(Clearwisdom.net) The notorious “Tiananmen Square Self-Immolation” incident, a CCP-directed event, is among the most insidious series of lies the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has ever concocted. The event, perpetrated on January 23, 2001, was calculated to incite the people's hatred toward Falun Gong, a peaceful spiritual practice. Since the staged “self-immolation” has become more widely known around the world, the CCP's mouthpiece, Xinhua News Agency, has once again published a so-called "interview" in a renewed attempt to deceive the Chinese people.
Qingdao Morning News, Hua Shang Daily in Xi'an, Shaanxi, Dalian Evening News, and Jinan Times carried a January 21, 2011 report in a covert manner. The report stated, "The article was based on a Xinhua News Agency report." Nevertheless, in the "interview," except for the names of the two "self-immolators," it involved two other persons - a Xinhua News Agency reporter and a staff person from the "China Love and Care Society," but did not dare to reveal their names. The reporter's name was simply listed as "a Xinhua News Agency reporter." The photos used in the article were all from a website created to slander Falun Gong, but its true identity is not revealed.
Recapping history: On January 23, 2001, the eve of the Chinese New Year, a staged “self-immolation” incident took place at Tiananmen Square. The incident shocked the world. The first report from the CCP mouthpiece framed and discredited Falun Gong, but the official story was later found to have significant inaccuracies and inconsistencies. Shortly after the incident, overseas media analyzed the video footage from the CCTV (China Central Television Station) program Focal Point Interview, viewing it in slow motion. One revealing sequence shows that one of the women, Liu Chunling-- who in the Xinhua version supposedly died from burn injuries--actually received a sharp blow to the head, with what looks like a metal bar, delivered by a man wearing an army overcoat. She is seen crumpling instantly to the ground; she most likely died from the blow. The Focal Point Interview deleted the sequence from the footage when it replayed the video. However, the United Nations obtained the raw video, and an overseas producer made a film entitled "False Fire," which reveals the truth to the whole world. The CCP's hoax was widely exposed as a laughing stock: "The police patrolling Tiananmen Square with fire extinguishers; a plastic Sprite bottle remains unburned after the person holding it ignited, and a woman could sing clearly for the TV cameras after her trachea was cut...". These and other inconsistencies enabled people to gain a deeper understanding of the CCP's sinister and evil nature.
For the past decade, Falun Gong practitioners in Mainland China have overcome difficulties and risked the danger of arrest, distributing the video and written materials about the staged "self-immolation" to the public. When people met with their relatives or friends who were Falun Gong practitioners, they would inquire about what really happened. Many people sighed and said, "The CCP deceived me once again! When has it told the truth over the past dozens of years?" The staged "Tiananmen Self-immolation” turns out to have become a powerful vehicle for people to learn of the CCP's methods of fabrication.
Over the past several years, from time to time the CCP orchestrated interviews of "self-immolators," in an attempt to make up for their losses and cover up the hoax with more hoaxes; but each time the results were counterproductive, exposing additional fabrications.
Three pictures of Wang Jindong broadcast by CCP media:
- On January 23, 2001, four hours after self immolation, Xinhua website posted Wang Jindong ID photo.
- On January 30, 2001, “Focus Interview” of CCTV.
- On April 10, 2001, “Focus Interview” of CCTV.
Chen Guo and Her Mother Under Year-round House Arrest
Ten years ago, when pretty 19-year-old university student Chen Guo was seen as a disfigured burn victim on CCTV, many people sighed and felt anger toward Falun Gong, but they were unaware that the CCP, the real murderer, was laughing behind the scenes. The CCP's means of fabrication can be seen as a collection dozens of years of vile tactics.
An insider revealed on Clearwisdom.net on January 24, 2005, that, “Chen Guo and her mother have been held under house arrest at the Beijiao Welfare Home in Kaifeng City. Zhan Jingui, a retired officer from the Kaifeng City Police Department is in charge of guarding the two. The police watch Chen Guo and her mother around the clock to prevent any contact with the outside world. Since the hoax of the self-immolation is widely known, the police have privately revealed that the government is trying to take care of the two and not let them die, so they can be used to attack and discredit Falun Gong.”
Another person disclosed a rumor on a website that Chen Guo had died of a large-scale infection.
Under the CCP's strict information blockade, and when Chen Guo and her mother are under house arrest around the clock, regardless if she is alive or dead, the CCP will use her as a tool to deceive the public and foment hatred; even if she is alive, she is unable to freely tell the truth under the CCP's control. Her true situation is unknown to the outside world.
One of the major characters in the "self-immolation' is Wang Jindong. His way of folding his legs [for the meditation pose] and the slogans he shouted tell us that he is not a Falun Gong practitioner. Some analysts pointed out that he was an insider from the police system specifically chosen for this assignment.
Liu Chunling was the woman who died from being struck on the head on the spot. On February 4, 2001, the Washington Post published a stunning front-page investigative report entitled, "Human Fire Ignites Chinese Mystery - Motive for Public Burning Intensifies Fight Over Falun Gong." The author, journalist Philip Pan, travelled to Liu Chunling's hometown in Kaifeng, to investigate her background. Her neighbors stated, "No one ever saw her practice [Falun Gong]."
Twelve-year-old Liu Siying could sing clearly for the camera after her trachea was cut open. The day following the "self-immolation" some critics pointed out that she was not old enough to be arrested, but the CCP would absolutely not keep her as live evidence; she would die for sure. Sure enough, Liu Siying, who had recovered well and was in good health, suddenly died six months later under circumstances that will forever remain a mystery.
Wang Bo and Her Mother Disclose Chen Guo's True Identity
On April 27, 2007, the Shijiazhuang Intermediate Court officials heard Wang Bo and her family's case. Six lawyers from Beijing defended Wang Bo and her family's innocence, despite the regime's interference. As the legal reasoning and the facts they provided were indisputable, the prosecutor and the judge were unable to advance any further arguments to justify what they were doing.
Wang Bo revealed another hoax relating to the staged self-immolation: "self-immolator" Chen Guo was Wang Bo's classmate. Chen used to practice Falun Gong, but at the time when she knew Wang Bo in 1999, she had stopped practicing.
Wang Bo said in her statement in 2005, "I got to know Chen Guo during my study at the Central Conservatory of Music. She used to practice Falun Gong, but when I knew her in 1999 she had stopped reading Zhuan Falun and did not regard Master Li Hongzhi as her master. She believed that a person surnamed Liu in Henan Province was truly a "very capable person." She also invited my mother and me to go together with her to Henan to listen to that “very capable person” “teach the Fa.”..."
That so-called “very capable person” Chen Guo mentioned is Liu Yunfang, one of the seven "self-immolators" according to the CCP mouthpiece. He was at the scene but did not pour gasoline on himself, and he said contradictory things.
A Xinhua News Agency's report contradicted itself regarding Chen Guo's identity. It first claimed that Chen Guo's mother, Hao Huijun, started practicing Falun Gong in 1997; later another report stated, "Chen Guo started Falun Gong practice in 1996 under her mother's influence." The time given is contradictory.
Wang Bo's mother, Liu Shuqin, also revealed that because Wang Bo knew Chen Guo's true situation, the regime has resorted to all possible means to persecute Wang Bo and her family, in order to silence her.
Just as Wang Bo's mother said, during Wang Bo’s case, one Communist Party leader, Luo Gan, was personally involved in the outcome of the case. According to a report on Clearwisdom in May 2007, Lu Ling, the head judge in Wang Bo's case, went to Beijing on May 14 to review its progress with higher authorities. On May 16, Luo Gan, the regime’s Political and Judicial Committee Secretary, traveled to Shijiazhuang City to monitor the situation, and the judges. On May 21, Judge Lu Ling said that the second round of hearings had already concluded, and the case was returned to the primary court. The Changan District primary court judge said that the primary court did not have the authority to make a decision in this case. The conclusion had already been made to maintain the original sentence.
Top Officials in the Ministry of Public Security reveal the inside story of the "self-immolation"
Over the past ten years following the "self-immolation," many insiders revealed information to the overseas media, verifying that the CCP had orchestrated the event. Prior to the incident, information had leaked out from inside the CCP.
Lin Chunshui, one of the leaders inside China from the Chinese Democratic Party revealed to the overseas media, "According to information provided to me on January 28, 2001, by a top official at the Ministry of Public Security, Minster Jia Chunwang already knew on January 22 that Wang Jindong would set himself on fire on the 23rd."
Lin also stated what Luo Gan said at the conference of the Central Political and Judiciary Committee, "According to information available to me, even if our Wang Jindong had not set himself on fire, there would have been a Zhang Jindong, a Li Jindong, or someone else coming forward, to put on a show." [Paraphrased]
According to a report on the Minghui website [Chinese version of Clearwisdom.net] on October 13, 2010, an insider revealed that prior to the event, his employer told him that a self-immolation would take place at Tiananmen Square on the eve of the Chinese New Year. His employer also told him that his higher-ups notified them about the news, which was from Beijing. The article analyzed that since the CCP could even notify local authorities of different levels that someone would set himself on fire at Tiananmen Square, and it was confirmed that it would take place on the eve of the Chinese New Year; that, from the situation of China and the power of the CCP, the regime was capable enough to stop this incident from occurring if someone really wanted to set himself on fire, simply by keeping people from entering the square! How then did this incident happen?
Some insiders from the CCP's media also revealed to overseas media that officials had plotted the "self-immolation," and the media cooperated in the hoax.
Self-immolation makes no sense based on Falun Gong beliefs
Genuine Falun Gong practitioners know that Falun Gong teaches people to conduct themselves according to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Killing people is forbidden, as is committing suicide. Then, how could those who kill others or commit suicide be Falun Gong practitioners? Persons who do this do not follow Falun Gong's principles but go against them; no matter how the regime’s media lies, these people were absolutely not Falun Gong practitioners.
The Focal Point Interview let us see that none of these "self-immolators" knew Falun Gong. Everything they said was nonsense and contrary to Falun Gong's principles.
Falun Gong practitioners in Mainland China and around the world have clarified the facts since 1999; the international community and Chinese people on the mainland have given Falun Gong practitioners high praise for their decade-long efforts in tenaciously explaining the truth in a peaceful and rational manner, and applaud their uncompromising spirit in resisting the persecution. Who among the millions of practitioners over this last ten years has taken any extreme measures by committing suicide like those "self-immolators" at Tiananmen Square?
In May 2002, when the Western media interviewed an individual named Wang Jindong he admitted that Falun Gong had not taught him to "self immolate."
A critic once questioned Chen Guo and her mother, "Who was the person who actually ordered you to participate in this hoax? Can you find a basis for any 'self-immolation' from Falun Gong teachings?"
The critic also pointed out that the focal point of the issue is that Xinhua News Agency said Falun Gong ordered Chen Guo to self-immolate, and Chen Guo also said that she set fire on herself as a result of practicing Falun Gong. But since the self-immolation took place in January 2001, from all the information we have seen and heard, we only see defamatory words against Falun Gong from Xinhua News Agency and its "eyewitnesses," which are illogical, confused and self-contradictory.
Regardless of the reason the CCP had duped poor Chen Guo and her mother to “self immolate,” they are now tools the CCP uses to incite public hatred toward Falun Gong. They can never get rid of this.
CCTV program Focal Point Interview reporter Li Yuqiang admits that the "self-immolation " scene was staged
A report on Clearwisdom.net on May 26, 2003, entitled "CCTV's Li Yuqiang Acknowledges That Part of the "Self-Immolation" Scene Was Staged" revealed that Li Yuqiang admitted this in early 2002.
The report said, "In early 2002, Li Yuqiang was at a brainwashing center, the so-called "Law Education and Training Center for the Capital of Hebei Province" to interview Wang Bo. During her visit she held a "discussion" with Falun Gong practitioners who were illegally detained there. Practitioners questioned her about the suspicious nature of the CCTV program containing the "self-immolation" scene. They mentioned evidence such as the example of Wang Jindong, who had been severely burnt, yet a Sprite bottle full of gasoline remained fully intact between his legs. Confronted with evidence and analysis, Li Yuqiang had no choice but to acknowledge that they had put the Sprite bottle between Wang Jindong's legs after he had been burnt, and that the scene was staged. She tried to argue that the scene was arranged in an attempt to prove to the audience that Falun Gong practitioners conducted the "self-immolation." She even admitted that had they known that its authenticity would be refuted, they would not have shot it."
Li Yuqiang is a senior reporter for CCTV's news show Focal Point. Since the persecution began in 1999 she has been responsible for producing programs defaming Falun Gong. Almost all the programs that viciously attacked Falun Gong, no matter if the reports were in print or on TV, or reported on the scene or after editing, came from Li Yuqiang. It is noteworthy that during every TV interview, she never showed her face on the TV programs, oftentimes, side views, back views or darkened views were used to cover her face. Someone reported that the identity of Li Yuqiang was a secret, and that she has a close relationship with the regime’s central 610 Office. (Note: The World Organization for the Investigation of the Persecution of Falun Gong has initiated an investigation of Li Yuqiang for her role in the production of these programs.)
The CCP's hoax exposed in the international community
The United Nations International Education Development made a statement during the fifty-third session in the sub-committee on the promotion and protection of human rights on August 14, 2001. Regarding the "Tiananmen Self-immolation Incident," the statement strongly condemned the CCP authorities' violent assault on Falun Gong practitioners and regarded it as "state terrorism." The statement read: “we have obtained a video of that incident that in our view proves that this event was staged by the government. We have copies of that video available for distribution."
The film "False Fire" was made by New Tang Dynasty TV in January 2002 to examine the suspicious points of the self-immolation incident. The film won a Certificate of Honorable Mention at the 51st Columbus International Film and Video Festival on November 8, 2003. The film analyzed and exposed this tragic event well, and showed that the self-immolation was staged by the Chinese government. (View the film at http://falsefire.com)
The Wall Street Journal's Ian Johnson, one of the most insightful journalists following this story, had his suspicions aroused by the speed with which this story was covered, observing that the state media "reported [the victim's] death with unusual alacrity, implying that either the death took place earlier than reported or the usually cautious media had top-level approval to rush out electronic reports and a televised dispatch. ..."
As journalist Danny Schechter, executive editor of MediaChannel.org said in his article: "What could be more dramatic? People are setting themselves on fire in Tiananmen Square in the heart of Beijing. CNN is there. The police just happen to have fire extinguishers on hand, and the victims are rushed to a hospital after their agonies are thoroughly photographed for state television. While the government-controlled media uncharacteristically releases the story at once, it takes a week of production before video footage is aired. "
Today, even though many people know that the CCP staged the self immolation incident to defame Falun Gong, the CCP once again produces this empty lie in an attempt to maintain the deception. However, all the CCP media outlets and related responsible parties who released the lie against their conscience will ultimately be held accountable for their misdeeds.
