu de la réunion. L'homme argue de son droit à l'information. Quatre organisateurs musclés le raccompagnent vers la sortie avec souplesse. L'année dernière, quelques fonctionnaires de la République populaire avaient perturbé la conférence de presse du Falun Gong, empêchant tout dialogue entre les intervenants et les journalistes occidentaux. Le lendemain, à l'ambassade de Chine, les membres du Falung Gong avaient été exclus d'emblée de la causerie officielle. Cette année, la réponse du berger à la bergère ne s'est pas fait attendre: le «trublion», aidé par les malabars, s'en est allé en vociférant.
«Le régime chinois continue sa brutale répression entamée depuis dix-neuf mois contre les membres du Falun Gong. En plus des morts sous la torture, nous avons recensé 50 000 adeptes emprisonnés», annonce Erping Zhang. Des victimes et des spécialistes en témoignent devant l'assistance. S'en suit une litanie de sévices: «Les Falun Gong subissent humiliations, torture psychique et matraquage électrique», déclare le docteur Sunny Lu, de l'Université de Cincinnati. Soutenu dans ce combat par Amnesty International, le mouvement s'est lancé dans une campagne de sensibilisation de l'opinion publique. Depuis l'année dernière, un des points culminants de cette activité passe par Genève. Les trois prochains jours, les adeptes iront pratiquer leur art par petits groupes dans les communes genevoises. Ils se partageront également la place des Nations avec les anti-Falun Gong. Hier après-midi, ces derniers n'étaient que quelques dizaines..
Une pratique spirituelle et matinale
Le Falun Gong s'appelle aussi Falun Dafa. C'est une méthode de Qi Gong. Cette dernière appellation générique, signifie «exercice sur le souffle vital». Elle englobe différentes disciplines, dont le taï-chi. Sans se définir comme une religion, le Falun Gong utilise certaines terminologies bouddhistes et taoïstes. Les adeptes considèrent cela comme une pratique spirituelle. Les mouvements matinaux se divisent en cinq séries d'exercices. Selon un site Internet américain se revendiquant du Falun Gong, les pratiquants doivent respecter un certain nombre de règles, dans lesquelles figurent notamment le respect des lois du pays et l'absence d'interventions au niveau politique. Les observateurs s'accordent à dire que la version occidentale du Falun Gong ne s'apparente pas vraiment à une secte. En ce qui concerne la Chine, la situation semble plus difficile à analyser. Opacité gouvernementale oblige. Les opposants domiciliés à Genève leur reprochent «une incitation à éviter les médicaments qui pousse au suicide». Selon la Coordination des étudiants chinois, «ce dogme strict provoque la mort de beaucoup de Chinois».
P.-A. P.

"Remous autour du Falun Gong, quiproquo à la Ville, pressions au canton"

par Adelita Genoud ("Tribune de Geneve" 20 mars 2001)

Quiproquo, pressions et volte-face, l'épisode sino-genevois autour du Falun Gong vire au roman feuilleton sur fond de gué-guerre entre Ville et canton de Genève. Explication: le 7 février dernier, répondant à une demande du Falun Gong, la Ville et le canton de Genève délivrent une autorisation de manifester sur et aux alentours de la place des Nations. Comme l'affirme aujourd'hui Christophe Friederich, secrétaire adjoint au Département de justice, police et des transports (DJPT), «cette décision n'enthousiasme guère les autorités chinoises. Qui assimilent le mouvement à une secte. Les pressions ne tardent guère. Nous avons reçu quelques appels allusifs de l'ambassade de Chine à Berne nous mettant en garde contre ce groupement hérétique poussant les adeptes au suicide. Au-delà, les représentants chinois avancent que toute démarche favorable de notre part à l'égard du Falun Gong pourrait être consi dérée comme un geste inamical envers la Chine qui entretient de bonnes relations avec la Suisse.»
Un quiproquo
Nous avons vainement tenté de joindre le porte-parole de l'ambassade de Chine. Si le canton a fait l'objet de contraintes pourquoi la Ville n'aurait-elle pas connu le même sort? C'est là le raisonnement que le haut fonctionnaire du DJPT a livré à notre confrère dimanche.ch. Et que conteste avec énergie le conseiller administratif de la Ville de Genève André Hediger. Selon lui, l'affaire Falun Gong résulte d'un quiproquo. «A la fin du mois de janvier dernier, explique-t-il, j'ai reçu une demande d'autorisation de manifestation sur la place des Nations.» Petite subtilité structurelle, le terre-plein dépend du domaine de la Ville de Genève tandis que les alentours, à savoir les routes et la Campagne Rigot, relèvent du canton. Il appartenait donc à la Ville de se prononcer sur une partie de la requête du Falun Gong. Quelques jours plus tard, le Service des agents de ville et du domaine public informe donc le mouvement que la manifestation est autorisée. Le document porte aussi la signature du DJPT. Mais le 25 février, le Falun Gong sollicite cette fois Alain Vaissade. La demande ne concerne plus la seule place des Nations, mais celle du Molard, les ponts de la Machine et des Bergues ainsi que le passage près du pont du Mont-Blanc. Les expéditeurs expliquent que, souhaitant procéder à des démonstrations de leur art, ils ont besoin d'espace.
«J'ai agi par déduction», affirme André Hediger
«J'ai pensé que la seconde demande du Falun Gong annulait la première, affirme André Hediger J'ai donc agi par déduction.» Le DJPT, lui, n'a pas été informé que cette première autorisation était révoquée. Parallèlement, la coordination des étudiants chinois (opposés au Falun Gong) s'adresse à son tour aux autorités de la Ville pour obtenir le droit de contre-manifester. «Soucieux de traiter les deux groupements sur pied d'égalité, j'ai donc cherché un endroit où les deux demandeurs pouvaient manifester», affirme André Hediger. Ainsi, le Conseil administratif a été avisé que le Falun Gong manifesterait à Plainpalais (côté pétanques) et les étudiants l'après-midi à l'opposé. «Le lendemain, j'ai effectivement reçu la visite d'un représentant des autorités chinoises. Mais ce dernier n'a exercé aucune pression, il s'est simplement enquis de savoir si j'avais donné mon aval pour la manifestation des étudiants.»