Guardian Unlimited (UK): The reality behind China's Olympic image of modernity

By Edward McMillan-Scott, Vice President of the European Parliament

August 8, 2008

While watching the games, remember they are designed to benefit a regime responsible for appalling abuse of human rights

The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics will inevitably be an occasion for admiring comment about the immense achievements - architectural, organizational and presentational - of the host nation. This, of course, is precisely what the Chinese authorities hoped for when they secured their Olympic bid seven years ago. It was intended as a statement of China's modernity, its economic prowess and its rise to the top table of world power. Judging from the coverage so far, there are plenty of people willing to accept this image at face value. Yes, human rights groups have raised some awkward questions, but why should that spoil the party when so many world leaders will be on hand to give their blessing to the proceedings?

Despite the fact that I campaigned hard for a political boycott of the Beijing Olympics, I wish the athletes well and hope the competition passes without a repeat of the terrorist attack that happened earlier this week in Xinjiang province. What I don't want is for those watching to be in any doubt about the nature of the regime these games have been designed to benefit. Beyond the mesmerizing Bird's Nest stadium is a country presided over by a terror state responsible for some truly appalling crimes against humanity. Even the stadium's designer, Ai Weiwei, was moved to disown the games describing the human rights situation as "appalling". The countless victims imprisoned, tortured and murdered by the Chinese state also deserve to be part of this Olympic story. They should not be too far from our thoughts as the gold medals are being handed out.

Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are in agreement that far from honouring their pledge to improve human rights as a result of hosting the Olympics, the Chinese authorities have used the games as an excuse to intensify domestic repression.

Much of this abysmal record is widely known about. There is no freedom of expression and the authorities go to extraordinary lengths to control information and restrict access to the internet. Dissent is punished severely, with those considered a threat imprisoned without trial and often without any information about their location or condition. The death penalty is applied extensively and for relatively minor non-violent crimes like tax fraud. The use of torture is frequent according to Manfred Nowak, the UN's special rapporteur on torture, including beatings, electrocution and the removal of fingernails. The violent suppression of Tibetan rights and cultural identity is well documented. Moreover, some of these methods appear to be for export. BBC Panorama recently exposed China's role in arming the Sudanese government in its genocidal campaign in Darfur.

The victims of Chinese state terror are numerous and include human rights defenders, lawyers, trade unionists, environmentalists, campaigners for regional autonomy and anyone who seeks to challenge state policy. One person I am particularly concerned about is Gao Zhisheng, a Nobel prize nominee sometimes referred to as "China's conscience". As one of his country's top lawyers, he was targeted by the regime for speaking out about human rights abuses and has been in detention and subjected to torture since he wrote a critical open letter about the Olympics last year. It is essential that the UK and other countries across the world raise his case with the Chinese authorities as a matter of urgency.
One of the groups that Gao has been most prominent in defending has been the religious movement, Falun Gong. Members of this group have been on the receiving end of some of the most brutal abuse imaginable. Many foreign observers are easily frightened off by the Chinese government's designation of it as an "evil cult", but Falun Gong is a harmless Buddha-school set of spiritual exercises that is persecuted mainly because its popularity is deemed to pose a threat to the "guiding role" of the Chinese Communist party. A decade ago it had up to 100 million adherents.

Falun Gong supporters are routinely imprisoned for their beliefs and are believed by Manfred Nowak to make up the majority of prisoners subjected to torture. But they are also the principal victims of China's most horrific crime against humanity - the harvesting of human organs from prisoners to supply the country's burgeoning transplant business. With transplants running at more than 10,000 a year, and with a harvested heart fetching up to $160,000, this is a profitable enterprise for the People's Liberation Army which organizes it and pockets the proceeds.

Unfortunately the organs used are far from surplus to requirements. A report written last year by the former Canadian secretary of state, David Kilgour, and the human rights lawyer, David Matas, concluded: "there has been and continues today to be large scale organ seizures from unwilling Falun Gong practitioners." Falun Gong prisoners are the only ones routinely subjected to urine and blood tests, with strong reason to believe that significant numbers of them are subsequently killed to order.
There is no sign that this appalling practice is about to stop, either. Earlier this year, the Chinese authorities announced that they were adopting a lethal injection as the means of capital punishment instead of a bullet through the head - the mouth was propped open to minimize damage, but it is still a messy way to kill. It is not hard to understand this change. In one province alone, 16 buses have been specially adapted to perform on-the-spot eviscerations.

This is the reality behind the facade of modernity presented by the Beijing Olympics. Although the political boycott of the opening ceremony will be nothing like as widespread as the seriousness of the human rights situation in China demands, it is not too late to register a protest against the terror state behind these games. I hope that Gordon Brown will reconsider his decision to attend the closing ceremony later this month. I also hope that those watching at home will take some time out from enjoying the sport to consider the enormous human suffering that is the reality of daily life for many Chinese people.

Illegal Trials for Several Falun Gong Practitioners at the Jiamusi Court

Before the Beijing Olympics, officials from the Communist ruling regime began another round of bloody and cruel suppression of Falun Gong under the pretext of assuring a better environment for the Games. The persecutors resorted to a series of arrests and home ransacking and illegally arrested many practitioners. Most of the practitioners were sentenced to forced labour, and some of them were severely abused, to the point of being unable to take care of themselves.

Police arrested 26-year-old Ma Duo and sentenced him to three years in prison on May 23 , 2008. His family got the notice on June 6. Ma Duo and his family sent an appeal to a higher court and retained a Beijing lawyer to defend him. When his relative went to the Jiamusi Intermediate Court to go through normal trial procedure, more than ten officers from the Domestic Security division arrested four of his family members and his relatives in the presence of the lawyer. It is said the purpose of the arrest was to trace the person who hired the lawyer from Beijing.

On June 18, Jiamusi officials manipulated authorities at the Railway Transportation Court to put practitioner Deng Linfeng on trial. Dozens of seats in the courtroom were occupied by plainclothes police. As they didn't inform Mr. Deng's relatives and friends to have their IDs with them, many of them were blocked at the court's entrance. Approximately ten relatives entered the courtroom. Lawyer Zhang Jianguo from Beijing Eastern Henxin Law Office presented a defence, having Deng declared innocent.

On June 16, Tangyuan Court officials put practitioner Li Haishan on trial. Li Haishan, 57, is a musician, a member of the Heilongjiang Musicians and Literature Association. He worked at the Tangyuan County House of Culture. On March 5, 2008, deputy police department political head Zhou Zhejing and Domestic Security Division head Zhou Tiegang, together with some other police officers, broke into his home and took him away. They also confiscated his computer and printer.

On June 11, Jiansan Agricultural Settlement Court officials secretly put practitioners Tian Baoyu, Shi Mengwen, Chen Dong, Sun Yan, and Yu Fengxian on trial. Only one practitioner knew privately that the practitioners would be tried in several days, but still didn't know the exact time.

He hired a lawyer who arrived at 3:00 p.m. and learned that court proceedings would commence the next day. The lawyer petitioned to postpone the session, but the court judge refused. They didn't even want the lawyer to attend the session. The lawyer pointed out that their refusal was a violation of law, and said that they had to let the lawyer appear for the trial. The schedule left the lawyer almost no time to read the documents.

The next day, more than 30 relatives of the five practitioners were present at the trial. The lawyer pointed out that the court judge had violated the law on seven or eight points and made a motion to have one of the practitioners declared innocent. The judge ran out of options and hastily ended the session.

We appeal to all people from international human rights organizations and from the media to pay special attention to the recent persecution of Falun Gong practitioners under the pretext of maintaining the stability of the Beijing Olympics. We hope, in particular, that domestic and overseas media will come to interview the victims and report on the persecution.

Lawyer Li Xiongbing from Beijing's Gaobo Longhua Law Office; entered a not-guilty plea for Li Haishan: 86-13701221801(Cell), 86-10-84512800 ext. 831

Lawyer Zhang Jianguo from the Eastern Henxin Law Office; entered a not-guilty plea made for Shi Mengwen, Deng Linfeng, and Ma Duo.

Lawyer Zhang Jianguo: 86-13811806771(Cell), 86-10-87408711 (Office)

Jiamusi City Suburb People's Procuratorate

Attorney General: 86-454-8584593

Deputy Attorney General: 86-454-8586406, 8584316

Former Olympic Silver Medallist: CCP Violates Olympic Spirit

"The Sanctity of Life and respect for human dignity overrides any sporting event." said Ms. Jan Becker, former Olympic silver medallist in Australia, when talking about the Beijing Olympics.

Along with the opening of the Beijing Olympics, global attention is focused on the sports event. At the same time, China's human rights, especially the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) brutal persecution of Falun Gong has also increasingly become a focus.

Olympic athletes must know what is happening in China

Ms. Becker said, "As a former Olympic athlete, I am ashamed that the Olympics are being held in such a country. The very fact that China has not kept its promises to improve its human rights record in line with the Olympic Charter and Code of Ethics is a reason I initially thought for not having the Olympics in China. However, over the past twelve months I can really say that the process of the world waking up to the CCP has been evolving. Even when I wrote my first letter to the IOC in 2001, I was never against the Chinese people having the games, just the CCP - because of their horrific persecution of Falun Gong. Over the past twelve months, sometimes out of frustration, that the people of the world seemed complacent, and I just wanted them to understand now, not later.

"As a former athlete, I understand athletes' thinking. All they can think about is going to the Olympics. I understand they don't want anything to get in their way. They want to realize their dreams. One day I suddenly understood that it is more important for them to know what is happening in China than going to compete."

CCP's brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners

To have more people know of the CCP's brutal persecution of Falun Gong in China, Ms. Becker participated in the Human Rights Torch relay throughout Australia, especially in the 58 cities and towns in Victoria Province where she lives, as an Australian relay ambassador from November to December 2007. The torch relay caught the attention of the world's people, and shifted the focus from the Olympics itself to the CCP's persecution of human rights.

Ms. Becker is a Falun Gong practitioner. She told the reporter, "I have practiced Falun Gong for nine and a half years, since February 1999. I was just practicing my exercises in a park and had begun to read Zhuan Falun for a couple of months. I was really enjoying this newfound experience when suddenly on the 20th of July, 1999, people [in China] were being arrested and tortured. I could not understand why at this stage."

Ms. Becker continued, "As a westerner I find it totally unacceptable that more has not been done by governments to assist the ending of the persecution of Falun Gong over the past nine years. The atrocities carried out by the CCP to Falun Gong practitioners are horrendous. Through the jealousy of the then president of China, the CCP persecutes Falun Gong practitioners like me."

Falun Dafa changes my nature

Ms. Becker said, "Because Falun Gong is based on the principles of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance, over the years, my nature has changed. I was always very honest, to the point of being too straightforward, and sometimes would hurt people with my blunt cold comments. I feel that as I practice further I have become more compassionate, I can temper my thoughts and be more thoughtful in how I express myself. Quite often now I notice how my thoughts can change the way things occur.

My health has improved and also my energy. When I commenced the practice I was quite ill and as I practiced things begin to change, not only with my nature but also my health, my body has become more flexible and I could actually feel the energy channels opening in my lower back. Initially I could not sit for half an hour with my legs crossed, my knees pointing to the heavens. Now I can sit in full lotus for an hour and at certain times it is the most beautiful experience. My family and friends know that Falun Dafa has done wonders for me and they can see the changes.

"For the past sixteen years I have worked as a Human Resources Manager for an Australian Company. Falun Gong has assisted me to temper myself within my job, and I try to carry out my duties adhering to my understanding as a practitioner. Even though I know I have made some positive strides, sometimes I feel I am just scratching the surface of my cultivation."

Clarifying the truth is my mission

Ms. Becker said, "Looking back, I realize I was not in a good space of enlightenment and find it incredible that it makes so much sense to me now. Even though my level may not be that high, I smile with delight and give thanks to Master Li. As a sports person I was very committed, and have always known the saying, no pain no gain, I feel this held me in good stead.

"I know now why I went to the Olympics in 1964: not for fame and self interest, but to help clarify the truth now. It is my mission."

She recalled that she held high a homemade banner and rushed to the location where other practitioners had unfurled a banner on Tiananmen Square in 2002. On the banner, there was a Falun emblem, Olympics rings and Truth-Compassion-Tolerance in Chinese.

At that moment, she felt immense compassion for the Chinese people and knew she must clarify the truth to help them have a good future.

Ms. Becker summed up her feelings: "As a former Olympic athlete, I regret that I cannot attend this sporting event since the CCP bans entry of Falun Gong practitioners. If I had a chance to join the Olympic Games Ceremony in China, I would march with pride, not as an athlete, but as a Dafa practitioner dressed in yellow and waving a huge flag - embossed with 'Falun Dafa Is Good,' for the whole world to see."

2008 UK Falun Gong Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference Held in Cambridge

On August 24, 2008, the UK Falun Gong Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference was held in Cambridge. Practitioners from all over the UK attended. About twenty Chinese and Western practitioners gave speeches on stage to share their experiences in studying the Fa well, improving their moral standards, clarifying the facts, and saving sentient beings.

 Dr. Liu from Birmingham talked about eliminating human notions, viewing things with righteous thoughts, and treasuring opportunities during Fa rectification. He also shared his understandings of reporting on the 2008 Divine Performing Arts Spectacular in London. It was difficult to report on the event due to restrictions laid down by the theatre, but practitioners used their wisdom and were able to completed the task. Dr. Liu said, "We must place Fa rectification tasks first. Of course, we should do our best to consider the environment and not disturb the audience. Although things on the surface may appear to conflict with Fa rectification requirements, it is possible to harmonize them. The key is whether we think like practitioners, basing our understandings on the Fa, or like ordinary people. Exaggerating conflicts may be a result of not having completely understood the all-encompassing nature of Falun Gong or Master's arrangements during Fa rectification. If we believe in Master and the Fa completely, we can make the best use out of anything or any conflict that we face in order to achieve the goal of saving sentient beings."

Ms. Zheng from London talked about her experiences in Chinatown explaining the facts and encouraging people to withdraw from the CCP and its affiliated organizations. About facing different people with different attitudes and notions, she said, "People can sense it if we treat them with a pure and compassionate heart. This compassion allowed many Chinese people to change their attitudes and accept the truth-clarification materials and copies of the "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party.""

Ms. Chi from Kent shared her experience on how to face the numerous difficulties at the beginning of a new project, the improvement of her "xinxing," and her new understandings on the Fa as she overcame the difficulties of frustration and lack of confidence. She enlightened that a practitioner must have the courage to face difficulties. "Only if we believe in Master and believe in the Fa can we eliminate interference. If we can do our work with a pure heart assimilating to the Fa, then Falun Gong will do the rest."

Many Western practitioners also shared their experiences on looking inward, being compassionate towards fellow practitioners, letting go of ego, and cooperating well with each other.

FDI: Olympic Clean-up Costs Another Life

Death of Falun Gong practitioner from abuse day before opening ceremonies revealed

29 Aug 2008

Mr. Hu Heping before he was tortured.

NEW YORK (FDI) -A painter from Hunan province, arrested in a nationwide pre-Olympic roundup of Falun Gong adherents, died the day before the opening ceremonies from injuries incurred in custody. Detained in March, an emaciated Mr. Hu Heping from Yueyang city died August 7, 2008 according to recent reports received by The Falun Dafa Information Centre. He was 55 years old.

According to sources in Hunan, Hu was arrested from his home without a warrant on the morning of March 18, 2008. He was detained by a local police officer by the name of Lu Ran, accompanied by two members of state-sponsored community watch groups, Li Yongfei and Zhang Yifei.

Over 8,000 other Falun Gong practitioners have been arrested in similar roundups during the months leading up to the Olympics.

"Hu's case is typical of the pattern of arrests and abuse in custody we've seen in the run-up to the Olympics," says Erping Zhang, Falun Dafa Information Centre spokesperson. "While the world was preparing to watch the opening ceremonies, this man who was healthy in March was dying in his bed because of vicious treatment meted out by Chinese police."

On the day of his arrest, Hu was reportedly taken to Dongtingguan Hotel, where he was interrogated for 24 hours, and then transferred to Yueyang City's No.1 Detention Centre.

According to sources inside China, Hu was tortured while in police custody, causing serious injuries to his internal organs and swelling to his feet and legs. He was seen coughing constantly, while his weight dropped from 120 pounds to 90 pounds. During his detention, Hu's family was denied access to visit him by agents of the State Security Bureau and the 6-10 Office, an extralegal taskforce with the mandate to oversee the handling of Falun Gong cases.

Nearly three months after his arrest, on June 16, 2008, Hu was taken to Yueyang No. 1 People's Hospital for treatment, where doctors found his internal organs severely injured and diagnosed him as suffering from liver damage. Fearing Hu would die in custody, the detention centre authorities contacted his family on June 17 and released him into their custody the following day, though only after they made a payment to the police. By this time, however, Hu was already extremely weak. His abdomen and lower body were severely swollen, a symptom known to occur in those suffering from severe liver damage, and he had difficulty walking. Unable to recover from his injuries, he died on the morning August 7, 2008.

Prior Accounts of Persecution

According to sources close to Hu, he became a practitioner in 1997. In 1999 and 2000, Hu went to Beijing twice to appeal against the persecution of Falun Gong. On both occasions, he was detained for a total of 75 days at Hubin Detention Centre.

On March 12, 2003, Hu was illegally arrested and sentenced without a trial to two years of forced labour. During his internment at Xinkaipu "re-education through labour" camp, he was reportedly deprive of sleep and injected with unknown substances for refusing to give up his spiritual beliefs. He was released at the end of 2004.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTRE

Contacts: Gail Rachlin (+1 917-757-9780), Levi Browde (+1 646-415-0998), Erping Zhang (+1 646-533-6147), or Joel Chipkar (+1 416-709-8678)

Fax: 646-792-3916 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , Website: http://faluninfo.net/