(Minghui.org) Lin Chong, a renowned figure in the ancient Chinese story of shui hu zhuan (Water Margin), had a beautiful wife who was pursued by Gao Yanei, a play-boy and the adopted son of Grand Marshal Gao Qiu. To satisfy his son’s lustful intent, Gao Qiu tricked Lin into bringing a sword to the White Tiger Hall, where top military affairs were discussed—but where weapons were prohibited. Gao arrested Lin, sent him to a remote place, and issued a secret order to kill him on the way there.
This story reminds me of how Falun Gong practitioners were tricked by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials 25 years ago on April 25, 1999. After they followed CCP officials suggestion to take their appeal against an injustice to Beijing, the regime claimed practitioners “besieged” Zhongnanhai, the central government compound, and used it as an excuse to launch the persecution of Falun Gong three months later.
After Falun Gong was introduced to the public in 1992, millions of people were drawn to the practice because it improved their minds and bodies. But the totalitarian CCP does not allow independent thinking–not even the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance that help people become better citizens. The regime looked for an excuse to eradicate Falun Gong and in 1996 began trying to collect evidence, but practitioners broke no laws.
Pro-CCP scholar He Zuoxiu who had ties to the Political and Legal Affairs Committee (PLAC) published an article in a youth magazine in April 1999, in which he made false accusations in order to defame Falun Gong. When practitioners explained to the publisher what Falun Gong is, he initially acknowledged the mistake and thanked them. But higher officials told police to arrest practitioners. When other practitioners came and requested their release, they were told to go to Beijing because the arrest order came from the central government.
As a result, many practitioners went to the State Council’s Central Appeal Office, which is located in Zhongnanhai. Since it also houses the State Council, the Secretary of the CCP Central Committee, and the General Office of the CCP Central Committee, Zhongnanhai is called the central government compound.
When practitioners went to the Central Appeal Office as they were told, the CCP claimed they were “besieging” Zhongnanhai. This is similar to how Lin Chong was framed – after he was tricked into bringing a sword to the White Tiger Hall.
Falun Gong practitioners’ peaceful appeal on April 25, 1999, not only impressed Chinese citizens, but was also broadly praised by Western news media. Why?
Since the CCP took power in 1949, it launched waves of political campaigns to suppress people. From the Land Reform Movement to the Anti-Rightist Campaign, and from Cultural Revolution to the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989—each campaign was brutal and ended in tragedy. Chinese people were gradually “trained” to withhold their opinions and follow the Party line.
But the practitioners’ appeal was different. Coming from all walks of life and all ages, they had no political agenda or ulterior motives. Instead, they only wanted to improve their bodies and minds by doing Falun Gong’s five sets of exercises and living by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
In other words, Falun Gong practitioners were able to overlook the danger because they regained their independent thinking. They went to the Central Appeal Office out of kindness and selflessness. This is also why the CCP has not been able to suppress Falun Gong despite the 26-year long persecution.
I feel practitioners’ peaceful appeal in April 1999 is special because it came from their sincere wish to help people. It’s also a moral monument on their path of following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.