FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 19, 2002 [ http://www.faluninfo.net/ ]

When Ms. Yanying Wu was released from Tianjin's Jianxin Labor Camp earlier this month, she revealed that detainees are being forced to write letters slandering Falun Gong and declaring complete support for Jiang's persecution of the practice.

According to Ms. Wu, all Falun Gong practitioners detained in the Jianxin Labor Camp must write UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan a letter acknowledging that they had been "deceived" by the founder of Falun Gong and that Falun Gong is an "evil cult." In addition, their letters must contain language supporting the government's ban and completely renouncing Falun Gong.

Any letter failing to meet these four requirements must be re-written, and practitioners such as Ms. Wu who refuse to write such letters are subject to further punishment, including torture.

This is not the first Jiang-sponsored letter writing campaign to the UN.

Last year, he launched the "million signature" drive in an apparent attempt to convince the United Nations Human Rights Commission that the Chinese people approved of his persecution of Falun Gong. However, after reports surfaced that anyone who refused to sign the document in the workplace would be subject to severe criticism, demotion, or loss of job, and that even small schoolchildren were forced to sign their names to avoid ridicule or punishment, the document became more of an embarrassment, than a propaganda victory.

"Throughout the over three-year campaign against Falun Gong, the Jiang regime has used various means to extract statements and signatures from Chinese citizens in an apparent attempt to demonstrate support for this brutal persecution," notes Falun Dafa Information Center spokesperson Levi Browde. "Given the fact that these pressure tactics are applied to all members of society, what does this tell us about how the Chinese people really feel? The truth is, from the beginning, this persecution has not been an expression of the people's will, but rather has been driven from the top through the use of conscience-deadening propaganda, intimidation and brute force."

Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." It is a practice that was taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and separate from other practices such as the religions of Buddhism and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practiced in over 50 countries.

With government estimates of as many as 100 million practicing Falun Gong, China's President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999, fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions who had experienced improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong, Jiang's regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it.

The Falun Dafa Information Center has verified details of 480 deaths since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. Government officials inside China, however, report that the actual death toll is well over 1,600. Over 100,000 have been detained, with more than 20,000 being sentenced to forced labor camps without trial.

Posting date: 9/20/2002
Original article date: 9/20/2002
Category: News & Media Reports

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