Tribune de Geneve, Mercredi 22 mars 2000-03-22

Chinese diplomats strike back at Falun Gong, and make fools of themselves...

The mission hosted a parody of a press conference yesterday Qiao Zonghuai is not happy. Irritated by the large peaceful gathering and press conference organized Monday morning by the peaceful spiritual movement Falun Gong, the permanent Chinese representative to the UN invited the media to a meeting yesterday morning in the building of the Mission at Petit-Lancy. This provided the occasion for the ambassador to orchestrate a shockingly na ve masquerade.

Systematically ignoring the accusations of police brutality brought forward, notably by Amnesty International, Qiao Zonghuai affirmed that Falun Gong is responsible for the deaths of some 1400 Chinese practitioners and the psychological distress of many others. According to the ambassador posted in Geneva, the founder of the spiritual movement, Li Hongzhi, has done nothing but concoct and spread a series of lies and fallacies (apocalyptic predictions, medical abstinence, etc.).

"Falun Gong is not a religious group, but actually a dangerous sect, that puts in peril both the society and citizens of China", he concluded, adding that in international law, the freedom of religion, of speech and of association is subject to a condition: that of not disrupting national security, public order, and the health and liberty of others. In sum: the crackdown on the practice of Falun Gong conforms to human rights. In addition, in announcing the presentation of a resolution against China to the UN human rights committee, the United States is only obeying internal political directives connected to the presidential elections.

To complete the demonstration, the diplomat subsequently showed a video which was equally as shocking as unbelievable. Before opening for questions...from pre-prepared, 'remote-controlled' Chinese, who came en masse to participate in the press conference. In sum: all the methods were visibly used to prevent questions from the international community related to the deterioration of human rights in the People's Republic. This deterioration also clearly includes the gross demonization of Falun Gong.

Five Exercises, Three Values Completely unknown in Europe, Falun Gong seems to have appeared out of nowhere. The movement was nonetheless born in 1992 and includes over 70 million practitioners, principally in China, but also in the United States, where the Chinese community is significantly large. Judged as sect members since July 1999 and investigated by the government of the People's Republic, the practitioners nevertheless maintain that the movement was previously authorized by the authorities in Beijing, who even promoted it on the basis of noted health improvements in practitioners.

In the most pure Chinese tradition of connecting meditation and breathing exercises, the founder Li Hongzhi defined a series of five slow, harmonious movements. These are the ones that the practitioners demonstrated Monday morning at the Place des Nations...but also yesterday and today all over Geneva and again tomorrow in front of the European seat of the UN. What's the difference then between Falun Gong and, for example, Yoga? This new spiritual movement adds three values to absolutely cultivate: truth, compassion, and tolerance. Finally, the teaching of the practice is free and the books of the "master", sold in bookstores, are also available free on the Internet.

Apparently Harmless How much is this "dangerous sect" sticker attached by the Chinese authorities actually worth then? Amnesty International vows to denounce the human rights violations, without promoting the spiritual movement. "We do not support Falun Gong, but share its concern about the repression by Chinese authorities", explains Isabelle Scherrer.

As for the local authorities, the Department of Justice and Police had intensely scrutinized the Falun Gong documentation before authorizing the demonstrations in Geneva. "As it describes itself, the movement appears to be everything that is most harmless", states the Counsellor of State Gerard Ramseyer. "That means, I have never seen a sect describe itself otherwise! We judge case by case."

Mr. Francois Bellanger, an expert charged by the same Department to investigate questions related to the appearance of sects, explains that the notion of sect is not used in the county of Geneva. "We talk about spiritual groups. And as such, the freedom of belief must be defended.". An Information Center on such beliefs is in the planning stages and should be seen sometime this year. But, for the moment, there exists no study on Falun Gong, which has very few adepts in Switzerland.

"I do not visit doctors anymore"

The Falun Gong movement is indeed present in Geneva. And it does not hide it. Weekly gatherings are held at the recreational center of Carouge, at the Marcelly school (Thonex), at the Hugo-de-Senger school (Plainpalais), at the Bastions park and even at the Maison des Jeunes in Reignier, a little village in neigbouring France. A flyer indicates the places and times of meetings in all of Switzerland, and emphasizes that the courses are offered free of charge and without obligation. Living respectively in Vernier and Reignier, Corine Orso and Joelle Perrachon regularly attend the Friday night sessions at Hugo-de-Senger, accompanied by around forty other practitioners. From what they say, the atmosphere of a Falun Gong session somewhat resembles any given gym course: people chat, know one another's first names but rarely their family names. The physical exercises are beneficial, and the practitioners note improved health.

Apparently, there is nothing to worry about. Except in case of illness, the practitioners seem reserved in calling on conventional medicine. "The master has never prohibited medicine and we will not dissuade another practitioner from consulting a doctor, but individually we don't feel the need.", affirm unanimously both Corine and joelle.

"I do not visit doctors anymore"

The Falun Gong movement is indeed present in Geneva. And it does not hide it. Weekly gatherings are held at the recreational center of Carouge, at the Marcelly school (Thonex), at the Hugo-de-Senger school (Plainpalais), at the Bastions park and even at the Maison des Jeunes in Reignier, a little village in neigbouring France. A flyer indicates the places and times of meetings in all of Switzerland, and emphasizes that the courses are offered free of charge and without obligation. Living respectively in Vernier and Reignier, Corine Orso and Joelle Perrachon regularly attend the Friday night sessions at Hugo-de-Senger, accompanied by around forty other practitioners. From what they say, the atmosphere of a Falun Gong session somewhat resembles any given gym course: people chat, know one another's first names but rarely their family names. The physical exercises are beneficial, and the practitioners note improved health.

Apparently, there is nothing to worry about. Except in case of illness, the practitioners seem reserved in calling on conventional medicine. "The master has never prohibited medicine and we will not dissuade another practitioner from consulting a doctor, but individually we don't feel the need.", affirm unanimously both Corine and joelle.