ABC Online, Australia: Chinese defector appears at US hearing

Friday, 22 July, 2005

ELEANOR HALL: To the United States now, where Chen Yonglin, the Chinese diplomat who defected to Australia two months ago, has given evidence to the US Congress about the methods used by Chinese authorities internationally, to crack down on the Falun Gong movement which is banned inside China.

Mr Chen was invited to appear before a House of Representatives' Human Rights Committee to elaborate on his claim that China harasses and spies on members of the spiritual movement.

And one Republican congressman at the hearing described his testimony as explosive.

In Washington, Michael Rowland reports.

MICHAEL ROWLAND: He may have received an indifferent reception from Australian officials, but Chen Yonglin was the star turn at today's meeting of the House of Representatives' Global Human Rights Subcommittee on Capitol Hill.

Mr Chen told the Committee about China's ceaseless efforts to persecute Falun Gong members, both at home and overseas.

CHEN YONGLIN: The persecution on the Falun Gong is systematic campaign. All the Departments of the Chinese Central Government are involved.

MICHAEL ROWLAND: Australia, he said, was one of the key battlegrounds in what he labelled the war on [the spiritual group]. He told the committee Falun Gong members were spied upon and in some cases had their passports confiscated.

CHEN YONGLIN: Besides the diplomatic system, there is an intelligence collection system working against the Falun Gong as well. I'm aware there are over 1,000 Chinese Secret Agents and informants in Australia, and the number in the United States should not be less.

MICHAEL ROWLAND: Mr Chen said the surveillance activities were complemented by diplomats putting pressure on a number of institutions not to recognise Falun Gong.

CHEN YONGLIN: Both means of economic benefit and strong political pressure are used to lobby the foreign officials. Other targets of CCG propaganda include non-Government organisations, libraries, schools, visitors to the Consulate and the media.

MICHAEL ROWLAND: The congressmen conducting the hearing lapped it all up.

There's mounting apprehension, and in some cases, outright anger in Washington about China's strategic and economic intentions, as well as deep concern about alleged human rights abuses.

Chris Smith, a Republican from New Jersey, was keen to hear Mr Chen's insights.

CHRIS SMITH: Why the obsession with, with persecuting the Falun Gong in particular, and why the obsession with crushing religious belief in China unless it's part of the circumscribed... part of the officially-recognised patriotic church or some of the other three self-movement where the Government has such extensive control.

Why are they so fearful in Beijing over people peacefully practising, again, such things as Falun Gong?

CHEN YONGLIN: Communism is the real evil cult, and the CCP is a State terrorist group. The CCP should be stopped from continuing to persecute the Falun Gong practitioners.

MICHAEL ROWLAND: Congressman Smith, unlike most of his political counterparts in Australia, was effusive in his praise for Mr Chen.

CHRIS SMITH: And I know members of the Committee before going to Mr. Chow realise that your testimony is absolutely explosive.

I mean, for a man who worked for the Government of the People's Republic of China to come before a House Committee... House Committees, to deal with human rights and oversight, and to tell us in such clear an non-ambiguous words that there is a war on the Falun Gong going on in China, that is not just within the confines of the People's Republic of China, but is worldwide and to give us the insights that you have given us, I hope that every member of the press, whether it be AP, AFP, Reuters, all of the Chinese language press that are here, will take full note of your testimony because this is absolutely explosive.

This is a war, with real casualties and real deaths, especially inside of China, where torture is the preferred means of killing Falun Gong practitioners, so I... we thank you for your courage in stepping forward as you have, to provide this extremely explosive and useful and very damning indictment of the Government of China. Thank you so much.

ELEANOR HALL: And that's Republican Congressman Chris Smith from the House of Representatives Human Rights Committee, ending that report from Michael Rowland in Washington.

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1420135.htm