Falun Gong - innocents slaughtered?

[luceluna]

I live in an area of Canberra surrounded by embassies. Since we're the nation's capital, we have a lot of them, but the small population of Canberra means that they tend to clump together.

Anyway, i often pass the Chinese embassy. For quite a few months now, the Falun Gong have been peacefully protesting outside the embassy, mainly through sit-outs/meditation. This impressed me enough to find out a bit more about their religion/practices. I think that there's a lot of general misinformation out there, but for all intents and purposes, the Falun Gong are a peaceful, non-political movement who are being slaughtered in a similar fashion to the Jews in nazi Europe.

The fact that the movement has ammased such support in a relatively short time is clearly upsetting for the Chinese government, who fear widespread social unrest. in response to this, they are arresting, enslaving and killing the Falun Gong.

the more i read about this situation, the more angry i get. will this be looked back upon in 50 years time in the same way the Jews are looked back upon? will we allow it to get to that stage?

okay, here is some info from www.falundafa.org - ideally i would have liked to have found an impartial source, but this information is irrefutable. read on:

[luceluna]

Q: What is Falun Dafa, or Falun Gong?

A: Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is an ancient practice for mind and body, originating in pre-historic China. The practice involves some slow, gentle movements and a meditation. It is easy to learn, enjoyable to practice, and free of charge. A central component of Falun Gong practice is studying the universal principles of truthfulness, benevolence, and tolerance.

Q: Who is Mr. Li Hongzhi?

A: Mr. Li Hongzhi introduced the practice of Falun Dafa to the general public in China in 1992. He then taught the practice publicly for two years in China, after which the practice continued to grow primarily by word-of-mouth. In keeping with Chinese tradition, Mr. Li is sometimes respectfully referred to as "Master" or "Teacher." He is not accorded special treatment, nor does he accept money or donations from students of Falun Dafa. He has ensured that the practice be available to all people, and without any terms or conditions. Mr. Li has given occasional public lectures over the past few years in various countries, including Australia, Switzerland, Canada, and the USA.

Q: Who practices Falun Dafa, and how do they find it beneficial?

A: Falun Dafa is practiced by people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds, in more than 40 countries worldwide. Almost everyone who practices reports significantly improved health, reduced stress, and increased levels of energy.

[luceluna]

Information on the Situation in China

You may have heard about a massive crackdown against Falun Dafa currently going on in China. Exactly what is happening, and why has the Chinese government unleashed its fury against a practice that is so obviously peaceful and non-threatening? We hope we can help shed some light on these questions for you.  <br>
Background

It must first be understood that the Chinese government, run by the Communist Party, is officially atheist, so anything of a spiritual nature is discouraged and often outlawed because it is not in keeping with Communist ideology. For us in nations with democratically elected governments, freedom of belief is considered to be one of the most basic universal rights, but in China, such fundamental human rights are rarely protected.  <br>
The Events

On April 25, 1999, more than 10,000 Falun Dafa practitioners held a legal, peaceful gathering in Beijing outside the Chinese leadership compound, Zhongnanhai. The assembly was prompted by reports of violence and harassment previously inflicted upon Falun Dafa practitioners by Chinese police in
the city of Tianjin, as well as an unjustified ban on publishing Falun Dafa materials. The assembly was peaceful and orderly, and after participants presented their case before Mr. Zhu Rongji, Premier of the Chinese State Council, they quietly returned to their homes.  <br>
The event clearly shook the Chinese leadership because they hadn't anticipated that so many people could have gathered so quickly in the heart of the capital. Not since the Tiananmen Incident in 1989 involving many Beijing students had so many people gathered together to make an appeal to the government, and the government's reaction to that particular incident was, of course, swift and brutal.  <br>
On the night of July 19th, 1999, police raided the homes of hundreds of practitioners and dragged them off to prison.  <br>
The next day, Falun Dafa was officially declared illegal in China. From that moment forward, a massive government campaign was formed to suppress and destroy Falun Dafa. The state-controlled media worked overtime to spread false information to the public, and they also sent out their propaganda through the Chinese embassies stationed around the world. The purpose was to mislead the public and cover up their severe human rights abuses against Falun Dafa practitioners as thousands were rounded up and held in detention for interrogation, torture, and so-called "reeducation."  <br>
To date, the Chinese government has used any method available to terrorize and pressure people to renounce their faith. They have pitted society and family members against each other through threats and heavy fines, and thousands have lost their jobs and their homes. And the list goes on.  <br>
Millions of Falun Dafa books and tapes have been publicly burned and destroyed. Access to all Internet websites regarding Falun Dafa have been blocked or jammed in China, and those who send out accounts of the beatings and abuse they experience while in detention have been arrested and jailed for "leaking state secrets." Practitioners are denied legal representation and have received sentences up to 18 years in prison in show trials. Thousands of others are sent
to forced labor camps with no trial at all.  <br>
Even worse, many Falun Dafa practitioners are being committed to psychiatric wards and forcibly medicated with powerful psychotropic drugs causing serious harm to their bodies. This is a tactic used in the Soviet Union under Stalin as a way to make the public think that the victims are mentally insane and therefore they deserve to be locked up.  <br>
To date, there are more than 40 documented cases of otherwise healthy practitioners being beaten and tortured to death while in detention.  <br>
During these months of violence and torture, Falun Dafa practitioners have shown unparalleled kindness and forbearance. Not a single practitioner has struck back or physically retaliated against police. Worldwide, all practitioners have used only non-violent, peaceful, and legal means to appeal. This kind of conduct, in the face of such torment and injustice exhibited on such a large scale, has spoken eloquently to the world about the fundamentally peaceful and compassionate nature of Falun Dafa.  <br>

[luceluna]

so yeah... things seem pretty bad to me.... you can find out more at www.falundafa.org, which also has humanitarian links and more info on the philosophy itself.

make sure you come to some sort of conclusion about this, whatever the conclusion may be.... it's too important to be treated with apathy.

Peace,

Dan

[Poeticsiren]

Hey Dan, that's really interesting. I don't have time to read the details, but i will after monday (due date of test).

i like to read about this stuff-helps me get perspective of my own life...mRNA modification/translation doesn't seem that much of a pain anymore...we're all so lucky.

l.

[Mommar]

Sadly, but truthfully, I think the comedian Eddie Izard said it best about world governments, "We don't really care if you kill people, just as long as their your own people."  Unless China decides to attack someone outside their boarders, nothing will get done.

[luceluna]

yeah, international apathy is shocking. true 'humanitarianism' is very hard to come by in history. i'm sure that if this continues, we'll have a slaughter on our hands that will be comparable to the jews in Europe, and chances are we'll look on it in the same way. but will we have the excuses? or will we just make some up?

['Guest']

Interesting stuff you got there, i studied the Falun Dafa or Falun Gong (whatever you want to call them) and while they do seem to be predominantely peaceful people there have been a few interesting incidences.  For example, someone walked into a hall to find 1500 Falun followers dead after a meeting.   This wasn't because they were murdered but because they had all committed suicide or had had someone kill them.  I suppose there are always two sides to every story..... Don't get me wrong guys, i'm not against them, i'm just intruiged at the two perspectives....

[luceluna]

i think there's definately something to what you're saying, dude. i think that the aspect which probably worries the Chinese government so much is the Falun Gong's devotion to their principals. here's a large group (200million worldwide, apparently) who are unwaveringly commited to their religion, and who won't be silenced by torture/oppression. some will even die to further their cause. this devotion is undoubtedly one factor in the world's hesitation. also, when coupled with China's assertion that they are a "dangerous cult hellbent on rebellion", the lines start to blur. are these people loony? or just commited? are China justified in crushing their "dangerous plans"? are they "dangerous plans" anyway?

in other news, the protesters are still outside the embassy, meditating. i'm thinking of going to join them one day.

['Guest']

Well if you look at it from the perspective of the Chinese Government then they will think what they're doing is right.  The Chinese are seen as a very modest and i suppose a quiet people who conform to their society. They don't like to make a fuss. So, being simple, quiet and conservative they would see these Falun followers as loud, outspoken and too strongly opinionated.  This in turn would cause the Chinese to feel uncomfortable and more than anything embarassed by these Falun's.  That means they see the slaughter of these people who are "brainwashed into cult followings" as "right".  Of these people are loony. We're all loony - because to be normal we'd all have to be the same... that won't ever happen... well, at least i hope not!!! It is their devotion to their "cause" their unwavering commitment, their unwillingness to be silenced even through means of torture that the Chinese don't like, it's what makes the Chinese feel uncomfortable.  Of course their plans are "dangerous" - they're different, not necessarily conforming to be within the range of what society accepts. Meanwhile, looking at it from the outside, it ALWAYS looks different. So we would see it as "wrong".  But the border between "right" and "wrong" is always so close and undefined... so fuzzy... so how can we really say?

If you do ever join them.... well, let us know.

[luceluna]

...>> said:

But the border between "right" and "wrong" is always so close and undefined... so fuzzy... so how can we really say?

If you do ever join them.... well, let us know.

i think i can say that death crosses the line between right and wrong  

i'll let y'all know what happens at the embassy/with me.

;D

[vinnie97]

That's some twisted logic...The Falun followers are obviously being oppressed by their dictatorship for having strong religious convictions and acting upon them.  These views aren't causing harm or pain to anyone else.  The Chinese govt. is afraid that their influence is having less of an impact on this sect's lives than the Falun Gong ideas/tenets themselves.  Religious people are weak wastes of society according to China's ideologies and should not have any kind of public voice.

I guess the Tiannemen Square massacre was something that can also be brushed under the rug?  For that matter, Hitler's attempted genocidal annilhation of the Israeli race is surely above questioning as well?

Thanks to the US' massive dependence on trading with China, very little is done about China's abuse of human rights.  All the sweatshop girls (who work in excess of 12 hrs per day and make a poultry pittance of an income...when they reach age 25, their only option is prostitution) who make Wal-Mart's every day products are the victims, and what can be done?  A boycott will be difficult, because of the vast amount of items imported from China.  That can be attributed to the affordable labor in that very country. If a business tried to manufacture domestically (U.S.), they would soon be out of business due to the minimum wage, which is of MUCH greater value than the wages the sweatshop workers are receiving.

And speaking of oppressed peoples, check out the plight of the Sudanese: www.freedom-quest.ca/article/crisis.htm

Oppressed & slaughtered by a militant Islamic govt. w/ very little being done on their behalf by even the U.N., this is also a tricky situation due, to you guessed it, trading.

[luceluna]

the sad fact is, vince, that millions of people are willing to work shitty conditions for shitty pay. if they weren't, multinationals would be forced to relocate. as it stands, they have an inexhaustable supply of labour. and, as you mentioned, no-one's gonna stop importing these goods.

the Falun Gong issue just makes me sick... and i know that in hindsight it will be viewed as a major injustice, but right now, no one gives a fuck.

they're still sitting quietly and serenely outside the Chinese embassy, by the way...

[dirtgirl]

It's interesting to read this thread in light of the current Australian Governments' refusal to let any sitting member meet the Dalai Lama, even informally.  All the while Australia lobbies China over a 30 billion dollar LNG gas deal.  What price human rights?  

[luceluna]

what the fuck? this government.... *shudder* ...

i'm surprised they even let him in the country, what with their current stance on the "asian problem." dammit.