The International Association for Human Rights Exposes the Persecution Carried Out by the 610 Office in China

IGFM (Internationale Gesellschaft fuer Menschenrechte/International Association for Human Rights)

[The International Association for Human Rights has advisory status in the European Union]

People’s Republic China: Systematic Human Rights Abuses against Falun Gong Practitioners

China escalates persecution of Falun Gong – These systematic abuses against human rights are coordinated by the “610 Office” (an agency specifically created to persecute Falun Gong, with absolute power over each level of administration in the Party and all other political and judiciary systems).

December 6, 2001

Vienna --- Since China became a member of the International Alliance Against Terrorism, her intensity of human rights abuses has escalated. Especially harsh is the escalated abusive treatment of the peaceful, non-violent Falun Gong movement, also known as Falun Dafa.

Under the guise of “social stability,” the Chinese regime systematically terrorizes her own citizens, among them also the followers of Falun Gong and their kin. This terrorism takes the form of duress, pressure, force, propaganda and brainwashing, or also confiscating material goods or cash.

The “610 Office” is the primary enforcer of this systematic of persecution of Falun Gong members in the PRC.

The “610 Office” was founded on the express orders of President Jiang Zemin, for the purpose of Falun Gong persecution in China, and was established approximately one month prior to the beginning of the Falun Gong persecution. As stated above, this organization has offices on all government levels, is [administered] completely independent of all legal institutions and has all-pervasive power. Jiang Zemin demanded that all his government entities, on any level, “work in close coordination with the “610 Office.”

The only mandate given this office is “to solve the Falun Gong problem in China.” The methods used in this effort don’t matter to the Chinese President. The already more than two-years-old, brutal persecution of Falun Gong has already cost more than 320 people their lives, subjected 10,000 citizens to arrest, and torture, sexual and psychological abuse are the order of the day.

Is has been born out that this “610 Office” has become the strongest and worst medium to carry out this state-sanctioned terrorism against Falun Gong in China. According to reports of hundreds of eyewitnesses, the “610 Office” has been given a free hand “from above” to use any imaginable means against the non-violent, innocent Falun Gong practitioners. Murder is portrayed as suicide or heart attack and the remains are usually cremated immediately, before the next of kin had a chance to view the body one last time. Torture, sexual abuse and even murder have become the means for “re-education” in the detention camps, independent of age or gender. The goal is to break the will of Falun Gong practitioners and to force them to sign the so-called “repentance statements.” [statements to acknowledge rue for practising Falun Gong, to give up Falun Gong and to never again associate with those who practise, nor go to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong].

The climbing numbers of deaths among incarcerated Falun Gong practitioners correlates with the orders issued by the “610 Office.”

The “610 Office” does not only terrorize Falun Gong, but practically China’s whole population. Persons from that office apply pressure on everyone, not only the Falun Gong practitioners. There are reports, for instance, where school children in several areas of the country had to sign statements against Falun Gong, otherwise they would risk being expelled from school. This also happens in companies in the economic sector as well as in police departments, where those who don’t speak out against Falun Gong risk their jobs.

The actions of those who carry out the orders from the “610 Office” put the lives of millions of people in jeopardy. We have to do everything in our power to work against this office and bring about its demise.

(original text in German)