Summary of Other Articles and News - 06/10/2003

(Clearwisdom.net)

Facts of the Persecution

Ever since Jiang moved to Dalian City, Liaoning Province, the Political Security Committee of Dalian City and City Police Station has arrested many Falun Dafa practitioners. Soon after the move, the Provincial Political and Judiciary Committee and the Provincial Public Security Office passed down the numbers of people who needed to be sentenced to prison time or to labor camps, and detained under the excuse of "being straightened out." In reality, this is targeted at Falun Gong practitioners. They said that the five police station directors of cities, counties and districts who least successfully fulfilled their assigned numbers would be removed from their positions. Some Political and Judiciary Committee personnel and police have already started arresting Falun Dafa practitioners.

Police officer Chen Wenzhuan, who is working in the Xinglongshan Brainwashing Class, conducted forced brainwashing of Falun Dafa practitioners. All of the Falun Dafa practitioners who went on hunger strike to protest are being force-fed twice a day, and some of their lives are in danger. Those Falun Dafa practitioners who firmly refuse to give up their beliefs have been sent to labor camps or sentenced to prison terms. Chen Wenzhuan forced Falun Dafa practitioners to pay 1,000 Yuan* per month for food in the brainwashing class. He tries to extort money from any Falun Dafa practitioner whose families are relatively better off financially. After July 20, 1999, police officer Guo Jiancheng of Xisantiao Station in Kuancheng District, Changchun City, Jilin Province has arrested many Falun Dafa practitioners.

*1,000 Yuan is approximately two months average salary of an urban worker in China.

Opposing Article 23 Legislation

Apple Daily reported on June 9, 2003, the societal opposition toward Article 23 has reached its final period of resistance. Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), which represents more than forty organizations, urged yesterday that all citizens in Hong Kong take control of their own destiny and participate in the "Opposing 23, Return Rights to the People" parade scheduled for July 1^st. Member of the Legislative Council Lee Cheuk-yan of Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions firmly believes, "If there are 100 thousand, 200 thousand, or even 500 thousand to 1 million people who join the parade, I don't believe that we could not stop this Article 23."

Reference Materials

The following is an excerpt from the commentary article, "Talking about the New 'Criminal Accusations' against Falun Gong during the SARS Epidemic."

Police in Hebei Province arrested 180 Falun Dafa practitioners with the excuse of spreading SARS, and because practitioners warned those who have persecuted Falun Gong and told others of the benefits of practicing Falun Gong on one's health. This act shows how irrational these officials are. Christians see people's sins as the reason for plagues. Many Buddhists also see the SARS epidemic as retribution for people who do not believe in Buddha. During the SARS epidemic, low income citizens have no governmental medical service or help; therefore, their only way to protect themselves is to practice Falun Gong. If the government truly cares about people's health and lives, it should give Falun Gong practitioners the freedom to practice and spread this practice. The SARS epidemic in China will eventually end, likewise, the political "SARS" that violates human rights will end one day, too.