Reuters: U.S. Rights Groups Issues 'Secret' Chinese Documents

Washington-based human rights group Freedom House has published what it says are top secret Chinese government documents detailing a crackdown on illegal religious groups including the underground Christian church and Falun Gong. The documents are shown at www.freedomhouse.org. Chinese police are shown arresting a Falun Gong follower in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on Jan. 1. Photo by Andrew Wong

February 13, 2002

BEIJING (Reuters) - A U.S. religious rights group has published what it says are top secret Chinese government documents detailing a crackdown on illegal religious groups including the underground Christian church and Falun Gong.

The seven documents describe tactics used by security forces against such groups including interrogation, surveillance and infiltration by secret agents, said a statement on the Web site of the Washington-based human rights group Freedom House.

If genuine, the papers illustrate in rare detail the Chinese leadership's determination to crush all religious activity outside state-sanctioned bodies following persistent protests by members of the banned spiritual movement Falun Gong.

They also throw the spotlight again on religious freedom in China a week before a visit by President Bush.

Only four days ago, Beijing released a man sentenced to two years in jail for smuggling bibles to a banned Christian group.

"These documents provide irrefutable evidence that China remains determined to eradicate all religion it cannot control, using extreme tactics," the statement quoted Nina Shea, director of Freedom House's Center for Religious Freedom, as saying.

"President Bush, who has repeatedly voiced concern for religious repression in China, must speak out forcefully and publicly in support of religious freedom during his state visit to China next week."

The Chinese constitution enshrines freedom of religious belief but in practice the [party's name omitted] restricts all worship to state-controlled religious bodies, whose leaders it appoints.

SYSTEMATIC CRACKDOWN

The documents, available on the Web site, described a systematic campaign against a variety of unofficial religious groups, including underground Catholics and Protestants and 14 groups labeled as "evil cults."

One of the most revealing papers is a transcript of a speech by Sun Jianxin, vice director of public security in the eastern province of Anhui, in which he warns that foreign powers have infiltrated many of these groups.

"Hostile organizations both in our country and abroad have shifted their focus to the inside of our country and have hastened their infiltration through various methods, such as via foundations or academic delegations, and all kinds of media," he said.

He called for a fierce crackdown on Falun Gong -- banned in 1999 after members shocked the leadership by protesting outside their compound to demand official recognition of their faith.

"Find out the details about them and tighten control on them," Sun said. "Make sure to keep them to their local areas and prevent them from connecting and gathering, or going to Beijing to stir up trouble. Put them in classes by force and use forceful measures if necessary."

DESTABILISING THE NATION

Sun accused the Vatican (news - web sites), whose authority is not recognized by the official Chinese catholic church, of plotting to destabilize the country.

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He urged his forces to use secret agents to infiltrate Falun Gong, underground Catholic groups, businesses, people with "complicated political backgrounds" and universities.

"Secret forces are the heart and soul in covert struggles and the crucial magic weapon in our battle against and victory over the enemy," he said.

[...]

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