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Falungong Has US Congress Hearing, Washington Rally
Washington (AFP) Jul 21, 2005 China has deployed a network of some 1,000 spies to keep tabs on the Falungong spiritual movement in Australia, and the number of agents in the United States is likely even higher, a former Chinese diplomat said Thursday. Chen Yonglin, a former diplomat who defected to Australia in May, likened Beijing's actions to a "war" against the movement, which is banned in China, and decried the "massive and extremely harsh measures" used to suppress it. "In each Chinese mission overseas, there must be at least one official in charge of the Falungong affairs, and the head and the deputy head of the mission will be responsible for the Falungong affairs," said Chen. "I am aware there are over 1,000 Chinese secret agents and informants in Australia who have played a role in persecuting the Falungong, and the number in the United States should be higher," he said in testimony before the House of Representatives' subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations. "The war against Falungong is one of the main tasks of the Chinese overseas missions," said Chen. The subcommittee's Republican chairman, Chris Smith, said that while China has been roundly condemned for its treatment of religious and ethnic minorities, "the suffering of peaceful Falungong practitioners ... has been especially intense," he said. Smith cited human right reports detailing "hundreds, perhaps thousands dead as a result of torture, tens of thousands jailed without trial, held in labor camps, prisons and mental hospitals, where they are forced to endure torture brainwashing sessions." Meanwhile, hundreds of Falungong followers assembled for a meditation rally and march in Washington Thursday, hoping to ramp up world pressure against Beijing for persecuting the group. On the sidelines of the event, posters graphically depicted the effects of torture allegedly carried out by Chinese authorities against practitioners. Followers said they could not fathom why the Beijing government would outlaw a practice that they said has improved the physical and emotional well-being of millions of people. "It's about love, it's about sharing, it's about caring for each other," said Karolein Tsioupa, 21, originally from Russia, who took up the practice about a year and a half ago, and was working Thursday as a volunteer handing out brochures at the event in Washington. Organizers said the event is a warmup for a major Falungong conference in Washington on Saturday. The Falungong enjoyed burgeoning popularity in China until it was banned as an "evil cult" in 1999. The practice mixes traditional Buddhist and Taoist beliefs with mass breathing and meditation exercises. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express China News from SinoDaily.com
China Wants To Expand Sino-US Military Relations
Beijing (AFP) Jan 10, 2006China is ready to expand its military relations with the United States, Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan said on Tuesday. |
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