February 22, 2002

Its fingerprints may not have been on the ouster of the Falun Gong from Chicago's Chinese New Year parade, but the Chinese government has moved to keep the spiritual movement out of events elsewhere in Illinois and the rest of the nation, stoking a debate over its influence outside its borders to suppress the movement.

Last year, the Chinese consulate in Chicago persuaded Decatur's mayor to withdraw a proclamation commemorating the movement. In Flushing, N.Y., this year, Falun Gong members were barred from the Chinese New Year parade after Chinese government officials urged parade organizers to keep them out. Falun Gong members accused Utah's governor of bowing to Chinese embassy demands and reneging on a decision to declare Jan. 8 "Falun Gong Day" in that state.

[...]

...movement members say their exclusion from everything from ceremonial government resolutions to parades is part of a concerted effort by Beijing to stop Falun Gong from spreading its message worldwide.

"I see that the problem is the Chinese mainland government," said Leo Huang, one of the few members of the parade's organizing group to practice and support Falun Gong. "They are trying to stop [Falun Gong] worldwide and it seems to me they are coming into the Chinese community [in America]."

[...]

Outside China, Beijing has waged a public relations war against the movement, using its consulates to write letters to local governments and business associations with Falun Gong activities on their agendas.

Dressed in gold robes and massed at the staging grounds at Wentworth Avenue and 24th Street, the 80 Falun Gong members were turned away from Chinatown's annual New Year's parade shortly before it began.

[...]

Backers of the movement say the consulate has worked to sway Chinatown residents against the Falun Gong, and most likely exerted influence on the association's decision.

"To stop support for Falun Gong is the No.1 priority of the Chinese government," Huang said.

[...]

Beijing has tried to engender that sentiment across the U.S. Earlier this month in Flushing, N.Y., a spokesman for the Chinese consulate in New York had a letter published in a local Chinese newspaper that urged the parade's organizing committee to "think seriously" about its decision to allow Falun Gong to participate.

[...]

Tribune staff reporter Alex Rodriguez
contributed to this report

http://chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0202220038feb22.story