1,400 Alleged Falun Gong-related Deaths
Chinese authorities have alleged that “the practice of Falun Gong has led to more than 1,400 deaths” of followers. Although Falun Gong was widely practiced in China throughout the 1990’s, this claim was first made only in July of 1999, after the regime had commenced the persecution of Falun Gong. The claim has been repeated by Communist Party publications and spokespersons since. It is meant to undermine support for Falun Gong practitioners, who are regularly victims of severe rights violations in China, including unlawful detention, deprivation of constitutional rights, forced labor, and torture. The latter have resulted in more than 3,400 documented deaths.
Immolation on Tiananmen
By the end of 2000—a year and a half after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched the suppression of Falun Gong—the campaign had failed to garner support among many of the CCP’s rank and file. Then-CCP leader Jiang Zemin had toured southern provinces earlier in 2000 hoping to shore up more endorsement for the campaign among local leaders. Meanwhile, public support more broadly had waned. On January 23, 2001, five individuals allegedly set themselves on fire in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. The entire scene was caught on camera from multiple angles. Within hours, state-controlled media was flooded with reports that the self-immolators were Falun Gong practitioners. These reports included grisly footage of the victims, portraying Falun Gong teachings as directly responsible for the tragedy.
Debunking Chinese Communist Party Propaganda
Following a common pattern in cases of large-scale state-led persecution, since 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has used hate propaganda as a core component of its campaign to wipe out Falun Gong. We offer the following brief explanations and references to inform our audiences and counter the pernicious effects of the CCP’s propaganda, lest it deprive the victims of horrible crimes in China of the kind of international support that saves lives.
Buddhist Temple in Sichuan Used for Brainwashing Falun Gong Practitioners
Sections of a Buddhist temple outside the town of Pengzhou in Sichuan province have been converted into a makeshift detention center for brainwashing local residents who practice Falun Gong, according to sources inside China. At least 14 Falun Gong practitioners have been held at the facility since June 2010, with many reporting abuse and torture.
A Middle-aged Farmer’s Ordeal at a Sichuan Brainwashing Center
Ms. Qing Guangrong (???), a 48-year-old farmer from Masang village in Danjingshan town under the Penzhou city jurisdiction, is one of the practitioners who was detained at a brainwashing center established in Sansheng Temple in Sichuan.
55-year-old Woman Dies from Abuse in Liaoning Prison
The Falun Dafa Information Center recently received news that Ms. Wang Chunxiang, a 55-year-old resident of Liaoning province, died in prison on September 25, 2011 under suspicious circumstances.
Falun Gong News Bulletin: October 14, 2011
Top Headlines: * Four new Falun Gong deaths recorded in September, one within ten days of detention * 28 practitioners sent for forced conversion at Chongqing summer resort * Urgent Appeal: Only surviving member of team that aired uncensored programs in Changchun on verge of death * 1,500 sign petition for Falun Gong practitioner’s release from Tianjin prison * Falun Gong restores health to young lymphoma cancer patient * Thugs in Thailand assault elderly Falun Gong protestor, break arm
Falun Gong News Bulletin: October 13, 2011
On August 26, 2011, a group trial of seven Falun Gong practitioners was held at the Wuhou District Court in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. At its end, all seven were sent to prison camps for terms ranging from two to seven years. The following details, relayed from individuals inside China close to the case, portray a mockery of justice and series of manipulations highlighting the Communist Party’s systematic disregard for Chinese law in its campaign against Falun Gong.
Sichuan judge sends seven Falun Gong practitioners to prison after mockery of a trial
On August 26, 2011, a group trial of seven Falun Gong practitioners was held at the Wuhou District Court in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. At its end, all seven were sent to prison camps for terms ranging from two to seven years. The following details, relayed from individuals inside China close to the case, portray a mockery of justice and series of manipulations highlighting the Communist Party’s systematic disregard for Chinese law in its campaign against Falun Gong.
Falun Gong restores health to young lymphoma cancer patient
Huang Shan is a handsome 25-year-old man with a gentle appearance. It is hard to imagine that he narrowly escaped death only a couple of years ago. Before even reaching his prime, he was diagnosed with lymphoma. He then encountered Falun Gong and became a cultivator. Now he is a healthy, optimistic young man who is completely cancer-free.