The Canberra Times (Australia): Yet another attempt to justify

Wednesday, 3 April 2002

The Chinese Ambassador to Australia, Mr Wu Tao's, virulent attack on Falun Gong ("Ambassador attacks Falun Gong", 31/03/02) is yet another attempt by the Chinese Government to justify their horrific persecution of Falun Gong.

The idea that the ban on Falun Gong in China is "to protect human rights" is ludicrous to the extreme. What human rights do Falun Gong practitioners have in China when they are forced to either give up their peaceful beliefs in truth, compassion and tolerance, or face extreme torture?

The standard government line for the more than 390 documented cases of Falun Gong deaths in police custody is either suicide, or death by natural causes. Doesn't the Chinese Government know that the teachings of Falun Gong explicitly prohibit suicide?

Falun Gong is practised in over 40 countries worldwide. Why is it that there has not been one report of Mr Tao's claims of death by suicide, or practitioners maiming members of their own families in any one of those 40 countries? Why have these reports in China only happened since the ban on Falun Gong in 1999, when the government began its propaganda campaign?

Any one of those 100 invited guests present during Mr Wu Tao' speech just needs to read an Amnesty International or Human Right's Watch report to see an impartial record of China's treatment of Falun Gong.

http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detailops.asp?class=your+say&opinion_id=18854