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China Crisis News Bulletin # 41

May 12, 2000


MEDIA ALERT! LOCAL EVENTS PLANNED TO MARK SATURDAY MAY 13th AS "WORLD FALUN DAFA DAY": Eight Years ago, Falun Dafa was introduced in one region of China by Li Hongzhi. Eight years later, the spiritual practice has become a widely known international presence, with millions of practitioners worldwide in more than 40 countries. Call for Coverage Information.á


CHINA CRISIS NEWS BULLETIN #41 5/11/2000á

Monitoring News of the Persecution of Falun Gongá



US FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER - Contacts: Gail Rachlin 212-501-8080 rachlin@mindspring.com.


A DAY AFTER CHINA PROCLAIMS "VICTORY" IN BAN ON FALUN GONG NEW PROTESTS ERUPT IN TIANANMEN SQUARE AS ANNIVERSARY NEARS

BEIJING, May 11 (AFP) - Chinese police detained dozens of people in Beijing's Tiananmen Square early Thursday as the Falungong spiritual movement marked the birthday of their exiled founder Li Hongzhi. An AFP reporter saw at least 30 people being detained in the vast square in front of the ancient Forbidden City in the space of an hour as police roamed the central esplanade questioning tourists and sightseers.á

Falungong practitioners, who have flocked to the square in their thousands to protest the banning of the movement since it was outlawed in July, tend to admit they are group members when asked. One man tried to make a Buddhist peace sign as he was dragged into a waiting police van, and police officers tried to force his hands down to his sides. Others were led away in knots of two or three at regular intervals, with police occasionally kicking and shoving them into vehicles.á

The movement is seen by the Communist Party as the biggest threat to its grip on power since the 1989 Tiananmen democracy protests. China's official press has repeatedly vilified the group this week, on the one hand claiming victory over the movement while at the same time warning that it still posed a threat to Chinese society. In a commentary entitled "Never Underestimate," the official Xinhua news agency carried an editorial on Wednesday saying that Falungong was still dangerous. "Falungong has not diminished despite months of a nationwide campaign against the cult. The fight against the Falungong cult is a long-term, complicated, and arduous one," the commentary said. But a second Xinhua commentary on Wednesday was triumphant. "The victory has greatly raised the political vigilance of the nation, saved and protected a large number of the cheated, punished the evil and maintained the social stability of the country," it said. The Falungong movement in New York said the organization was planning events in 120 cities in 30 countries to mark World Falun Dafa Day on Saturday.á

HOUSTON MAYOR LEE BROWN SENDS REGARDS FOR WORLD FALUN DAFA DAY MAY 13

Houston Mayor Lee P. Brown sent greetings to local practitioners gathered for World Falun Dafa Day May 13. Brown writes: "I am confident that this event will provide an inspiring forum to explore for all those involved. The success of the event has required a significant commitment on the part of many people, and I commend those who have worked so hard to make this possible. The quality of life we enjoy in Houston has been greatly enhanced by their dedication and contributions. We are fortunate that you have chosen to play an active role in our community, and appreciate the significant influence you have had. As you commemorate this milestone please accept my best wishes for many years of continued success." Signed Lee P. Brown, Mayor. Brown's statement, given in full awareness of what Falun Gong represents, is considered significant because so many municipal officials have been intimated and pressured by China for issuing commendations like this. Houston was the first city visited by Falun Going founder Li Hongzhi when he first came to the United States.á

UN PANEL CALLS ON CHINA TO INVESTIGATE AND END TORTURE

Geneva, (AP) A UN panel urged the mainland [China] to abolish policies under which criminal suspects can be sent to labor camps for up to three years without trial. In its verdict after a two-day examination of [Chinese government practices], the committee said on Tuesday that it was against the policy of "reeducation through labor,"... Human rights groups said the panel didn't go far enough. Last month, US efforts to censure China's record at the UN Human Rights Commission failed, as in eight previous years. The panel voted 22-18 not to open discussion of the matter.á

CHINA'S LATEST TACTIC: CLAIM SUCCESS, BLAME "DIEHARDS"

Hong Kong Standard: May 10: Authorities were warning yesterday that Falun Gong "die-hards" continued to pose a threat even as the group announced that there would be events across the world this week to mark Falun Dafa Day. In a commentary entitled "Never Underestimate", Xinhua news agency claimed a threat remained to the Chinese people despite the crackdown on the movement The editorial, which first appeared in People's Daily on Tuesday, pointed to a mass protest in Tiananmen Square on February 5 - the eve of the Lunar New Year holiday, when hundreds of followers were arrested - as evidence the group was still battling authorities. "A handful of die-hard Falun Gong elements are still trying to launch long-term resistance against the authorities," it said. The Falun Gong response has been to insist it had no political aims and merely advocated moral and healthy living.á

HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE WTO VOTE IN WASHINGTON

Reuters May 10; Key US lawmakers overnight announced a bipartisan agreement on legislation to monitor human rights in the mainland, boosting prospects for passage of President Bill Clinton's landmark trade pact with Beijing. The legislation, proposed by Michigan Democratic Representative Sander Levin and Nebraska Republican Representative Doug Bereuter and backed by the White House, would set up a watchdog commission that would review mainland policies and could recommend sanctions against Beijing as long as they were consistent with World Trade Organization rules. The White House sees the proposal as a way of reaching out to Democrats in the House of Representatives who want a forum to air their concerns about human rights and labor abuses in China in exchange for supporting the market-opening pact. "The challenge is to both engage with China and confront it, keeping the pressure on China to improve in the key areas of human and worker rights while receiving the benefits of the agreement," said Mr. Levin, The plan, however, faces fierce opposition from labor unions and other groups. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney called it a "toothless paper solution to a flesh and blood problem."á

AS CHINA SEEKS TO OPEN ECONOMY, DOORS CLOSE TO JOURNALISTS

HONG KONG, May 8, 2000 - (Agence France Presse) Foreign journalists stationed outside China have been blocked from going into the mainland on individual tourist visas, a report said Saturday. The South China Morning Post quoted an unidentified Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman as saying China has stopped issuing the tourist visas to the journalists. Journalists who want to go to China now must join a government-supervised tour group, the spokeswoman said.á

WHAT DOES FALUN GONG SEEK IN CHINA: Journalists often ask. The short answer: A peaceful dialogue with the Chinese leadership to resolve this conflict. For more information and background, visit Falun Dafa web sites (http://www.falundafa.org and http://www.truewisdom.net) or call:á

US FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER - Contacts: Gail Rachlin 212-501-8080.á

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Category: Accounts of Persecution