Issued by Clearwisdom Net

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom released its 2005 annual report on May 11. In the report, China is listed as one of the 11 countries designated as severe violators of religious freedom, referred to as "countries of particular concern", or CPC's. The report pointed out that the most serious religious freedom abuses are experienced by groups including Falun Gong, which involve imprisonment, torture, and other forms of ill treatment.

According to a report from Radio Free Asia on May 11, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom released its 2005 annual report Wednesday at the National Press Club in Washington DC. The report once again lists China among countries designated as CPC's. Michael K. Young, who is in charge of China's issues in the commission, stated during the press conference that the Chinese government violates religious freedom. Its suppression against unregistered religious groups and Falun Gong is especially severe.

Michael Young said, "Since 1999, the U.S. State Department has respected our commission's recommendation. This year, we once again list China as a CPC. The status of religious freedom in China is still not good. Many unregistered religious groups including Roman Catholics, house churches and Protestants, and spiritual groups such as Falun Gong are experiencing various forms of oppression from the Chinese government. Abuses involve threats, harassment and imprisonment."

The report states, "Beginning with the banning of Falun Gong in 1999, the Chinese government has continued to carry out a campaign against what it calls "evil cults" and "heretical sects." Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been sent to labor camps without trial or sent to mental health institutions for re-education due to their affiliation with [Falun Gong]. Falun Gong practitioners claim that between 1,000 to 2,000 practitioners have been killed as a result of police brutality. Given the lack of judicial transparency, the number and treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in confinement is difficult to confirm. Nevertheless, there is substantial evidence from foreign diplomats, international human rights groups, and human rights activists in Hong Kong that the crackdowns on the Falun Gong are widespread and violent. In addition, the Chinese government has reportedly continued to pressure foreign businesses in China to sign

statements denouncing the Falun Gong and to discriminate against its followers in hiring. Local officials in foreign countries have also stated that they were warned by Chinese diplomatic personnel about the loss of potential business contacts if they continued to advocate on behalf of Falun Gong."

According to Voice of America, this list of countries that severely violate freedom of religion will be used to constitute U.S. foreign policy. For example, it may help to determine whether to impose sanctions or other measures.

The full text of this report can be found at: http://www.uscirf.gov/countries/publications/currentreport/2005annualRpt.pdf#page=1

On May 8, 2005, amidst the usual breeze and waves, Pattaya Beach saw a different scene. There were over 50 Falun Gong practitioners in yellow Dafa shirts gathered here to demonstrate the exercises, distribute truth-clarification flyers, and clarify the truth to passersby. They unfurled banners reading, "Celebrate the 13^th Anniversary of Falun Gong Being Introduced to the Public," "The World Needs Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" and "Falun Dafa is Good."

Exercise Demonstration

Pattaya is a world-famous tourist resort, with a lot of tourists from China and other countries visiting every day. For years, Thai Falun Gong practitioners have used this place to clarify the truth to people. They have clarified the truth to the local administration and police many times, and distributed numerous truth-clarification materials to the tourists.

Clarifying the truth to tourists

For one week, the Thai practitioners have been working together to prepare for this anniversary event. Some practitioners coordinated the communications, some rented the bus to transport practitioners, some made banners and some provided the materials and other resources. Everyone was happy for this Fa-promotion activity. The participants ranged in age from a two-and-a-half-year-old to 70 years old. Before they completed the activity, the practitioners expressed their wish together: Dear Master, Happy Birthday!

Master, Happy Birthday!

The annual traditional heritage festival at Gyeongsangnam-do is a 4-day-long celebration of traditional culture. This year, the Gyeongsangnam-do Sports Meet was also held at the same time, so more visitors came to both events. The Falun Gong practitioners made use of this good opportunity to clarify the truth. They contacted the event organizers to clarify the truth and obtained permission to collect signatures to rescue Ms. Gao Chengnu, who is jailed in China. Practitioners also applied for and obtained permission from the local police department.

Exercise demonstration

From April 29 to May 2, the Falun Gong practitioners set up the display boards and signature collection table under the trees in front of the gymnasium. Since the pictures and boards were between two gyms for Taekwondo and wrestling, there were a lot of people walking by, looking at the truth-clarification pictures and listening to the practitioners' explanations. Many people were angry at the Chinese Communist Party's brutal persecution and signed their names on the petition form to rescue Ms. Gao Chengnu, a Falun Gong practitioner jailed in China.

During the festival and sports meet, the practitioners clarified the truth to people who came to look at the display boards. They also went to the stage and streets, where most people were, to clarify the truth there. Between the performances, people signed their names to rescue Ms. Gao and accepted the truth-clarification flyers. People of all walks of life heard the truth and saw the beautiful Falun Gong performance.

Since 2001, a practitioner from Västergötland in the west of Sweden has been driving around with an exhibition to libraries and health centres to raise awareness about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. The exhibition has also been featured in many newspapers.

In an interview with a reporter from Clear Harmony, the practitioner explains how he has benefited from practising Falun Gong and reveals what's giving him the inspiration to hold these exhibitions.

Reporter: How long have you been practising Falun Gong?

I started to practise properly in the spring of 2001 after having participated in an introductory course.

Reporter: What has Falun Gong done for you?

An unbelievable amount. I am a totally new person now: very healthy and, above all, I have changed as a human being. Before, I was shy and taciturn. This has changed. By cultivating and living by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance, you change incredibly.

Reporter: What gave you the idea to hold these exhibitions?

First, I helped with an exhibition and I was learning. A good article was published in the local newspaper. I thought it was so good so I wanted to continue. I wanted to let more people know that innocent people are tortured and killed in China.

Reporter: In what places have you been holding your exhibition about Falun Gong?

Mostly in Västra Götaland, primarily in the main libraries and even some health centres. I always contact the library personally. I have had the chance to hold exhibitions everywhere I have been asking; only in two places was I refused or did they not hold exhibitions at all.

Reporter: What do the people usually think about your exhibitions?

Most people say it's a good thing that I am doing, and that it's not many people who work voluntarily for human rights and stand by people on the other side of the earth. With such a response it is easy to continue holding them.

Reporter: You are also collecting petition signatures calling for human rights in China. Do people usually sign?

Yes they do. I usually stand near the exhibition or, for instance, outside some grocery store near the library and collect signatures.

Reporter: Have you ever met with interference at any time?

In one municipality, the librarian had a negative picture of Falun Gong because of the propaganda from China's regime. I talked to him in a peaceful way and showed him a list of all those who have been killed in the persecution in China. He was from Askim, and at that time I had an exhibition at that library. He went and looked at it. Afterwards he called me and said I could set up my exhibitions as soon as the spot was available.

Reporter: You have now been to more than fifty libraries. How do you intend to go on with the exhibitions?

Right now I am thinking about doing another round, that is start again from where I started three years ago and offer the exhibition to branches and the smaller libraries this time as well.

Reporter: How long do you think you will continue with this?

Until the persecution is over. We cannot give up. It's all about doing better every time so that more people get the chance to know the truth about the largest persecution in the world that is aimed at kind-hearted people. The more people who know that the persecution is going on, the quicker it will end.

Reporter: Then I'll finish by wishing you good luck!

Falköpings tidning, March 12th 2005	Jönköpingsposten, February 9th 2005
Nya Lidköpings tidning, December 20th 2004	Bohuslänningen, August 29th 2001