October 2000

We appeal to the world media to ask itself:

Why has China's President Jiang Zemin suddenly escalated his rhetoric towards Falun Dafa/Falun Gong? Why has he now accused our non-political spiritual practice of seeking to overthrow China's government and its socialist system? Why has he resorted to a charge that he, and everyone, knows is baseless, and for which no proof can be produced? Why is he further politicizing a crisis that, is at its essence, less about politics and more about the constitutional rights of China's people and his own insecurity in power?

We ask the governments of the world and the media to consider: What is behind this hardening of rhetoric? By accusing us of seeking to overthrow his rule, is he setting the stage for a new escalation in the use of State violence against us? If we are now to be considered traitors or "enemies" of the state, will he now authorize even more illegal force, including the brutal tactics usually deployed against such threats: assassinations and executions? This is very serious. We are worried-and appeal now the international community to intervene to stop more vicious human rights crimes against us.

Already 53 practitioners have died from abuse while in police custody; over 50,000 have been detained, thousands are illegally in labor camps and mental hospitals against their will. Most have been tortured and abused, regardless of their age or physical condition.

Jiang Zemin has banned us, burned our books, and demonized our teacher Li Hongzhi. He has waged a vicious and unnecessary Cultural Revolution style campaign against us for over 18 months.

And what has been the result?

Has he crushed our spirit? Has he stopped the Chinese people from practicing? Has he won the support of the members of the Party? Has he won the respect of world opinion?

On every account, he has failed. His propaganda has backfired, leading to the Party losing the respect of the vast majority of the people who know better. The international community has condemned the persecution of Falun Gong. No nation has supported his personal vendetta. And the world press has turned against China's repression, shaming its practices in the eyes of the world.

Meanwhile the appeals of practitioners have increased in bravery and intensity. The appeals on October 1st in the very heart of Beijing showed that it is Jiang who has become a paper tiger, to quote a famous phrase from an earlier Chinese leader.

Think of how Jiang has, over the months, become more fanatical and farcical in his approach.

Originally, China targeted Falun Gong leader Li Hongzhi claiming that he was personally directing the protest, and implying that once he was out of public view they would cease. What happened? The protests grew. That charge was proven false. For the last year, practitioners have acted despite Li Hongzhi's decision to remain deeply in the background, as a teacher, not an agitational leader.

Then, Jiang tried to compare, Falun Gong to violent cults in the US and Japan. Experts on this issue pointed out that these parallels do not exist-that Falun Gong is a legitimate spiritual practice committed to truthfulness, benevolence and forbearance. China asserted that any government would do as it has done, but then, one by one, the governments of the world spoke up to defend the rights of practitioners. In the United States, President Clinton sided with the rights of Falun Gong on this issue, as did the Senate and the House of Representatives.

China's government then sought to portray Falun Gong practitioners as mentally ill, but leading world psychiatrists quickly denounced China's practice as a violation of medical ethics. Falun Gong was accused of promoting suicides until Li Hongzhi pointed out that he has never done this, and noted that the cases cited by China have not been scrutinized by impartial third parties or independent media investigations.

One by one, all of the pretexts for the crackdown of Falun Gong have proven baseless. One by one, all of Jiang Zemin's charges have been shown to be empty.

As a consequence, unable to persuade the world or the people of China, Jiang is resorting to new desperate allegations, suggesting that Falun Gong is a political force seeking to overthrow the State, and wants to undo socialism. This is laughable because Jiang knows full well that many practitioners are loyal members of the Communist Party who see no contradiction between their support for China and the practice of Falun Gong.

As resistance to China's repressive policies continues, the government is losing credibility and support through its own unjust practices.

Falun Gong reiterates its call for a peaceful dialogue with China and asks: Why is Jiang Zemin afraid to talk?

He won't tell us. Perhaps he will tell you.