FALUN GONG OUTSIDE CHINA

The activities of the 'Falun Gong outside the People's Republic of China' (PRC) have increased dramatically since the PRC government began to suppress the practice in 1999. They are often seen in protest action in many major cities around the world, and have a significant media presence through the electronic and print media.
Chinese consulates and embassies around the world have sought to counter the activities of the Falun Gong through a variety of means, ranging from counter-propaganda to active interference in Falun Gong activities. The response of the local community has been mixed, with some local Chinese communities attempting to limit Falun Gong activities but also some members of local communities responding favourably.

Contents

Falun Gong action

Protests

April 2006 Hu Visit Protests

Parades

Distribution of printed media

Falun Gong awards and recognitions

Debatable significance of awards and recognitions

Local community response

Australia

Bulgaria

Canada

Saskatoon

New Zealand

South Africa

United States of America

Response by Chinese diplomatic service

Argentina

Canada

Indonesia

References

Falun Gong action

Protests

After the government of the People's Republic of China began its persecution of Falun Gong in mainland China in 1999, protests, rallys, and appeals have become some of the most visible forms in which Falun Gong practitioners manifest outside of mainland China. Protests are frequent, some daily, and happen around the world.
Falun Gong supporters in Vancouver, Canada continue to stage what they claim is the world's longest-running continuous protest against PRC's treatment of Falun Gong practitioners.^[1] However, in June 2006, it was announced by the mayor of Vancouver that the protest signs and structure must be taken down, as they violate a by-law against building permanent structures on public property, and have done so for five years already.^[2] The protesters refused to comply and the city was seeking for a court injunction.^[3] The Falun Gong protesters have opposed to the injunction and accused Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan of being "manipulated by the strings of China".^[4] The protest, which runs twenty-four hours a day, is located at the entrance to the PRC Consulate on Granville Street.
There are also similar protests being staged in front of the PRC Embassy in London, New York, and other cities worldwide. The Hong Kong Government allows nearly continuous demonstrations. Demonstrations usually take place in tourist areas.
Falun Gong practitioners are often seen on the streets in major metropolitan areas, directly informing the public of the treatment their fellow practitioners in China. In many Western cities (particularly Manhattan, New York City) several elaborate streetside demonstrations have been staged that portray scenes of alleged government brutality. Amidst these public displays are signs with simple slogans, such as "Falun Dafa is Good" and "Bring Jiang to Justice."
The publication, ''Epoch Times'', distributed for free in metropolitan areas in the US, Canada, and Australia often carries articles pertaining to the persecution in mainland China. Its Chinese version is anti-Chinese government in stance,^[5] and carries regular features calling for members to quit the Communist Party of China.^[6] Sound of Hope, a radio station broadcasting to mainland China as well as Western countries, and a TV station named New Tang Dynasty are operated mostly by Falun Gong practitioners.

April 2006 Hu Visit Protests

During the April 20 2006, welcoming ceremonies outside the White House for Chinese president Hu Jintao, which opened his official visit to the capitol, a Falun Gong supporter repeatedly interrupted the event by shouting in the English and Chinese languages. Because she was stationed atop a grandstand and blocked on all sides by camera equipment and ladders, it took at least two minutes for Secret Service agents to drag her away. They later identified the woman as Wang Wenyi, a reporter for ''The Epoch Times.''^[7]
"President Bush, stop him from persecuting the Falun Gong!" she shouted at one point, followed by "Hu, your days are numbered", in Chinese. She was also heard yelling "Stop the torture and killings!" and "Falun Dafa is good". During her protests, she unfurled and waved a yellow and red Falun Gong banner.
On April 21, Wang was charged with a federal misdemeanor of harassing a foreign official, punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of $5,000. She was released without bail pending further proceedings.^[8]
Also during Hu's visit in Washington, D.C., hundreds of banner-waving protesters demonstrated against Hu's visit outside the White House gates. The clamor was heard faintly during an elaborate lunch Bush gave in Hu's honor.
On April 21, Hu was also followed by hundreds of protesters during his Yale University visit on April 21 2006. Around 2,400 signatures from Yale faculty and students condemning organ-harvesting were collected by the Yale Falun Gong club and delivered to university officials.

Parades

Another form in which Falun Gong has gained attention outside of China is through parades. Falun Gong parades usually incorporate traditional-style Chinese dances, vibrant costumes, song, exercise demonstrations, traditional-style Chinese drumming, floats, and banners. Practitioners sometimes call this "bringing people the beauty of Dafa".^[9] Another style of Falun Gong parade is done as a form spreading awareness about and protesting the Chinese Government's persecution. This type of parade may sometimes be called a ''march''. In this style of parade, participants often hold signs and banners, with different sections of the parade devoted to different aspects of the persecution. There is usually a section involving participants wearing only white (symbolizing mourning) and holding pictures of practitioners who have been killed during the persecution. Floats are also incorporated, but carry much darker themes; including live representations of torture and organ-harvestings. Falun Gong parades often involve a combination of both styles. One parade of this type that took place in New York City in April 2004 was called “The Journey of Fa-Rectification - Grand Parade portraying the History of Falun Gong and a Bright Future.”^[10] While the latter style is usually only done independently, Falun Gong practitioners have participated in numerous holiday and festival parades worldwide using the "beauty" style, and have won numerous awards.^[11]
Parades range in participation. Some parades may consist of only a few dozen practitioners, such as a 2003 parade in Banff, Canada,^[12] while others have consisted of as many as fifteen thousand according to Falun Gong figures, such as a 2006 parade in Taipei, Taiwan.^[13]

Distribution of printed media

Printed media such as leaflets and newsletters, highlighting the alleged persecution of Falun Gong and their principles and practices, are also distributed such as in the image shown to the right.

Falun Gong awards and recognitions

Falun Gong has obtained many awards and recognitions^[14] through out the years.

Debatable significance of awards and recognitions

For some there is however some controversy about how meaningful Falun Gong’s many ''municipal'' awards and recognitions are and how they are used to promote the Falun Gong.
Patsy Rahn states they “are documents routinely obtained by groups from public officials in the US for public relations purposes” and may be used to mislead people in China into believing “that the American government supports Master Li and his Falun Gong practitioners.” Citing one example from Tampa, Florida, Noah Porter (2003) argues that these awards are not always easy to get and can require an involved process of dialogue between practitioners and officials. ^[15]
In 2006, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors was asked to pass a resolution condemning "persecution" of Falun Gong practitioners. Given San Francisco’s long tradition of tolerance and the Falun Gong’s teachings on homosexuality, there was controversy about the exact wording of the resolution. As reported in the Sing Tao Daily (2/1/2006), four of the supervisors, when asked about the resolution, stated “that they either don’t understand the Falun Gong belief system or do not support it; in addition, they feel uncomfortable about the Falun Gong’s homophobic positions.” The Chinese supervisor who had co-sponsored the resolution, and worked to amend it in committee, was quoted in the Bay Area Reporter:

"I am concerned about these homophobic teachings. It is a good thing these were called out. I don't think people understand the Falun Gong. So to the extent it is educating the community, it is a good thing." ^[16] :

Aware of these teachings, the sponsors of the resolution amended the original draft language to include a disclaimer. As a result, the San Francisco Supervisors passed Resolution 66-06 ^[17], condemning the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, while also stating that “the views expressed by Falun Gong practitioners are not officially sanctioned by the City and County of San Francisco” and that the resolution “in no way encourages the practice of any particular faith, philosophy, religion or belief system, including but not limited to Falun Gong.”
There are also reports of politicians being persuaded to support awards or recognitions for Li Hongzhi without knowing all the facts about his teachings. According to a San Jose Mercury News article, American politicians have been caught in the middle in the battle between the Chinese government and the Falun Gong. In January, 2001 four US representatives from northern California—Representatives Tom Lantos, Anna Eshoo, Zoe Lofgren and Pete Start—signed a letter to the Nobel Peace Prize praising Li Hongzhi for promoting the “highest humanitarian values.” When asked whether they knew about Li’s teachings on homosexuals and race before they signed that letter, three of the representatives said no. Representative Anna Eshoo, who subsequently rescinded her nomination, stated: "Obviously I wouldn’t recommend to the Nobel Institute someone who’s anti-gay, because that’s a human right. ... Mr. Li has made statements that are offensive to me and are counter to many of my core beliefs." ^[18]

Local community response

Local communities in many countries have had mixed reactions to Falun Gong practitioners and Falun Gong activities. In some cases local Chinese communities are reported to have opposed Falun Gong activities, and in other cases local communities are reported to have praised and expressed gratitude to Falun Gong practitioners and their activities.

Australia

According to an AFP report, Chinese community leaders in Sydney banned Falun Gong practitioners from participating in a Chinese New Year parade in 2005. Upon being pressed by the media, Committee Chairman, King Fong, claimed that he feared allowing Falun Gong practitioners participate in the parade would "prompt a backlash from Beijing" and that he didn't want to damage the committee's relationship with China. A Falun Gong spokesperson disclaimed any political motive on Falun Gong's part, and claimed that the ban was directly related to influence of the Chinese Communist Party.^[19]

Bulgaria

An article submitted to Falun Gong website Clearwisdom describes a public screening of the film ''Sandstorm'', a film created by a Falun Gong practitioner to raise awareness of the alleged persecution of Falun Gong in mainland China. The screening took place in Bulgaria. The Chairman of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (a branch of the international human rights organization) was invited to the event by local Falun Gong practitioners, and made some remarks about his awareness of the human rights situation in mainland China before the start of the film. After the film, some people signed petitions and expressed their support for Falun Gong, as well as their opposition to the alleged persecution. The report ends by describing the behaviour of one audience member who was especially impressed with the activity: "Inspired by the film and having realized the compassion of Falun Gong, a man who came to the premiere with his wife played on his violin to show his gratitude to the practitioners and his joy at encountering Falun Dafa."^[20]

Canada

In 2005, the Ottawa Chinese Senior Association removed one of its members, Huang Daiming, from the association because she practised Falun Gong.
In January, 2006, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario ruled that the Association had discriminated against her. The tribunal found a series of actions by the Association against the Falun Gong practitioner because of their objection to her beliefs, and exposed her to contempt and ostracisation in the community, and amounted to an affront to her dignity. It ordered compensation to the practitioner, and ordered, inter alia, that eligible Falun Gong practitioners be enrolled as members of the Association. [1]

Saskatoon

Saskatoon, a city located in central Saskatchewan, Canada, declared the week of April 23-29 Falun Gong Week in 2001.
This created conflict between the PRC government and the city council of Saskatoon, resulting in the PRC consulate for Western Canada chastising Saskatoon for its declaration, calling Falun Gong a “heretic cult.” However, City council went ahead with the proclamation after then-mayor Jim Maddin spoke to a senior consular official in Calgary and said the city would not change its position just because the PRC government disagreed.
Five years after the issue on the declaration of Falun Gong week in 2001, Donald J. Atchison, the Mayor of Saskatoon remarked his hesitation to agree to a request to declare May Falun Gong Month at the city council meeting in May 8th 2006. “I just find this one a political statement,” said Atchinson. He explained to the council that the last time he issued a proclamation for Falun Gong it caused some inflammatory comments from the government of the PRC, and he did not want to issue a proclamation that might invite international controversy. He was also concerned that it might violate the city’s policy on proclamations. There is inside criticism over his hesitation for the proclamation. Tiffany Paulsen, who is the member of council, criticized Atchinson’s remark that the city council would be going down a “very slippery slope” if it started resisting proclamations based on subjective moral judgments.
The request for declaring May Falun Gong Month was presented by Danny Zieglar, a Regina resident and Falun Gong practitioner. His request is on behalf of the group’s national organization. The group has asked for a similar proclamation in Regina, Canada.
Falun Gong Week and Month have already been declared in other cities and provinces in Canada, and the U.S.A. such as Armstrong, British Columbia, Rock Island, Illinois, and South Miami, Florida.
In 2003, the Falun Gong Association of Canada won an award for its float in Saskatoon’s Exhibition parade.

New Zealand

In July 2002 New Zealand’s Auckland Airport removed a Falun Gong poster that was placed according to regulations at an international gate lounge. The poster featured a woman sitting in meditation and the words “The world needs truth, compassion and forbearance.” The country’s Green Party publicly accused the airport of giving in to pressure from China and adding to the persecution of Falun Gong.[2]

South Africa

In June 2004, a Falun Gong practitioner was shot in South Africa. Australian Falun Gong practitioner, David Liang, was injured in a drive-by shooting while in South Africa. The purpose of his visit was to protest, alongside other practitioners, outside South Africa-China Binational Commission (BNC) meetings and to launch a lawsuit alleging human rights abuses and torture against the Chinese Government while Chinese Vice-president, Zeng Qinghong, and Minister of Commerce, Bo Xila, two high-ranking Chinese officials said to be involved in the persecution of Falun Gong, were there to attend the meetings on an official visit. Despite the lack of any probative evidence, Falun Gong practitioners alleged that the "drive-by shooting" was an assassination attempt because the car followed them, the person targeted was the only one wearing recognizable Falun Gong clothing, and the gunmen, carrying AK-47's, sped off without any attempt to rob them after firing the shots. Chinese Embassy officials denied the allegation.^[21] According to Falun Gong spokesperson, Sue Zhang, "Johannesburg police have characterized this incident as attempted murder" and that it has been ruled out as random.^[22] However, due to economic positions which the Chinese held in South Africa, several other non-Falun Gong related Chinese has been wounded or killed by similar drive-by shootings by local criminals.[3][4]

United States of America

Chinese community leaders in several cities in California, especially San Francisco, banned the Falun Gong from the 2006 Chinese New Year parade. They claimed that the group's apparent political agenda was incompatible with the spirit of the celebrations.^[23]
In San Francisco, an attempt to nominate Li Hongzhi for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 by Bay Area legislators was withdrawn after they were notified of Falun Gong's stance towards homosexuals.[5]. In 2006, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a 9-2 resolution calling for China to end its suppression of Falun Gong, despite criticism by the LGBT community.[6]

Response by Chinese diplomatic service

Falun Gong practitioners claim that they are frequently suppressed by the Chinese diplomatic service overseas. They claim that Chinese embassies and consulates are explicitly or, through unidentified individuals or organizations, implicitly, organising disruptions to protests. They further attribute criminal acts such as beatings, break-ins to homes and theft of property to explicit or implicit involvement by the Chinese diplomatic service.
Furthermore, in cases where Falun Gong practitioners have been arrested by local authorities, excluded from local community or public events, subject to action by local law enforcement agencies, forced to resign from their jobs, or have received frequent phone harassment, they have often claimed that the local government authorities, community groups or workplaces are acting under coercion or pressure from the Chinese diplomatic service.
The following sections detail instances of such claims, including sources where these claims were reported.

December 2005, Buenos Aires, Argentina: Falun Dafa practitioner being beaten by unidentified Chinese men during Luo Gan's visit.

Argentina

In December of 2005, Chinese official Luo Gan visited Argentina. Luo Gan, who is claimed by Falun Gong groups to be the head of the "610 Office" (which one report alleged as "a Gestapo-like secret organization charged with persecuting and 'eradicating' Falun Gong."^[24]) is, as of February 2007, currently being tried in absentia for crimes of Genocide in the Federal Court of Argentina for his role in the alleged genocide against Falun Gong in mainland China. During his visit, Falun Gong practitioners were beaten by a group of about 40 unidentified Chinese men. According to Friends of Falun Gong, "One of the Chinese thugs ran up to a practitioner who was giving an interview explaining why they were protesting and kicked her in the neck right in front of the TV camera."^[25]
With regard to the incident, the director of Amnesty International in Argentina, Pablo Marsal, made the following statement on Dec. 16:

"Amnesty International has always supported Falun Dafa. It is also not the first time that this group was assaulted in our country. Amnesty International's annual reports, which are well known around the world, relate the human rights violations in China against different spiritual and social groups. The most striking fact in our country is that, for the second time, we see that a certain group connected to the officials of the Chinese government assaults with impunity, in Argentine territory, in front of the Congress of the nation, a peaceful group which is known all over the world as a spiritual group. For this reason, it is totally incomprehensible.

"The officials of another country are violating our Argentine sovereignty in our country. This is something which may not continue. Of course it is true about what is happening in China and, apparently, the persecution has begun to extend to a country like ours, Argentina, a country which is proud to defend human rights."[7]

Canada

Leon Wang, a Falun Gong practitioner in Ottawa, claims to have been beaten inside the Chinese embassy while he was there attending a New Year “open house night”. He says that he was taken to a room and beaten upon being caught taking pictures of an anti-Falun Gong exhibit and recognized as a Falun Gong practitioner. [8] [9]

Indonesia

Banner in Jakarta Chinatown taken 7 December 2006; Banner reads: "Chinatown Residents 'Oppose' Falun Gong. Falun Gong is fake Compassion and Forbearance, true Evil and Malevolence." Bolded word corresponds to red lettering.

Indonesia Matters reported in August 2006^[26] that a group of ten Falun Gong practitioners holding a protest in the Jakarta Chinatown (Glodok) community in Indonesia were attacked by a large group of local people. Banners were set up which reject Falun Dafa and its activities. The report cited another article that claimed that the protest was broken up because traders in the area resented Falun Gong political action disrupting business activities. It also suggested that locals were annoyed with Falun Gong practitioners distributing leaflets, saying that they distributed a leaflet that threatened the locals thus causing their attack. This group reportedly hopes that the government will take action to prevent Falun Gong practitioners from "disturbing the life of the area."^[27]
A Falun Dafa website disputes this version of events, claiming that the local people were being paid by the Chinese Embassy, and that the Chinese Communist Party was bribing and pressuring local government officials and businesses because of business interests and connections in the Glodok market. The Falun Dafa Clearharmony website has reported other incidents of this kind occurring in Jakarta. One report documents eight incidents occurring within a four month period. The report claims that Falun Gong practitioners' activities were "interfered with" through a variety of means including assault, arrests, groups physically barring practitioners from entering their location, destruction of their banners and materials, and interference through slander, including through form of large banners. The report asserts these incidents of interference to be extensions of the Chinese Communist Party's alleged suppression of the group in China.^[28] It states that:

Indonesian Falun Gong practitioner after he was beaten. The beating is alleged by a Falun Dafa website to have taken place during protests against the Chinese Communisty Party's persecution of Falun Gong. The man claims to have been beaten repeatedly in the head with a stick, by individuals with suspected links to the Chinese Communisty Party.^[29]

''This series of interference with practitioners’ legal truth-clarification activities is directly linked to the CCP’s spread of hatred and lies and their attempt to extend the persecution of Falun Gong overseas. The CCP is very afraid of practitioners’ truth-clarification activities overseas and has tried various means to make trouble. However, its wicked means cannot stop practitioners’ efforts to protest the persecution. Those who assist the CCP in the persecution will be brought to justice.''^[29]

In March 2002, the Jakarta Post reported an incident in which Indonesian police placed a "last-minute ban" on a Falun Gong parade, which had previously been approved. Police admitted that a permit had been issued weeks before, but revoked it the day of the parade in response to pressure from the Chinese Embassy in Jakarta. 700 Falun Gong practitioners who had come to participate in the parade were ordered to disperse.^[31]
A 2006 U.S. Department of State report addressing religious freedom in Indonesia documents a number of incidents where Falun Gong practitioners were beaten, arrested, or their activities suppressed by the local community in Jakarta. The report says that police claimed to have arrested Falun Gong practitioners because they circulated materials concerning the Chinese Communist party, which is illegal in Indonesia.^[32]

References

Falun Gong protesters in front of General Post Office, Dublin.

1. O'Connor, N. (August 05, 2004) "Falun Gong going for Guinness record". ''Vancouver Courier.com'', retrieved June 18 2006
2. Howell, Mike (June 07, 2006) "Time to get tough on Falun Gong, says mayor". ''Vancouver Courier.com'', retrieved June 18 2006
3. Howell, Mike (June 21, 2006) "Falun protesters refuse to answer mayor's gong". "Vancouver Courier.com", retrieved June 24 2006
4. Kwong, Matthew (August 17, 2006)"Falun Gong protesters oppose injunction". ''globeandmail.com'', retrieved August 20 2006
5. e.g. Epoch Times - Being patriotic means being against the Chinese Communist Party (in Chinese)
6. Epoch Times - Now offering certificates for quitting the Communist Party (in Chinese)
7. "Bush apologizes to Hu for protester". (April 21 2006) ''CNN.com'', retrieved June 18 2006
8. "Protester charged with harassing Chinese leader". (April 21 2006) ''CNN.com'', retrieved June 18 2006
9. Canada: Bring Falun Dafa's Beauty to People
10. Photo Archive: Parades (selected photos)
11. Minghui Web Search: key words - parade, award; search dates - 10/28/2000-11/28/2006
12. Canada: Falun Gong Practitioners Present a Special Christmas Gift to Residents at a Ski Resort
13. Taiwan: Fifteen Thousand March to Condemn the CCP for Harvesting Organs from Living Practitioners
14. http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/special_column/recognition.html Governmental Awards and Recognition of Falun Dafa from China and the World
15. Porter, Noah (July 18, 2003) "Falun Gong in the United States: An Ethnographic Study"retrieved June 14, 2006
16. Bajko, Matthew S.(February 2, 2006)"Supes support 'homophobic cult'" ''Bay Area Reporter'', on-line versionretrieved June 14, 2006
17. San Francisco Board of Supervisors ''Resolutions for Year 2006: Resolution No. 066-06'' retrieved June 14, 2006
18. Lubman, Sarah "A Chinese Battle on U.S. Soil" in San Jose Mercury News (December 23, 2001)retrieved June 14, 2006
19. Channel News Asia - Falungong row overshadows Australia's Chinese new year preparations
20. Bulgaria: Premiere of the Movie "Sandstorm" Supported by the Helsinki Committee (Photos)
21. SAPA: Falun Gong dissident shot in Joburg
22. Bunaby Now: Group wants help
23. NPR: Falun Gong Banned from Calif. New Year's Parades
24. A Strange Chinese Export
25.
Falun Gong Practitioners Assaulted in Argentina after Lawsuit against Visiting Chinese Official
26. Indonesia Matters - Falun Gong in Jakarta
27. Falun Gong in Jakarta, ''Indonesia Matters'', [10], accessed, 14/7/07.
28. Indonesia: Practitioners’ Exposure of CCP Atrocities Meets with Frequent Interference (Photos)
29. Indonesia: Practitioners’ Exposure of CCP Atrocities Meets with Frequent Interference, ''Clear Harmony'', http://www.clearharmony.net/articles/200608/34765.html, accessed 14/7/07
30. Indonesia: Practitioners’ Exposure of CCP Atrocities Meets with Frequent Interference, ''Clear Harmony'', http://www.clearharmony.net/articles/200608/34765.html, accessed 14/7/07
31. Police ban Falungong parade at last minute. Jakarta Post. Retrieved on 2006-02-06
32. US Department of State Department International Religious Freedom Report 2006: Indonesia