FDI: Falun Gong News Bulletin
Jan. 11, 2005 HUNDREDS OF FALUN GONG SEND GREETINGS FROM CHINA, SUGGESTING SIZE, VITALITY ADDENDUM TO NY TIMES ARTICLE: TWO KEY POINTS 140 DEATHS CONFIRMED DURING NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 4,000 GATHER IN TAIWAN, FORM 4-MILE "WALL OF JUSTICE" RENEWED CALL FOR JUSTICE IN CHINA
Weekly news about Falun Gong in China and around the world - www.faluninfo.net
New Years greeting cards from approximately 1,200 sites in China were received by Falun Gong websites over the past two weeks, suggesting just how large--and deeply rooted--the meditation group remains in China despite five-plus years of suppression. The greetings represent an enormously diverse array of figures and locations, ranging from Public Security personnel in Hubei Province to workers at Changqing Petroleum in Gansu Province, members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, army, police, and students at dozens of universities.
A January 2 New York Times article ("Chinese TV Director Sued by Falun Gong Claims Free Speech Protection in the U.S.") provided an informative, and much welcomed, sketch of an important legal case. The suit charges a Chinese media director, Zhao Zhizhen, with aiding and abetting in the torture and genocide of Falun Gong members in China. Two key points, however, deserve mention:
1) The defendant claims to be an "independent journalist," which is simply not true. The news his operation produces is no less subject to directions and censorship from the Ministry of Propaganda than any other media in China. Over the past five years literally hundreds of thousands of anti-Falun Gong articles and programs have been produced by Chinese media without a single known case of pro-Falun Gong coverage. An independent or alternative voice is simply not allowed on this issue. Those speaking in favor of the group are arrested, or worse.
2) The case is not charging libel or slander, and is not about freedom of press or freedom of speech. Officials overseeing the Ministry of Propaganda have worked side-by-side under the same umbrella agency -- the 610 Office -- as those directing the torture and killing of Falun Gong practitioners, with the common objective of "eradicating Falun Gong." Messages Zhao disseminated through his media include, "We should treat Falun Gong the same as terrorists to make them the 'cross-street rats' [meaning, that everyone will want to beat them]." And, "The major targets of the terrorists and the cults are the common people. Shoot them once confirmed." These calls to violence and the atrocities themselves are orchestrated by the same agency - the 610 Office.
During the month of November, 40 new cases of Falun Gong practitioners killed by police maltreatment were uncovered. Another 100 cases were revealed during the month of December, bringing the overall known death toll to 1238. Of the 140 recent cases the vast majority died in police custody from torture. Many of the deaths took place several months earlier but were concealed by Chinese authorities. As of this writing none of the police or guards involved have been so much as investigated for their involvement in these deaths.
An estimated 4,000 Taiwanese Falun Gong adherents gathered on January 8th to form a human "Wall of Justice." Braving rain, participants stretched some four miles calling for an end to the violent persecution of Falun Gong in Mainland China. Faculty from National Taiwan University, attorneys, and supporters spoke at the event. Falun Gong is widely embraced in Taiwan.
As the Beijing regime's suppression enters its 7th calendar year, the Falun Dafa Information Center calls for an immediate end to the wrongful campaign and the release of all Falun Gong prisoners of conscience. Attorneys around the world will continue this year their efforts to hold all perpetrators in China and abroad legally responsible.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER- Contacts: Gail Rachlin 917-757-9780, Levi Browde 914-720-0963, Erping Zhang 646-533-6147, or Christina Chai 917-386-5068. Email: contact@faluninfo.net, Website: http://faluninfo.net/
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