China 610
Posted on Wednesday, September 01 at 14:19 by Dan.Thomson
After Paris lost the bid to hose the 2008 Olympics Alain Madelin, leader of France’s right-wing Liberal Democracy party, was “ashamed for the Olympics and ashamed to see the Olympics go to Beijing which has already won medals in all the categories of repression and human rights violations.” (1) Olympic organizers have curtailed this criticism by claiming the Olympics will help to improve China’s human-rights record. Wang Wei, Secretary General of the Beijing Organizing Committee, has been quoted as saying "we are confident that the Games coming to China not only promotes our economy, but also enhances human rights." (2) In an interview with BBC in April of 2002 IOC Presidente Jacques Rogge claimed that “we are convinced that the Olympic Games will improve human rights in China.” (3) So far, the Beijing Olympics have done little to uphold basic human rights in the host country on the contrary, as the Geneva based Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions claims, they have led China to inhumanely evict 300, 000 people from their homes in Beijing in preparation for the games. (4)
China’s human rights transgressions are numerous and well documented. The most notable being the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989, the ruthless occupation of Tibet and oppression of its religious leaders, its refusal to grant Taiwan independence and threatening military force on the tiny island and most recently the tainted blood scandal that has engulfed the country. Not to mention the SARS outbreak and subsequent secrecy last year. These violations are only a handful of heinous crimes that have come under western eyes. Handfuls abound of other odious and abysmal acts the country has committed, Human Rights Watch has compiled a long list of China’s human rights abuses. Including using the U.S led ‘war on terror’ to gain international support, or at least a turned eye, on its military operations against the Uighurs, a group of Turkic Muslims, in the northwestern Xinjiange Uighur Autonomous Region. The continued discrimination and under representation of women in Chinese society and the plight of the Chinese work force, multinational corporations have flocked to China seeking cheap labour, and the government has only too happily responded. Most workers lack adequate wages, minimal health and safety protections, and the right to organize independent unions to improve their conditions. (5)
One foil of China’s that has received little to no attention in the western world is the repression of the Falun Dafa or Falun Gong. I was blissfully unaware of this issue until my twin sister brought it to my attention quite recently. My sister, who is living in Taiwan, has recently become a convert to the practice of Falun Dafa. You may be asking yourself, what exactly is this Falun Dafa? Simply put, it is best understood as a form of qigong – a self-healing exercise that combines physical movement and mental meditation. Specifically, its practitioners describe it as “an ancient practice for refining the body and mind, moral and spiritual elevation in accordance with the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.” Since its introduction to the general public by Li Hongzhi in the early 90's Falun Dafa has quickly become a globally phenomenon boasting tens of millions of practitioners in almost every country around the world. The practice distinguishes itself from other forms of qigong by stressing not only physical exercise or ‘cultivation’, but also the ‘cultivation’ of ones moral character according to the principals preached by Li Hongzhi, which are found in his two books Falun Gong and Zhuan Falun. (6)
Because Falun Gong is spiritual in nature it is in direct opposition to the atheist ideology of Maoist China. Like Tibetan Buddhism or the Islam practiced by the Uighurs, Falun Gong is discouraged and repressed by China’s central government. Li Hongzhi’s books have been outlawed and the practitioners of his qigong are routinely discriminated against. The breaking point came in the spring of 1999, on April 25 in excess of ten thousand Falun Dafa practitioners gathered outside the Chinese governmental leadership building, Zhongnanhai, in Beijing. This mass gathering was organized in protest of reports of violence committed against Falun Dafa followers in Tianjin and the ban on Falun Gong and Zhuan Falun. The protest was the largest since Tiananmen Square and like that fateful day in 1989 the government’s responded with repression and savage brutality. (7)
Shortly after, the police arrested hundreds of Falun followers and the practice was officially declared illegal. This was followed by the creation of the infamous 610 Office; the sole purpose of this agency is the suppression of the Falun Dafa. The 610 Office has far reaching powers and has been likened to the Gestapo and the NKVD of Stalin’s Russia. The 610 Office has carried out large propaganda campaign of defamation against Falun Dafa, effectively deceiving and brain washing the entire populace of China. They have been responsible for the torture, murder, detention, brainwashing and fining of tens of thousands of Falun Dafa followers and their family members. The 610 Office deprives all Chinese citizens of their right to information, not only censoring information on Falun Dafa in the traditional media of radio, newspapers, and television, but also establishing a system of Internet police to block websites and news about Falun Dafa. This very Orwellian institution is even known to arrest and torture people for visiting Falun related sites. Similar to oppressed Tibetans, followers of Falun Dafa have responded to such brutal treatment with only non-violent, peaceful, and legal means to appeal. (8)
During the Republican National Convention this week up to 45, 000 will travel to Manhatten to protest China’s brutal oppression. They plan torture demonstrations to show the people of New York and Republicans how they are suffering under the Chinese persecutions. (9) Despite worldwide outrage and appeal the Chinese government continues its repression of Falun Dafa. As the Olympics draw closer and closer, one would hope that China would have to stop its human rights violations are risk being embarrassed on a world stage. In the words of Amnesty International we “welcomes the intense spotlight that will be focused on China in the four years until 2008…severe abuses of fundamental human rights are a daily occurrence in China. If this spotlight can curtail or even end these abuses, then the Olympic Charter, with its commitment for the ‘preservation of human dignity’ might be relevant in China by 2008.” (10)
NOTES
1 “Beijing’s successful Olympic bid draws mixed reactions,” ABC News Online, http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGASA170442004 , 14 July 2001.
2 “China: Olympic Games and Human Rights,” Amnesty International, http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGASA170442004 , 27 August, 2004.
3 Jaques Rogge, Hard Talk, BBC Radio, 24 April 2002.
4 “Forced evictions reach crisis levels leaving millions homeless worldwide,” Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, Media Release 25 February 2004.
5 “Human Rights Overview: China,” Human Rights Watch, http://hrw.org/english/docs/2003/12/31/china7001.htm , 1 January 2004.
6 Falun Dafa UK website, http://www.falungong.org.uk/ .
7 Falun Dafa UK website, http://www.falungong.org.uk/ .
8 “General Report on the 610 Office,” Worldwide Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong, http://www.upholdjustice.org/English.2/investigation_of_610.htm .
9 “Falun Gong Practitioners to Hold Public Appeals in New York City During the RNC,” Falun Dafa Information Center, http://www.faluninfo.net/displayAnArticle.asp?ID=8909 , 30 August 2004.
10 “China: Olympic Games and Human Rights,” Amnesty International, http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGASA170442004 , 27 August, 2004.
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"George Bush has declared the war on terrorism to be the cause of his generation. The cause of Canadian sovereignty will be ours." - John Godfrey, MP for Don Va
A few points. First, Faulon Gong in China. They are a cult who are more insane and dangerous than the Branch Davidians or Heavens Gate cults back in the western world. They tend to burn themselves alive in order to seek "greater illumination from heaven". Those who have survived usually recant, some on their death beds. We had a man here in Kunming who killed himself in order to "become a diety" by jumping from Western Hills (a mountain in the nearby area).
I could go on about the damage that they have inflicted on Chinese society, their mass weddings for a start. But needless to say, you get my point. The Faulon Gong are dangerous and not what they appear to be!
Aside from that I agree with everything else said. China has a terrible Human Rights record, I see it almost daily underneath the middle classes charm the exuds everywhere here. However, what about the United States? Their Human Rights record isn't clean, nor is Russia's, or Japan's. Still they hosted the games. It's all backdoor politics. I'm boycotting the games because I know Toronto would have put on a better show, and this is not just because I'm from Niagara.
What I am worried about is the Chinese people. One of the first things you recognise here in China is the Chinese people's intense hatred for the Japanese. Some of you may have heard about the incident(s) here in China during the recent Asian Cup? The booing of the Japanese national anthem, riots and attacks against the police and the innocent Japanese who attended the matches. How will they compose themselves during the Olympics? Not very well I'm afraid.
Also, the Chinese tend to regard themselves as a superior people and nation. For us Canadians these rhetoric is all too familiar (ie. south of the border). Those of us Westerners here in Kunming (Brits, French, Aussies, Canadians, etc.) were all made fun of on occasions because our nations did not win as many medals as China did. The Chinese are far from mature when dealing with and respecting other nations and peoples. These are the things that I worry about.
On to better things, I'd like to say I'm very envious of all of you back home for being able to at least watch the World Cup. All I'll say is this:
Final: Canada 4, United States 1
You heard it hear first.
Like the poster above calling them insane etc - yet offers not one shred of proof of anything illegal, dangerous or otherwise - only a mass wedding! Notice they also say its a cult... having spent dozens of hours with them, I can say I was never even approached to take up the movement. Not once - why? Because the tenants of the movement declare that the supporters must find their own way there - otherwise they cannot ask or otherwise pressure you into it! Certainly not a cult like the Branch Dividians like the poster above claims!
I have spoken out on behalf of the Falun Gong for some time now, including giving speeches and TV interviews. I have meet hundreds of Falun Dafa supporters and practitioners and they are the furthest thing from being dangerous. In fact they are so extremely peaceful that they have trouble getting their points across. They remind me so much of followers of the Buddhist faith. They are NON-political by the very writings of everything Falun Dafa.
The Chinese government like any dictatorship will do and say anything to maintain control. They are very afraid of the peaceful movement of Falun Gong supporters because they think the movement will grow to such large numbers, become a political movement and toss them on their asses. There has not been one single verifiable shred of evidence showing any political or revolutionary tactic or move by any Falun Gong follower in the entire history of the movement.
I have been calling for trade sanctions against China for their horrible human rights record - not only against Falun Dafa - but also for all their transgressions across their entire country. Canadian bi-lateral trade with China increases each and every year, so it’s an uphill battle to have anyone hear you out over the matter. Trade most certainly takes precedence over human rights when it comes to our trade with China.
The greed of the wealthy cannot be explained...
PS - the long running protest in front of the Chinese embassy in Vancouver is one of the longest concurrent protests in N.American history. For anyone in Greater Vancouver - drop by and learn a little from them yourselves - find them at the north end of Granville St at 16th ave.
Roy
I've not seen the Vancouver protest, but I'm well aware of the continuing protest taking place in Toronto in front of the Chinese consulate there.
I'm not talking about Canada, the western world, or the world at large when I talk about the Falun Gong. I am talking about what I have learnt and SEEN here in China.
I've been approached to join the Falun Gong twice already, and will likely be approached again before I leave China. I've actually been involved in a police raid of a 24-hour internet cafe. The police raided the cafe because the Falun Gong use such places as recruiting areas.
I've already mentioned the unfortunate incident that occured here in Kunming. I can reference several others.
There have been several incidents of people refusing modern medical treatment to treat serious injuries or illnesses, choosing instead to use portraits of Li Hongzhi in an attempt to "miraculously" heal themselves. They've always died as a result. One such incident involved a woman in Hunan Province who was bleeding to death.
They've sometimes resorted to abducting family members, particularly children in an attempt to indoctrinate them with their beliefs. There have been several incidents in Hubei, Guangxi, and Guangdong Provinces of people either jupming to their deaths or jumping into rives while cluching loved ones in order to commit "dual" suicides. There have been rare occassions of children surviving such suicide attempts (they usually involve a father and his son). Most people who survive their suicide attempts actively and independently begin to campaign against Falun Gong.
People, both western and Chinese here in China who have done independent investigative reporting into Falun Gong have received death threats, some have had their properties destroyed. Again, I say these people do not belong to the state, but are independent investigators.
Li Hongzhi teaches (at least here in China, I don't know about the rest of the world) that by following Falun Gong one can become a "diety" and seek inner enlightenment. Funny how he lives abroad in luxury; he has an mansion in upstate New York, and an upscale flat in London. Numerous news organisations back in the west have confirmed this (Newsweek, 60 minutes, etc.).
Perhaps things are different in the outside world. But I would ask you, have you been to China? Have you travelled through out the country, and spoken to people and done research in regards to Falun Gong?
Since I've moved to China and done the research and talked to people (outside of the government mainstream of course) one discovers that many things said about China in the west simply don't exist in reality. Are there human rights abuses here in the China? Of course there are. Does China belong in Xinjiang and Tibet? Of course not! Does China belong in Taiwan. Well, we won't go there! Do the Chinese masses yearn for western-style democracy and western-style values? NO WAY! Just talk to anyone on the street.
One misconception is that there is no religious freedom here in China, right? Wrong! People worship freely all around me, Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian. Infact, the best restaurants in town happen to be Muslim and always close early for evening prayer (if you ask for pork, they'll throw you out!) I've visited the Buddhist temples which are now thriving here I'm happy to say. I've been with my students to the temples and I've watched as they've prayed freely to Buddha. One of my students happened to be a devout Christian.
In Tibet and Xinjiang it's a bit different what with the resistance there, and the Chinese are clearly in the wrong and should not be there in the first place. The Chinese do not tolerate the mixing of politics and religion, this is why in government schools and buildings there is an ABSOLUTE seperation of church and state, which I have to say I envy. Every where else you're free worship as you may.
All I can go on is my experiences here and what I've learnt here in China. And all I can say is that I know better than to believe what I'm feed on a silver spoon as being the gospel truth.
As a Chinese who read news about China everyday, unfortuantely, what I have seen is lies after lies. I am shocked when outsiders give credit to such a outstanding liar.
As for the persecution of Falun Gong, the most severe thing is not only the treatment of practitioners. Police and other officials have been forced to mistreat practitioners against their conscience by orders of 610 offices, if they don't do so, they will lose their jobs. Students in schools have been ordered to denounce Falun GOng, otherwise they would be expelled... Practitioners have been tortured to renounce Falun Gong as well though they know Falun GOng has benefited them . The persecution actually is a persecution of people's conscience, and it is not about 10000, is about the whole China, 1.3 billion. That is the most terrifying part.