Falun Gong
Religious repression
The crackdown on the Falun Gong organisation is the largest repression of dissent since the June 1989 massacres in Tienanmin square. Zhang Kai
According to the People's Daily (July 24) editorial, "this is a severe ideological and political struggle, pertinent to the fundamental beliefs of Communists, pertinent to the fundamental ideological basis of the solidarity of the people of the whole country, and pertinent to the future and destiny of our Party and the state."
This amazing exaggeration of the influence of Falun Gong, a meditation and exercise society, reveals the gross fear of the CCP leadership towards anything that could destabilise its rule, or bring about "the end of the Party and the state"
Falun Gong activities began in 1992, and spread quickly. Estimates of the number of practitioners range from 10 to 100 million. (No-one believes Li Baoku, Deputy Minister of Civil Affairs, who claims the sect has only two million followers).
A government report on Falun Gong showed an extensive network, with 39 provincial headquarters, over 1,900 support stations in counties and cities all over the country, and over 28,000 local groups.
The government has waged a propaganda war against Falun Gong, denouncing it for its illegal and violent activities and harmful effects. The authorities allege that from April 1998 to July 1999, there were 19 cases of massive crowd-gathering to "besiege and attack" government offices and propaganda institutions. On April 25, without any warning, over 10,000 practitioners of Falun Gong "besieged" the Zhongnanhai government complex in Beijing, to demand legal recognition.
Official sources also allege that
HE A Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong, amassed at least RMB 1.2m. (US$ 150,000) in 1993 and 1994 through selling books and teaching Falun Gong practice. Penetrating the CPP itself
The Falun Gong is perceived as a threat because it is not a religion that the CCP feels it can contain and control. On the contrary, CCP members and even high-ranking officials have been recruited into the sect. Official sources confirm i thatoin Shijiazhuan, Hebei Province, 1,200 current or retired cadres above the rank of department chief are under house arrest, and 3,000 rank-and-file Party members and cadres have been told to withdraw from the Falun Gong sect.
The popularity of Falun Gong reflects the general social polarisation, unemployment, disillusionment and accumulating grievances in Chinese society. Heavy handed repression drives frustration underground, but cannot eliminate it.
Party leaders are not sure that they will succeed in repressing Falun Dong. "All levels of Party
China structures should fully recognise the complexity and arduousness of this struggle, a top-level document warns. "There should be adequate estimate of what may possibly happen after Li Hongzhi and his Falun Gong are revealed and criticised. There should be serious preparations, watching out for the developments, and in case of serious happenings, they should be promptly discovered, reported, controlled and resolved in order to secure social and political stability." Crackdown on dissent
Similar anxieties provoked the CCP's crackdown on dissidents before and after the tenth anniversary of June Fourth. According to the China Human Rights and Democratic Movement Information Centre, at least 140 dissidents were arrested for their preparatory work in commemorating the June Fourth anniversary. In Hanzhou city, 100 members of the Democratic Party applied to hold a commemorative gathering in a public park, the application was rejected, and 20 people were arrested; 50 people nevertheless gathered in the pavilion of the park for the commemoration. In Sichuan Province, 45 dissidents, against the warning of the authorities, conducted a hunger strike at home and held a candlelight vigil. In Liaoning Province, 100 dissidents applied to hold a candlelight vigil on June 4th.
In Hong Kong, the tenth anniversary drew an impressive 70,000 people. Chants included "Rehabilitate the 1989 Democratic Movement!", "Pursue Responsibility for the Massacre!" , "End One-Party Dictatorship!", and "Build Democratic China!"
Outside China, thousands of people joined gatherings or demonstrations in major cities in the US, Canada and England. The signature campaign initiated by Wang Dan, the 1989 student leader collected over 150,000 signatures by October 1, the fiftieth anniversary of the People's Republic of China. * October Review Vol.26 Issue 3, August 1999, G.P.O.Box 10144, Hong Kong <[email protected] aVOGS
International Viewpoint #315 October 1999 27
USA
Bin ссых Сія