NEW YORK (FDI) -- Over the last four years, China watchers have proposed a variety of socio-political reasons for why the Chinese regime moved to crush Falun Gong -- a benign exercise and meditation practice with ancient Chinese roots. (about)

The answer, however, is perhaps more simple -- and disturbing -- than most have guessed.

When the nation-wide persecution campaign against Falun Gong in China began in July 1999, many believed the campaign to be another mass movement orchestrated and backed by the Communist Party leadership as a whole.

Over the last four years, however, much information has been brought to light that demonstrates how then-Communist Party head, Jiang Zemin, not only formulated the policy of "eradicating" Falun Gong himself, but actually went against the decision of the entire Politburo Standing Committee -- who were advocating for Falun Gong at the time -- to enact the persecutory campaign against Falun Gong.

"For the past four years, the full capacity of the Chinese regime has been mobilized against Falun Gong," says Falun Dafa Information Center spokesman, Dr. Shiyu Zhou. "But it was the will and direction of one man that set it in motion -- Jiang Zemin." (special report)

"Jiang was jealous of Falun Gong founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi, because of Falun Gong's popularity among the people," Dr. Zhou explains. "He was also jealous of Premier Zhu Rongji's enlightened handling of the April 25th appeal. It all comes down to Jiang's jealousy. It may sound petty at first, but looking at the persecution that has been brought down upon Falun Gong in China...clearly extreme jealousy in the heart of a man holding that much power in the Chinese Communist regime is very, very dangerous."

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ANALYSIS - Aug. 04, 2003
Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net

Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), 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 (report), 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 764 deaths (reports / sources) 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, while expert sources estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labor camps, typically without trial.

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