Saturday, March 6, 2004

(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Gong practitioners continue to be the target of persecution both in China and abroad. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a self-cultivation practice based on the universal principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. This peaceful meditation practice was introduced to China in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi, and spread throughout China in numbers that surpassed the Communist party membership. In 1999, under the leadership of Jiang Zemin, Falun Gong was outlawed. Since 1999 the brutal campaign to "eradicate" Falun Gong has sent 100,000 people to forced labor camps, thousands are being tortured in prison, and the confirmed death count is at 890.

During the New Years celebration in France this January, two American Falun Dafa practitioners standing on the street in France were arrested and detained for five hours for the crime of "wearing yellow." The current president of China, Hu Jintao, was visiting France at that time. Due to influence from Chinese consulates here in America, Falun Gong practitioners are excluded from community events and pressure is put on city council members not to sign proclamations supporting Falun Gong.

Why would the Chinese government need to exert influence beyond its borders? The answer lies in "eradicate." Within China the past three months, 64 innocent practitioners of Falun Gong have been arrested, beaten and tortured to death. They died for practicing a basic human right, freedom of belief. For more information: www.faluninfo.net

Laurie Hammill

Kalispell

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