Something ugly is taking place in Hong Kong, and it's not what Chinese President Jiang Zemin wants you to think.

President Jiang Zemin has handed the leadership in Hong Kong a club in the form of an "anticult" law and instructed them to use it to strike at Falun Gong. This goes completely against the rule of law, it is in direct violation of the one country/two systems policy and it threatens the freedom of belief for the millions of residents who have enjoyed this constitutional right, guaranteed (at least until now), by law.

Furthermore, it would be ridiculous to attempt to ban Falun Gong on the basis of brainwashing, mind control, etc. as stated in the proposed "anticult" law. Falun Gong is practiced freely and openly by individuals in over 40 countries. As has always been the case, the practice is entirely free and open to anyone. There is no membership, no dues, no churches, no rituals, no worshipping, and no keeping lists of names. People practice or don't as they see fit. In contrast, the Chinese government's near-total control over all major T.V., radio and newspapers in mainland China has been used to aggressively carry out a one-sided media campaign against Falun Gong. In China, thousands of Falun Gong practitioners continue to be tortured in "forced re-education" centers, where they are denied sleep and bombarded day and night with the PRC's propaganda. Who are the ones exercising mind control? If Hong Kong were to enact an "anticult" law and enforce it according to the rule of law, shouldn't President Jiang Zemin and his supporters face arrest the next time they decide to visit Hong Kong?

In statements today, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa mounted a vague yet predictable defense of his sweeping condemnation of Falun Gong by dredging up the "self-immolation" incident where 5 people set themselves on fire in Tiananmen Square almost three months ago. He failed to mention, however, the many suspicions surrounding the "self-immolation" events - for example, interviews with the neighbors of at least two of the victims revealed that they were not known to have ever practiced Falun Gong (see Phillip Pan, Washington Post - Feb. 6th, 2001). Indeed, the PRC has inexplicably denied any outside contact with the victims or their families.

Most notably, Mr. Tung fails to mention Falun Gong's official statement about the event at the time, reassuring the world that such actions directly violate the core beliefs of the group, who strictly adhere to the non-violence that has been evident in their peaceful demonstrations in China and throughout the world over the last two years.

The Hong Kong leadership has a chance to demonstrate its strength and nobility - rebuff Jiang Zemin's crusade to stamp out a peaceful spiritual practice, and stand up for the legal rights promised to the SAR. It is within their means to do so, and a tragedy in the making to let the opportunity pass by.

Posting date: 5/23/2001
Original article date: 5/22/2001
Category: News & Media Reports

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