EFGIC: Chinese Gestapo-Like Agency Plays the Name Game

International Pressure, Lawsuits force CCP Officials’ to “Disband” Agency
NGO’s Report Reveals “6-10 Office” Inner workings

Provincial governments in China have changed the name of the “6-10 Office” agency to thwart criticism of its mission to “eradicate” Falun Gong.

LONDON (EFGIC) – Provincial governments in China say the notorious “6-10 Office” agency (about) has been “disbanded,” while actually only changing the names of its bureaus, reliable sources in China report.

The bureaus are now called “Purge the Evil Cult Office.”

Chinese Government sources say such a name change along with the “disbanded” claim is a tactic frequently used by the Communist Party. They change the façade of an agency or policy that violates domestic and international laws, deflecting investigations and muting criticism. The sources say, however, the agency typically continues exactly as it always has with little or no change to its purpose or methods of operation.

Chinese Government officials have often denied the existence of the 6-10 Office. But international media, human rights organisations and concerned governments frequently finger the shady agency in their reports.

In Dec. 26, 2000, a Wall Street Journal report – part of a Pulitzer-prize winning series on Falun Gong – described the 6-10 Office as a “bureau that was coordinating the crackdown [against Falun Gong].” In an Aug. 5, 2001 Washington Post article, the agency was described as: “Beijing's secret 610 office, an interagency task force leading the charge against Falun Gong.”

In a resolution passed unanimously (420-0) by the United States Congress in July 2002, the 6-10 Office was described as an agency charged with “overseeing the persecution of Falun Gong members through organised brainwashing, torture, and murder.” (news)

Former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin established the 6-10 Office in June 1999 with the specific mission of “eradicating” Falun Gong. Under Jiang’s patronage, the 6-10 Office became an independent agency with little accountability, holding power over all levels of the Communist Party and government.

Over the past four years, the European Falun Gong Information Centre has received daily reports and testimonies from China that frequently describe the role of 6-10 Office officials in overseeing the persecution of Falun Gong via loss of employment and housing, expulsion from university, arbitrary detainment, brainwashing sessions, torture and deaths from torture.

In a September 2003 special report, the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) – a Boston-based non-profit organisation (website) – detailed the inner workings of the 6-10 Office. It describes when and how Jiang first established the agency, its reporting structure, methods of operation, how it was funded and the degree to which it exercised power over related agencies, such as Public Security, the Judiciary, and more. (report) The WOIPFG’s report concludes, “we consider [6-10 Office] to be a secret, illegal organization.”

During the past year-plus, lawsuits in national courts charging the 6-10 Office and various high CCP Officials with genocide, torture, and crimes against humanity have put officials on the defensive.

In October 2002, a class-action lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court charging Jiang Zemin and the 6-10 Office with crimes of torture, genocide and crimes against humanity. (news)

In December 2002, a criminal lawsuit was filed in France charging the former Vice-Prime Minister of China, Mr. Lanqing Li – who also served as the head of the 6-10 Office – with crimes of torture. In July 2003, the French criminal court began legal proceedings on the case. (news)

Between August and October 2003, 5 criminal lawsuits were filed in as many European countries charging the vice-director of the 6-10 Office, Luo Gan – among others – with crimes of genocide and torture. (news)

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Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance. It is a practice that was taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and separate from other practices such as the religions of Buddhism and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practiced in over 50 countries.

With government estimates of as many as 100 million practicing Falun Gong, Chinas then-Communist leader, Jiang Zemin, outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999, fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions who had experienced improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong, Jiangs regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it. To that end, Jiang established the 6-10 Office, a Gestapo-like agency spanning from the Central Government to the local governments. The United States Congress has described the 6-10 Office as an agency charged with overseeing the persecution of Falun Gong members through organized brainwashing, torture, and murder.

The European Falun Gong Information Centre has verified details of 819 deaths since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. In October 2001, however, Government officials inside China reported that the actual death toll was well over 1,600. Expert sources now estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labour camps, typically without trial.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE EUROPEAN FALUN GONG INFORMATION CENTRE
Peter Jauhal 44 (0) 7717 508 268 Nicolas Schols 32 (0) 479875734
More contacts: http://www.falungonginfo.net/europe.htm
Email: [email protected]