A Government Official Comments on a Street Committee's Unfair Treatment of Falun Gong Practitioners

Several months ago, when a Falun Gong practitioner from Qingni Street, Zhongshan District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province was carried out from prison and brought home, he was already on the brink of death; severely emaciated and tortured beyond recognition. Having lost his job, and without any other economic income or someone else to rely on, he is, by right, entitled to a 250 yuan¹ social living allowance from the government. However, the Qingni Street officials have demanded that he write "Four Statements" before providing such allowance. (similar to Three Statements) This Falun Gong practitioner refused to submit to the officials' demands, and to date, has not received a single penny of allowance at all... If I had not heard this news myself, I would never have believed that such a low down thing could occur behind the peaceful image of a thriving society put forth by the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) propaganda machine. Is this not an outright violation of human rights?

Chinese governmental officials have always claimed that everything we have has been given to us by the Party and the government. However, we all know deeply that the "imperial rice" we eat is the result of the blood, sweat, and tears of countless civilians. Being able to receive such a salary is already, indeed, much, much more fortunate than the unemployed many.

Since the persecution of Falun Gong began in 1999, we have come into contact with many Falun Gong practitioners either directly or indirectly. Every time they were arrested, we would receive heavy criticism and punishment from our superiors, including loss of annual rewards and a promotion, especially since Falun Gong was labelled a "cult" by the CCP in October 1999. Among the first group of nine people who appealed on Tiananmen Square by practising the exercises in one circle, seven of them were from Dalian City, and they have all been reported on to all levels of the government. At that time, Voice of America reported the news, "When these nine practitioners were arrested and put into the police car, they were peaceful and held compassionate facial expressions..., moreover, several pictures taken by foreign reporters on Tiananmen that day had their film stolen by plainclothes policemen. The film was all pulled out..." We have all had a rush of cold sweat and fear for those peaceful appealing citizens.

Dalian is one of the places where Mr. Li Hongzhi taught the principles of Falun Gong on several occasions. Since Falun Gong greatly grew in popularity in Dalian in 1994, this area has become one of the most magnificent places during the spread of Falun Gong. My family members used to practise Falun Gong, and therefore I have always been very concerned about them. I have seen with my own eyes the blossom of Falun Gong in China and Dalian, and how batches after batches of Falun Gong practitioners have gone to appeal for Falun Gong in Beijing after the persecution began. They have all met various forms of persecution and torture after coming back for their peaceful appeal to the government. When it began I could not understand it at all: you can never fight with those in power, if you know that it is good, just practise it at home, why do you have to keep on telling people to remember that Falun Gong is good, and that "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" is good? Placing yourself against the government, aren't you simply going to lose out? However, years have passed, and they have continued to do the same righteous things without any regrets.

Along with the increased amount of disasters in China, bird flu has also arrived in Heishan area in Liaoning Province, and from there, spread to many other areas. According to dependable sources, there have been several deaths already, but the officials are still covering up the news. An old saying goes "There is no air-proof wall". Only now do we finally, truly, realise the truthfulness and unselfish compassion of these Falun Gong practitioners, how could we ever say that they are fighting against the government? I do not know the deeper meanings of Falun Gong, but their brave, righteous and persevering acts are known as "Validating the Fa and clarifying the truth", have deeply touched us with their sincerity. Falun Gong has been spread to the public for many years, the persecution has also been extremely cruel and brutal, yet, they have never wavered. I think: "Falun Gong must have its own marvellous power, solemnity and dignity".

I have seen many Falun Gong practitioners, they are indeed very thrifty, they do not wish to spend money to buy food or clothes, but never hesitate to give us materials and CDs to watch. I have also seen the richer ones among them give large proportions of their income to support their work, but nevertheless, they are the minority.

Lately, I have heard colleagues mention that five Falun Gong practitioners were arrested last month. The responsible departments have tried to hide them everywhere, afraid of their family members coming to ask them to release the practitioners; they do not dare to notify the practitioners' family members of their whereabouts. Some family members have turned all of Dalian inside out trying to find the practitioners (others do not have family members as their entire family have been persecuted and imprisoned). Among them is Zhang Wei from Qingni Street, Zhongshan District, Dalian City. Local police stations have helped the criminals to cover up all information, and have refused to notify extremely worried family members of their whereabouts. For this matter, the Zhongshan District Qingni Street officials have all suffered severe criticisms from their superiors. Moreover, they have intensified their monitoring of Falun Gong practitioners in the areas under their governance.

Right now, I am truly worried for those who have either directly or indirectly persecuted Falun Gong. In another district of Dalian, the local police stations are actively helping Falun Gong practitioners to obtain their social living allowance. As a person, one should be compassionate, and moreover, should differentiate between right and wrong, any means to try to change a belief in righteousness and truthfulness is irrational.

Note:

1. Yuan is the Chinese currency; 500 yuan is equal to the average monthly income of an urban worker in China.