Falun Gong Outside Mainland China

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The activities of the Falun Gong practitioners outside mainland China have increased dramatically since the persecution began in 1999. Practitioners often protest at Chinese consulates in major cities around the world, and have significant presence in electronic and print media. In addition to the actions of Falun Gong groups, independent human rights organisations such as Amnesty International have worked to bring pressure on the Chinese authorities over their human rights abuses.

Chinese consulates and embassies around the world have attempted to curtail Falun Gong activities in many ways, including counter-propaganda and violence.

Contents 1 Falun Gong action 1.1 Protests 1.2 April 2006 Hu Visit Protests 1.3 Parades 2 Mass media 3 Awards and recognition 4 Difficulties and interference 4.1 Argentina 4.2 Australia 4.3 Canada 4.4 Indonesia 4.5 Hong Kong 4.6 South Africa 4.7 United States of America 5 References

[edit] Falun Gong action

[edit] Protests

Falun Gong / Falun Dafa Chinese: 法輪功 / 法輪大法

Falun Gong     Li Hongzhi     Beliefs and Teachings     Persecution of Falun Gong     Falun Gong and organ harvesting     Falun Gong Outside Mainland China     Academic views on Falun Gong

Other related topics

Epoch Times - Sound of Hope - NTDTV - qigong - Tiananmen Square self-immolation incident - Wenyi Wang - human rights in China

After the persecution in 1999, practitioners began holding frequent protests, rallies, and appeals outside mainland China.

Falun Gong supporters in Vancouver, Canada continue to stage the world's longest, continuous protest against the persecution. It which runs twenty-four hours a day, at the entrance to the PRC Consulate on Granville Street.^[1] In June 2006, it was announced by the mayor of Vancouver that the protest signs and structures must be taken down, as they violate a by-law against building permanent structures on public property.^[2] When the city sought a court injunction, the protesters refused to comply and accused Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan of being "manipulated by the strings of China".^[3][4]

There are also similar protests being staged in front of the Chinese Embassy in London, New York, and other cities worldwide. Although it officially pronounced Falun Gong an "evil cult" in 2001, the Hong Kong Government allows nearly continuous demonstrations, which usually take place in high-traffic areas such as Star Ferry Pier in Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom Station.

Practitioners are often seen on the streets in major metropolitan areas informing the public of the human rights abuse of their counterparts in China. In many Western cities (particularly Manhattan, New York City) several elaborate streetside demonstrations have been staged that portray scenes of brutality in custody; public displays include slogans such as "Falun Dafa is Good" and "Bring Jiang to Justice."

Falun Gong practitioners have also been found protesting along Orchard Road, Singapore although outdoor protesting is illegal in Singapore. They be occasionally found meditating under the Esplanade Bridge, which is situated on the Singapore River.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] April 2006 Hu Visit Protests

On April 20, 2006, during Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the United States, Wenyi Wang obtained a valid journalist pass that gave her access to the ceremony. During Hu's speech she unfurled a banner and shouted against the persecution for over two minutes.^[5] Hundreds of protesters also held banners against the persecution outside the White House gates.

Again in April 21, 2006 Hu was also followed by hundreds of protesters during his Yale University visit. 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.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Parades

Falun Gong parades usually incorporate traditional-style Chinese dances, costumes, song, exercise demonstrations, drumming, floats, and banners. Practitioners refer to this as "bringing people the beauty of Dafa".^[6] Another form is a "march", where participants often hold signs and banners, devoting different sections of the parade to different aspects of the persecution. There is usually a section involving participants wearing only white (symbolizing mourning) and holding photos of killed practitioners. Floats carrying darker themes are included, with enactments of torture and organ-harvesting.

Practitioners have won awards worldwide for participating in holiday and festival parades using the "beauty" theme.^[7] Participant numbers range from a few dozen to over ten thousand.^[8] had fifteen thousand participants according to Falun Gong figures.

[edit] Mass media

Mick Jones-led musical group Carbon/Silicon releases song entitled "Falun Gong love song" on their website as free MP3 in 2007.

A US Congressional report says that several US media outlets are "affiliated" with Falun Gong: The Epoch Times, New Tang Dynasty Television, Sound of Hope radio.^[9] The Epoch Times is freely distributed in metropolitan areas in the US, Canada, and Australia. Its Chinese version is anti-Chinese communist Party,^[10] and carries regular features calling for Chinese to renounce their Party membership.^[11]

[edit] Awards and recognition

Falun Gong websites report that the "extraordinary contribution made by Master Li Hongzhi and Falun Dafa to people's mental and physical health" has led to numerous awards and recognition outside mainland China.^[12]

In 2006, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors was asked to pass a resolution condemning the persecution of Falun Gong. Controversy arose around the exact wording, however, as the San Francisco government approves of homosexuality, while the teachings of Falun Gong do not. After becoming aware of Falun Gong's position on homosxuality--something which concerned a co-sponsor of the resolution--the language was amended to explain that “the views expressed by Falun Gong practitioners are not officially sanctioned by the City and County of San Francisco”.^[13][14]

[edit] Difficulties and interference

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.

[edit] 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."^[15]) is, as of February 2007, currently being tried in absentia for crimes of Genocide against Falun Gong in the Federal Court of Argentina.^{[citation needed]} 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."^[16]

The director of Amnesty International in Argentina, Pablo Marsal, said on December 16 that "Amnesty International has always supported Falun Dafa", that the group has been assaulted several times in Argentina, that Falun Gong is a peaceful practice, and that it is unacceptable that "the officials of another country are violating our Argentine sovereignty in our country... apparently, the persecution has begun to extend to... Argentina, a country which is proud to defend human rights."[2]

[edit] Australia

In 2005, Chinatown leaders in Sydney banned Falun Gong practitioners from participating in a Chinese New Year parade. Upon being pressed by the media, Committee Chairman King Fong claimed that he feared that allowing practitioners to participate in the parade would "prompt a backlash from Beijing," and that he did not want to damage the committee's relationship with China. A Falun Gong spokesperson disclaimed any political motive on Falun Gong's part, and reiterated that the ban was directly related to the Chinese Communist Party's influence.^[17]

[edit] 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 that the Association discriminated against Huang and exposed her to contempt and ostracisation in the community, and that this amounted to an affront to her dignity. It ordered compensation and, inter alia, that eligible Falun Gong practitioners be allowed enrollment as members of the Association.[3]

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. [4] [5]

[edit] Indonesia

Indonesia Matters reported in August 2006^[18] 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 apparently disrupting business activities. It also said 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."^[19]

Falun Gong 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. Clearharmony website has reported other incidents of this kind in Jakarta: one report documents eight incidents 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.^[20]

In March 2002, the Jakarta Post reported a "last-minute ban" which Indonesian police placed on a Falun Gong parade which had previously been approved. Police admitted that the permit was revoked on 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.^[21]

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, an activity which is illegal in Indonesia.^[22]

[edit] Hong Kong

The then Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa declared on June 14, 2001 that Falun Gong was "undoubtedly an evil cult",^[23] and vowed to increase surveillance. This caused significant controversy both at home and internationally. John Gittings of The Guardian described it as a "balancing act," like those performed by provincial administrations on the mainland when they want to keep the central government happy.^[24] A Wall Street Journal writeup considered Tung's pronouncement a politically motivated and inaccurate depiction of Falun Gong. "There can be no mistake, Mr. Tung is considering an anti-cult law at the behest of Beijing. He has been under pressure since the lead-up to the Chinese legislature's March session to get tough with Falun Gong." The editorial also said that the move would damage Hong Kong's key role as an entity distinct of mainland China, harm its economy, erode religious freedom, and concluded that "Falun Gong members should be left to practice their religion in peace."^[25]

The United States Department of State report on human rights in 2001 noted that three newspapers refused to accept advertisements for Falun Gong.^[26]

Hong Kong is less tolerant of the possibility of disruption by practitioners from outside Hong Kong, some of whom have been denied entry into the territory. More than 100 Taiwanese practitioners attending a series of protests were reportedly denied entry into Hong Kong by the immigration department, in the run-up to the tenth anniversary of the handover on July 1, 2007. Among them, lawyer Teresa Chu, who was repatriated hours after her arrival.^[27]

[edit] South Africa

In June 2004, 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 outside South Africa-China Binational Commission (BNC) meetings and to launch a lawsuit against key players in the persecution while they were in South Africa. Practitioners allege that the drive-by shooting was an assassination attempt. Chinese Embassy officials deny this.^[28] 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.^[29]

[edit] United States of America

Chinatown leaders in several cities in California, especially San Francisco, banned practitioners from the 2006 Chinese New Year parade on the grounds that the group's claimed political agenda was incompatible with the spirit of the celebrations.^[30]

In 2007, San Diego practitioners sued the local Chinese Chamber of Commerce for barring them from the Chinese New Year parade, claiming pressure by the Chinese Communist Party. The Chamber of Commerce stated that Falun Gong violated the parade's ban on political activity, and the case was dismissed.[6]

In 2002 the mayor of Santee, California, told the Washington Times of a letter he received from the Chinese consul general in Los Angeles expressing "our hope that your city, by taking your citizens' interest into consideration, will earnestly consider the request from the Chinese side that no recognition and support in any form should be given to the Falun Gong cult organization."^[31]

[edit] References