State, City Proclamations for Spiritual Group Irked Chinese

By Steven Mufson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, December 11, 1999; Page A25

American mayors and governors make proclamations all the time. It's not every day they take them back or apologize for them.

But that's what Maryland Gov. Parris N. Glendening and the mayors of Seattle, Baltimore and San Francisco have done since the Chinese Embassy complained about proclamations honoring Li Hongzhi, exiled leader of the Falun Gong spiritual and exercise movement. Even the State Department got into the act, according to Glendening's office, by providing advice about how to word a letter of apology.

The reason for the apologies: fear of hurting local trade relationships with China, which has branded Falun Gong a "cult" and banned the group.

In Seattle, for example, Mayor Paul Schell, a former port commissioner whose city is home to Boeing Co., Microsoft Corp. and agricultural exporters, "is well aware of the amount of trade we do with China," said a spokesman. Although Chinese Ambassador Li Zhaoxing did not threaten retaliation for the "Li Hongzhi and Falun Gong Days" that were to coincide with the recent World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle, the ambassador "did make his displeasure clear in no uncertain terms," said Schell aide Clifford Traisman.

Falun Gong angered the Chinese government this year by holding a demonstration in Beijing; tens of thousands of its followers have been jailed. The movement's leader Li, who lives in New York, and his U.S. followers have gathered statements of support from across the United States, and a congressional resolution called on China to "stop its persecution" of "a peaceful and nonviolent form of personal belief." A Falun Gong spokesman said 12,000 people signed a petition of support in Seattle before the WTO meeting.

But Schell, when confronted by the Chinese envoy in his office during the chaotic WTO meeting, rescinded his proclamation. He said that he was not familiar with the group and that, as host to the WTO meeting, his city would avoid taking positions on "sensitive trade and political issues."

"I hope you will convey my regrets to your government for this unfortunate situation," Schell wrote Nov. 30 in a contrite letter to the envoy. "I assure you that there was never any intent to cause embarrassment or insult to . . . China."

On Nov. 23, Glendening's office sent a similar message. "Please accept our humblest and most sincere apology for the misunderstanding caused by the awarding of a Certificate of Honorary Citizenship to Li Hongzhi," Elizabeth R. Pyke, director of Maryland's federal relations office, wrote in a letter that Glendening press secretary Michelle Byrnie said was reviewed by the State Department. "We meant no offense to you or to the people of the People's Republic of China."

A State Department spokesman denied giving local or state governments guidance on apologies. Publicly, department officials condemned China's treatment of Falun Gong followers.

"This is unbelievable," said Zhang Erping, a Falun Gong spokesman in New York. "This is kowtowing to Chinese pressure for trade."

"These are spineless acts," added Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), who learned of the letters from U.S. followers of Falun Gong.

Byrnie said Pyke's letter apologized without actually rescinding the honorary citizenship. Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) called that a "distinction without a difference" and said it was a "green light to the Chinese government to carry on with torture and repression."

The Chinese Embassy has trumpeted the reversals on its World Wide Web site, calling Falun Gong a "laughingstock in Seattle" and quoting Schell as saying he was "embarrassed by making such a careless proclamation."

Most municipal and state proclamations are made with little thought in response to requests by constituents. Yesterday Glendening issued a statement calling certificates of honorary citizenship "gestures of hospitality to visitors." He said he issues anywhere from a few per week to hundreds in a single day. Honorary citizenship "grants no official privileges or status, and does not carry or imply endorsement of . . . any personal religious, philosophical or political beliefs," he said.

Because the certificate had no political meaning, Glendening added, there was no reason to revoke it.

He also noted that Maryland was founded in 1634 "by those who fled oppression to seek religious freedom and liberty" and that "those who support the principles and values of tolerance . . . will always find a warm welcome in Maryland."

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