Rat Poison at China's Xinhua "News" Agency
"Xinhua reports should be understood as statements from the
Chinese Communists, not news as we know it in the free press," commented Dr. Shiyu Zhou. Chinese
Communist Party critics say Xinhua created the story to strengthen its four-year hate campaign
against the ancient Chinese discipline.
Xinhua
News Conflicts with Local Chinese News Report
On
July 2, Xinhua news published its "16 Beggars Poisoned" story. Just seven hours before on
the same day, the Metropolitan Express (Du Shi Kuai Bao), a local Chinese newspaper, published its
own story, which contradicts the Xinhua news agency account.
In
the Metropolitan Express article, the case had not yet been solved. In the Xinhua News Agency story,
however, the case was solved "last night." (i.e., July 1). Furthermore, according to
Xinhua, the alleged murderer was one Chen Yongfeng, who was said to be a Falun Gong practitioner.
The Metropolitan Express article did not mention Falun Gong at all.
Curiously,
the Xinhua account lacked details about the crimes. What it added to the story was the news that the
case was closed and that the murderer was Falun Gong. The Metropolitan Express article has many
details about the still-open case, including the news that Chen Yongfeng was arrested on May 24, and
that there had nonetheless been seven similar deaths since his arrest.
Investigation
Uncovers Xinhua Fabrications, Inaccuracies
The
World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) contacted individuals in
Zhenjiang to investigate the story. A member of the Department of Propaganda for Cangnan County told
WOIPFG "with great certainty" that this case has not been solved, and that in fact more
than 500 policemen are still investigating the case.
Furthermore,
a member of the Radio and T.V. broadcasting bureau for Cangnan County confirmed that there had been
no reports of this crime being solved, and no mention of Falun Gong in connection with it.
An
official of the Cangnan County government, when asked about Chen Yongfeng, said that he was known to
be psychotic.
"That
Xinhua would report on a murder case like this is itself exceptional," observes Dr. Shiyu Zhou,
a spokesperson for the Falun Dafa Information Center. "Usually reports on crime are left to the
local media."
After
Xinhua reported on this story, however, local newspapers around China then reported this case, and
repeated the accusations made by Xinhua.
"These
other reports may have given some western observers the impression that the Xinhua report reflected
local reports, rather than driving them," continues Dr. Zhou. "In fact, those who work in
local media in China know well that once Xinhua takes a position, the local news must fall in
line."
The
one exception to this was the Metropolitan News story.
"The
Xinhua story seems to have been written in response to the Metropolitan News, and to have had only
one purpose: to turn a local story about sensational serial murders into a national, sensational
political story aimed at attacking Falun Gong," Dr. Zhou says.
Dr.
Zhou also observed that the teachings and philosophy in Falun Gong prohibit killing.
Western
Media: A Pawn for Communist Propaganda?
The
Xinhua report was carried by a number of western news wires, about which Dr. Zhou expressed concern.
"Xinhua reports should be understood as statements from the Chinese Communists, not news as we
know it in the free press. Repeating Xinhua statements as if they were news is exactly carrying out
the Communist agenda."
###
NEWS - Jul. 15, 2003 FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER
CHICAGO (FDI) - On
July 2, Xinhua News Agency reported in Wenzhou City in Zhenjiang province "16 Beggars Poisoned:
the Suspect is a Falun Gong Member." However, the Xinhua account is contradicted by the first
report on this story in a local newspaper. A follow-up investigation uncovered more discrepancies
and demonstrated there was no connection between the alleged murder cases and Falun Gong.
Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net
Contacts: Gail Rachlin (+1 917-501-4441), Levi Browde (+1 914-720-0963), Erping Zhang (+1
646-533-6147), or Feng Yuan (+1 917-941-1097).
Fax: 646-792-3916 Email: faluninfoctr@nycmail.com,
Website: http://www.faluninfo.net/
Mailbox of FalunInfo editor@faluninfo.net
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