English Minghui.org

February 16, 2001

Falun Gong supporters slam Hong Kong government

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Christian and human rights activists in Hong Kong rallied behind the controversial Falun Gong spiritual movement on Friday by protesting against the government for stepping up pressure on the group. Holding banners, about 20 demonstrators lined up outside the office of Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa and slammed the administration for its recent comments against Falun Gong, which is legal in the territory but banned in mainland China. Their actions followed remarks by Tung last week in which he borrowed Beijing' line that the group had some characteristics of "[Chinese government' slanderous word]". Tung said the government would be keeping a close watch on the situation. Tung' comments also angered members of the democratic camp who felt Hong Kong' promised independence was under threat with the government towing Beijing' position. A statement issued by the protesters and signed by 30 local organizations accused the government of being "unreasonable and unjust" and infringing on freedoms in the former British colony, which was guaranteed a high degree of autonomy when it reverted to Chinese control in July 1997. LAWMAKERS TO SEEK ANSWERS FROM GOVERNMENT Local lawmakers will press the government to clarify its stand on Falun Gong in a special meeting next Tuesday. "How could the government label a group as an evil cult just because a couple of people outside of the territory had burnt themselves alive?" legislator Andrew Cheng, who will chair the meeting, told Reuters, referring to a recent fiery mass suicide attempt by some Falun Gong followers in Beijing. [Editor' note: the self-immolation has nothing to do with Falun Gong practitioners.] Cheng said the government would need to give a clear definition of what constitutes an "evil cult". [...]

Veteran Party Member: "Officials Have Lost Their Humanity Under Jiang Zemin's Pressure"

[Minghui net]

"Drain their money, Break their spirit, Destroy their body"

Local officials in Jiangxi Province are now losing their humanity under Jiang Zemin' pressure. Whoever says they are going to practice Falun Gong is put into "transformation classes". The cost is to be paid by the practitioners, of course. The least expensive boarding fee is around 50 Yuan per day (translator' note: Yuan, Chinese dollar, the monthly salary of an average worker in cities of China is about 500 Yuan). Fees for renting conference rooms are also charged to the practitioners. Only when a practitioner has made a written promise not to practice Falun Gong and has criticized Falun Gong, can he go home. Otherwise, after some time in the class he will be sent to a labor camp. Nowadays, many enterprises in Jiangxi Province are in a slump. Most Falun Gong practitioners have been caused significant hardship by the illegal fines. Some are financially ruined. How can people already living in poverty withstand such unreasonable extortion? Meanwhile, those who have relatives practicing Falun Gong are also going to lose their jobs. For example, if someone' parents were practicing Falun Gong, their sons and daughters, together with their spouses, would lose their jobs. If sons and daughters were practicing, their father and mother would lose their jobs. The relatives are not only forbidden to practice Falun Gong, they are required to fight against Falun Gong. Even so, some still could not keep their jobs. Relatives are required to cooperate unconditionally with this inhumane way of transformation. This is the so-called "human rights", "freedom of belief", and "transformation". It is ridiculous. This is what the local officials have been doing in order to please Jiang Zemin and keep their positions. They dare to go against the fundamental conscience of a human being and tread on the basic rights of citizens.

ShuMei Zhang in Canada a free woman. Daughter credits Team Canada mission with release of her mother

Friday 16 February 2001

ShuMei Zhang - a former Montrealer whose husband, KunLun, was released from a Chinese labour camp in January after a high-profile campaign for his freedom - has also been permitted to leave China and was scheduled to arrive in Ottawa late last night.