Not a Problem of Freedom of Belief, but a Violation of Law

By Pi Fu

Some people have claimed that the crux of the ``Falun Gong " problem is the issue of restricting the freedom of belief.

But, in fact, the two are totally unrelated.

According to this criterion, the US, Japan and France do not enjoy freedom -- because their governments too crack down on cults. Cults in those countries spray poison gas at people, explode bombs in public and incite their followers to commit mass suicide.

In all societies, without exception, crime is inevitable, just as illness is. Doctors, medicine and surgery are required to treat the illnesses of the body, and, similarly, the law is needed to cure problems of crime in the community.

Does China have freedom of belief? It is the Chinese people who are the most qualified to answer this question. Nowadays, the Chinese people enjoy greater freedom of speech and belief than at any other time in their history. Of course, such freedoms are based on different value concepts, and there is little point arguing about whose values are better. The only thing I want to emphasize is that there is no connection between "Falun Gong" and freedom of belief.

As everybody knows, "Falun Gong" is a cult which is hostile to mankind, society, science and religion. It uses its techniques to violate the law, cause deaths, swindle money from people, disrupt public order and oppose the government. This is exactly what cults in other countries do. So it is perfectly natural for the Chinese government to ban "Falun Gong" according to law. Therefore the issue of "Falun Gong" has nothing to do with the freedom of belief.

It is strange that the Chinese government, which acts in accordance with the law to protect the stability of the country and the security of the public and safeguard the interests of its citizens, is accused of ``restricting freedom of belief" for doing what other countries' governments do.

(Compiled by New Star Publishers, Dec., 1999)