Forbes Magazine Fact and Comment February 21, 2000

"With all thy getting get understanding" By Steve Forbes, Editor-in-Chief

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POLITICIANS UNCOURAGEOUS

The Chinese government is actively suppressing a widely popular cult movement, Falun Gong. No wonder. Historically, the rise of such movements has meant that the central government is losing legitimacy in the eyes of the populace.

Remarkably, Beijing has brought this campaign to the U.S. A number of city and state officials had issued routine proclamations honoring Li Hongzhi, Falun Gong's exiled founder and leader. Beijing went ballistic, implicitly threatening local trade relationships with companies located near the cities. Sadly, several politicos backed down. The chief executive of Seattle and the governor of Maryland issued letters of apology to China. Not surprisingly, the supine Clinton/ Gore State Department offered advice on how to word these kowtowing apologies. Baltimore rescinded its proclamation and San Francisco tabled its.

Beijing has trumpeted these backdowns, leading a noted human rights activist, Representative Chris Smith (R-N.J.), to observe that these are a "green light to the Chinese government to carry on with torture and repression."

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