CNN: Falun Gong Crackdown Hits China's Schools

February 15, 2001

HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- Beijing has asked all school principals to ensure that their institutions are free from "infiltration" by the Falun Gong [group].

And while calling on the nation to declare an all-out war on the spiritual movement, President Jiang Zemin has indicated failure to contain the "scourge" will amount to a defeat for the Communist Party.

A source close to security departments in Beijing said instructions had been given to heads of primary and secondary schools as well as college presidents to adopt a "personal responsibility system" in combating the Falun Gong.

The principal or college head is held personally responsible for ensuring that there are no Falun Gong members -- or at least no Falun Gong-related "crimes" -- on campus.

He or she is responsible for organizing ideological campaigns to educate students about the allegedly [Chinese government's slanderous words] of sects and religious groups such as the Falun Gong.

"School authorities are asked to report all known Falun Gong members in their institutions, including students and teachers, to police and state security units," the source said.

"School principals and college presidents have been told they will be criticized and punished if Falun Gong-affiliated students from their units commit acts such as holding protests or distributing leaflets in public."

[Chinese government's slanderous words]

Official media in different provinces have reported that after students returned to class earlier this week for spring term, their first priority was to attend ideological classes on the [Chinese government's slanderous words.]

It is understood that in an internal meeting, Jiang urged cadres of all levels to wage "the hardest struggle" against the Falun Gong.

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Party sources said Jiang had also implemented a "social stability responsibility system" among provincial and municipal officials.

This meant that should law and order problems in any one province or city worsen, the responsible cadres would be subject to reprimand and punishments such as demotion.

And the extent to which a provincial governor or mayor can stamp out Falun Gong activities has been made the premier criterion of whether he can maintain order and stability.

The sources said the worst transgression for local cadres was failure to prevent Falun Gong activists from going to the capital and staging protests there.