Editor's note:á
This weekly
bulletin is written by an independent media agency that supports Falun
Gong and may not always represent Falun Gong's viewpoints. It summarizes
news about the persecution of Falun Gong and is sent to worldwide media
every week.
"This is, in my judgment, the greatest single spiritual movement
in Asia today. There is nothing that begins to compare with it in courage
and importance." - Mark Palmer, Vice-Chairman of the Board, Freedom
House (quoted from new video 'Falun Gong: The Real Story Part 2)
US FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER -
Contacts: Gail Rachlin 212-501-8080, Erping Zhang 917-679-6944, Feng Yuan
917-734-6913, or Levi Browde 914-720-0963. Email: usinfo@falundafa.orgáá
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US FALUN GONG TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE, SCREENING OF NEW
DOCU-VIDEO IN WASHINGTON D.C.á
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EU QUESTIONS CHINESE PREMIER ON FALUN GONGá
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CHINA CONVICTS PRACTITIONER, AN OMINOUS WARNING TO HONG
KONGá
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CHINESE GOVERNMENT WARNS AGAINST BELIEF IN RELIGION -
CALLS FOR "IDEOLOGICAL PURITY"
EUROPEAN UNION LEADERS REMINDING CHINESE PREMIER ABOUT VIOLATIONS AGAINST
FALUN GONG
BRUSSELS, July 10 (AFP) - Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji kicked off
a three-day diplo-trade visit to Belgium and the European Union Monday,
the last stop on a six-nation European tour following up on an historic
EU-China trade pact signed in Beijing seven weeks agoZhu's European tourhas
been dogged by demonstrations against China's human rights record, and
there was no let-up in sight in Brussels. Amnesty International was planning
a demonstration in central Brussel's Place de la Monnaie near the stock
exchange Monday afternoon. China and the EU are currently engaged in an
on-going dialogue on human rights but, said the commission spokesman, "This
process of dialogue only makes sense if it shows results on the ground.
We agree on what they're supposed to do, but we differ on the results."
"We're concerned about rights violations, particularly against Falungong,"
the outlawed spiritual movement in China, "and we intend to raise this
issue on every occasion."á
CHINA CONVICTS FALUN GONG PARTICIPANT, SENTENCE PENDING - AN OMINOUS WARNING
TO STILL FREE HONG KONG
BEIJING (AP) - July 13, 2000 - A court in southern China has convicted
a participant in the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement of violating
the country's law against cults, a rights group reported Thursday. Authorities
in Shenzhen, a booming manufacturing center, intend Dai Ying's conviction
as a warning to followers of the sect in nearby Hong Kong, the Information
Center for Human Rights and Democracy said. Hong Kong and tiny Macau are
the only parts of China where Falun Gong remains legal. Dai's husband,
Li Jianhui, a Falun Gong organizer in Shenzhen, was sentenced March 28
to four years in prison, also for violating the law against cults. Dai
herself was arrested in March, the Hong Kong-based Information Center said.
The Futian District Court convicted her Tuesday and is expected to announce
her sentence in the next few days, it said. The center gave no details
on Dai's alleged crimes, but the law banning cults lays down varying punishments
for Falun Gong members depending on their level of involvement. Leading
organizers have been sentenced to up to 18 years in prison. Thousands of
others have been detained for brief periods in the crackdown.á
CHINESE GOVERNMENT WARNS AGAINST BELIEF IN RELIGION - CALLS FOR "IDEOLOGICAL
PURITY"
(BBC MONTORING) Friday, 7 July, 2000 A year after the spiritual group Falun
Gong was banned, the Chinese media are continuing a campaign of propaganda
against it and other "dissidents". Since the ban, the authorities have
arrested thousands of people in an attempt to crush the Falun Gong. At
its height a year ago, it was thought the movement had 70 million members
inside China, more than the Chinese communist party itself. But the continued
media attacks are a clear indication of the leadership's anxiety over what
it sees as a threat to stability and the party posed by a quasi-religious
mass movement. The party leadership was particularly alarmed at the extent
to which the Falun Gong had penetrated into the upper ranks of the party,
government and the army - and much of the recent propaganda reflects this
concern, with repeated calls for ideological purity.
President Jiang Zemin personally launched a campaign in February to
reindoctrinate party members away from "superstition" to a belief in science
and technology. Numerous articles praising Mr. Jiang for launching the
campaign - known as the "three representations" - speak of replacing religion
with the "spirit of socialism". The campaign appeals for an ideologically
pure party to provide clear leadership to stop people seeking it elsewhere
in groups such as the Falun Gong. One recent article warned party officials
against practising religion in secret or attending underground church services
in private homes.á
CHINA ROUND UP
Ma Yanxin is a 52 year-old woman who was forced to stay in a mental institution
in China. She was given heavy medication and injections even though she
was healthy at the time of detention. As a result of the drugs, she began
having trouble with her motor coordination, her tongue became dry and stiff,
she could barely open her eyes, and she began experiencing memory loss.
She was held for 18 days. It is a common tactic of the Chinese government
to place people in mental institutions as a way to discredit them.
In Szechuan province, some local government officials have openly announced
that they can torture Falun Gong practitioners at will according to the
direction from the provincial and central government. Almost all practitioners
have had to pay heavy fines equal to several months' salary. In one village
alone, it is estimated that a total of more than US$100,000 has been demanded
from practitioners. Most of the village officials have even made a local
policy to pay a bonus of 50 Yuan to 200 Yuan for beating practitioners.á
US EVENTS TO COMMEMORATE THE UP-COMING ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF CHINA'S
CRACKDOWN ON FALUN DAFA
WASHINGTON, D.C. ACTIVITIES
July 20PRESS CONFERENCE & SCREENING
Falun Gong: The Real Story, Part 2.á
Starts at 4pm.
This new video contains original footage documenting the quiet forbearance
of Falun Gong practitioners under the persecution of the Chinese authorities.
Media please contact: 703-725-4168 or usinfo@falundafa.org to RSVP
and for location.
July 20 and 21
9am-3pm Lincoln Memorial: Group practice. Hundreds of people from all
over the country expected. Everyone welcome.
4pm-10pm In front of Chinese Embassy: Candlelight vigil for those who
have died due to belief in Falun Gong. Everyone welcome.á
NEW YORK CITY ACTIVITIES
Group practice and candlelight vigils
Tri-state practitioners will be gathering in front of the Chinese Consulate
on 42nd St. next to the West Side Highway all day on July 19th, 20th and
21st.
Private Press Screening
Falun Gong: The Real Story, Part 2. July 24th. Time and location
to be announced.
Please direct all media inquiries to Falun Dafa Information Center:
usinfo@falundafa.orgá
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VIDEO AVAILABLE
Falun Gong: The Real Story Part 2, containing rare footage of interviews
from inside China and commentary from top scholars and human rights experts.
To obtain copies of the new docu-video, please contact cathywangny@hotmail.comá
US FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER - Contacts: Gail
Rachlin 212-501-8080, Erping Zhang 917-679-6944, Feng Yuan 917-734-6913,
or Levi Browde 914-720-0963. Email: usinfo@falundafa.orgá