CCTV's Li Yuqiang Acknowledges That Part of the "Self-Immolation" Scene Was Staged

Li Yuqiang is a senior reporter for CCTV's news show Focal Point. Since the persecution began in 1999 she has been responsible for producing programmes defaming Falun Gong, including several interview programmes.

In early 2002, Li Yuqiang was at a brainwashing centre, the so-called "Law Education and Training Centre for the Capital of Hebei Province" to interview Wang Bo. During her visit she held a "discussion" with Falun Gong practitioners who were illegally detained there. Practitioners questioned her about the suspicious nature of the CCTV programme containing the "self-immolation" scene. They mentioned evidence such as the example of Wang Jindong, who had been severely burnt, yet a Sprite bottle full of gasoline remained fully intact between his legs. Confronted with evidence and analysis Li Yuqiang had no choice but to acknowledge that they had laid the Sprite bottle between Wang Jindong's legs after he had been burnt, and that the scene was staged. She tried to argue that the scene was arranged in an attempt to prove to the audience that Falun Gong practitioners conducted the "self-immolation." She even admitted that had they known that someone would doubt its authenticity they would not have shot it.

Note: The World Organization for the Investigation of the Persecution of Falun Gong has initiated a case to investigate Li Yuqiang for her role in the production of these programmes.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.ca/mh/articles/2003/5/14/50261.html