Ottawa Citizen (Canada): Propaganda Experts

By Pamela McLennan

January 18, 2007

Isn't it ironic that the Chinese Embassy is calling NTDTV a "Propaganda machine for Falun Gong"? Propaganda can be defined as information that damages the cause of a government or movement. If showing the reality of the persecution of Falun Gong is damaging to the Chinese government, then I say stop hurting innocent people and that country will no longer be embarrassed.

If the use of propaganda to persecute Falun Gong in China was not so well-documented, one might almost believe that the Chinese government could be affronted by a depiction of an atrocity that is happening in China today. How hypocritical is that? When the Chinese Communists stop harming their own citizens, they will no longer be exposed or feel the need to justify their failure to live up to globally accepted human-rights standards.

I hope that Canadian government officials and corporate sponsors of the NTDTV production will complain loudly to Chinese Embassy officials that trying to dictate who others can sponsor and threatening to withhold or restrict trade alliances are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

With the 2008 Olympic Games rapidly approaching, I think the Chinese government needs to tone down its rhetoric and stop trying to get others to participate in the illegal persecution of a peaceful spiritual practice.

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