When the 56th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights was convened on March 20, 2000, a few "Falun Gong" diehards abroad took advantage of the occasion to hold a news conference in an attempt to confuse the public and build up "Falun Gong" worldwide. Their purpose was to support the anti-China motion proposed by the United States in the human rights conference. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, "If the name is not right, the words will not ring true." The news conference managed to draw only a small audience and received no shouts of applause. Faced with some key questions like "Is it scientific not to take medicine when one is ill?" and "Doesn't 'Falun Gong' say it will not get involved in politics?" they gave ambiguous answers. This failed to convince reporters and did not satisfy the anti-China forces in the USA. Moreover, some "Falun Gong" diehards made trouble at the human rights conference demanding their so-called human rights. It would be a scathing satire on human rights if they won, because the human rights of the majority would be trodden underfoot. Since the Chinese government banned the cult "Falun Gong," some diehards have been creating disturbances abroad, in an attempt to make foreign countries exert pressure on the Chinese government. Some people unaware of the truth believe that the "Falun Gong" organization respects and values human rights. Is this true? Let's have a look at the organization's true features.

Li Hongzhi, the founder of "Falun Gong," has repeatedly advertised that "Falun Gong" has no organization and its practitioners have the freedom to join and leave as they please. However, the fact is that his disciples have been continually pestering their acquaintances to join the "Falun Gong" organization. Once people join the organization, they are forbidden to practice other qigong exercises or to read other books or even newspapers, and have to read and recite "Master" Li's "scriptures." Furthermore, they are forbidden to consult a doctor, take medicine or have injections. Li Hongzhi has claimed that illness is a form of "karma" which can only be eliminated by practicing "Falun Gong" and that perfection is attained when one dies. Many "Falun Gong" practitioners who firmly believed the words of "Master" Li died as a result of refusing medical treatment, and some committed suicide because they could not stand the suffering from their ailments anymore. It is not going too far to say that Li Hongzhi deprived them of the right to survival. In addition, Li Hongzhi has tried to control the minds of "Falun Gong" practitioners with his heretical absurdities, making some of them insane and bringing about a number of tragedies. It is clear that the "Falun Gong" organization does not respect but rather sabotages human rights, and deprives its practitioners of human rights. Talk of human rights is merely an excuse for Li Hongzhi and his disciples to divert public attention, so as to escape their criminal responsibilities for infringing human rights. I believe that no country or people with a sense of justice will support this.

(Compiled by New Star Publishers, Aug., 2000)