Falun Gong Practitioners' Lawsuits Against China Press and Sing Tao Daily Submitted to U.S. Supreme Court

On November 8th, 2004, Attorney Lana Han officially filed defamation lawsuits against two Chinese newspapers - the China Press and Sing Tao Daily - in the United States Supreme Court on behalf of New York Falun Gong practitioners. She discussed the case in an interview.

The "Freedom of speech and of the press," as stated in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, does not protect media that are mouthpieces for Jiang's dictatorial regime. Jiang's regime has persecuted Falun Gong in the U.S., especially in New York City, by controlling overseas Chinese media, and has spread fabrications that instigate hostility and hatred in Chinese communities toward Falun Gong. Freedom of the press in free societies is precious. In the United States, which was founded upon the principles of democracy and freedom, this right is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution.

However, Jiang Zemin has launched a campaign of genocide against Falun Gong practitioners by means of forced brainwashing and physical torture. In this bloody persecution against Falun Gong, the two aforementioned Chinese newspapers have frequently slandered Falun Gong and exploited their press credentials to sustain the persecution. They have deliberately twisted the facts, confounded good and evil, spread hatred, and misled readers. Their irresponsible reports have lulled people's conscience, and damaged the pursuit of truthful reporting.

In the first three years since the start of this persecution, China Press has published over three hundred viciously slanderous articles against Falun Gong--about one every three days. Many of these articles were reprints of those issued by the Xinhua News Agency, China's official news agency. The libellous content published by China Press falls into four categories:

1) Reports of anti-Falun Gong activities sponsored by the Chinese Embassy in New York City or organisations that support the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

2) Defaming and slanderous reports of Falun Gong practitioners' activities in New York City, including anti-torture exhibitions, and anti-persecution efforts.

3) Reprints of articles from the CCP's propaganda, such as reports on the government staged self-immolation (1) and alleged murder cases.

4) Opinionated articles filled with unjustifiable accusations.

Global China Technology Group, Limited (registered in Bermuda), is affiliated with Xing Tao Daily and has close ties with People's Daily and the Xinhua News Agency, the official Chinese government media. Global China is directly involved in managing online content of the Xinhua News Agency. On September 20, 2001, about a week after the 9/11 incident, Xing Tao Daily published a full-page article entitled, "Radical Religions Advocate Destruction of the World." In the caption of a colour photograph of Falun Gong practitioners meditating, Xing Tao Daily printed lies to mislead readers. China Press also published an article on the same day that slandered Falun Gong.

Jiang's regime has not only fabricated unbridled rumours to defame, slander, and misrepresent Falun Gong in China, but also has extended its poisonous claws to the international community and spread lies about Falun Gong to the international mainstream media.

When we enjoy the freedom of speech and press in a democratic society, we must safeguard our freedom. In other words, to enjoy our freedom and rights, we must respect the freedom and rights of others. In the United States, Falun Gong is a legitimate group protected by law. The First Amendment protects Falun Gong practitioners' freedoms of belief and assembly. China Press and Xing Tao Daily have become Jiang's propaganda machines overseas in slandering Falun Gong. They have deliberately spread lies and deceptions, instigated hatred against Falun Gong, and obstructed people from judging Falun Gong objectively and independently.

China Press and Xing Tao Daily have relinquished their responsibilities as objective media in a democratic nation. Therefore, the First Amendment to the Constitution should not protect them.

Ref: http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2004/7/19/50410p.html

Note:

(1) Staged "Self-Immolation in Tiananmen Square," refer to http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/special_column/self-immolation.html

December 10, 2004