Red Ink: A Look at China’s Economy (part2)

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3. The Way Out is Right In Front of People

The year 1992 was a memorable one for the Chinese. It was the year that Falun Gong first emerged in China. At a time when mankind is floundering in a state of crisis and desperately seeking a way out, Falun Gong clearly specifies that the principles of Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance are the answer. It points out that the moral degeneration of mankind is the fundamental reason for all economic ills and social crises, offering a golden key to China and to all of humanity to solve its problems. Within a few short years, Falun Gong gained legendary popularity across China as those who truly cultivated its principles improved their health and uplifted their moral standards. It was a visible, monumental contribution to the stabilization of society.

In August 1992, the Ministry of Public Security encouraged the Foundation for Courageous and Righteous Behaviour to write a letter of commendation to China’s Qigong Science Research Association praising Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong. In December of that same year, the Foundation awarded Mr. Li Hongzhi with a Certificate of Honour. Again in December, at the 1993 Oriental Health Expo, Mr. Li was honoured with “The Award for Advancing Emerging Sciences,” which was the event’s highest recognition. Mr. Li also received the “Special Gold Award” as well as the title of “Qigong Master Most Acclaimed by the People.” At this Expo, Teacher Li Hongzhi was the qigong master who received the most awards, indicating how much Falun Gong was enjoyed and appreciated by the people of China. In the following years, Falun Gong spread to over fifty countries around the world and received many awards from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, European countries, Canada, and the USA. Falun Gong’s great achievements in improving people’s health and raising moral standards are gaining ever-increasing attention.

Government Surveys

Government institutions in Beijing, Guangdong, and Wuhan conducted surveys among Falun Gong practitioners. The survey results were reported to the Politburo, the governing body of the Chinese Communist Party. The results were clear that Falun Gong brought hundreds of benefits but caused no harm. Take the survey in Beijing for example. The sampling was from 14,199 practitioners and 12,731 questionnaires were valid. The survey concluded that 99.1% of those surveyed experienced total health improvements after practicing Falun Gong, that practitioners all felt morally uplifted, and that the practice helped harmonize families and stabilize society. Statistical analyses indicated that those surveyed could save 41.7 million Yuan RMB in medical expenses, an average savings of 3,720 Yuan per person per year. The official government report at the time estimated that between 70 and 100 million people were practicing Falun Gong in China. If we use 70 million as a reference, those people, as a result of practicing Falun Gong, could save the country 200 billion Yuan in health-care costs — money that could be used for the nation’s economic and social development. Furthermore, the country’s economy would improve since a healthier workforce is more productive. The facts indicate that Falun Gong helps a country improve all aspects of society.

Violent Suppression by the Jiang Regime

A few people with ulterior motives, however, made wild assumptions about Falun Gong practitioners and imposed slanderous labels on them. In July 1999, China’s President Jiang Zemin, viewing the situation as an incident of class struggle, banned the practice. Practitioners were at first restricted from doing the exercises; then they were arrested, and are now being tortured to death. The persecution continues to escalate.

The American Wall Street Journal published an article on April 20, 2000, by Ian Johnson. In the article, Johnson reported how Mrs. Chen Zixiu, a Falun Gong practitioner living in Xujia Village in Weifang of Shangdong Province, was persecuted to death. The practitioner was abducted by the authorities while walking along the street and then taken to the Beiguan Police Station. The following afternoon, she was taken to the “Falun Gong Custody Centre” temporarily set up at the local government offices. Government officials used plastic sticks and electric batons to beat her legs, feet, and lower back. They used spiked sticks for driving cattle to beat her head and neck. Those who shared the cell with her said miserable sounds from the torture room were heard all night as she was being interrogated. The torturers were shouting at her, demanding that she give up Falun Gong. She refused time and again. The day before Chen passed away, those who held her in custody demanded once again that she give up her faith in Falun Gong. After another round of beatings by batons and sticks, this 58-year-old elderly person who almost lost consciousness managed to shake her head firmly. On the morning of the 20th, the barely breathing Chen was forced to crawl outside on the snow-covered ground. Two days of torture left her with severely bruised legs. Her head was bruised and her hair matted with blood and pus. Chen threw up and fainted. She never regained consciousness. This kind old woman was deprived of living merely because she did not give up her right to be a good person! She is only one of the many hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners persecuted to death. Internal information from the Ministry of Public Security reveals that by the end of October 2001, the number of Falun Gong practitioners persecuted or tortured to death had reached 1,600.

The violence and corruption of the Jiang regime have not only brought China’s economy toward collapse but have also caused chaos in all aspects of society. According to incomplete statistics, over 500 practitioners have been sentenced to prison without trial, over 1,000 sent to mental hospitals, over 20,000 sent to labour camps without due process of law, and over 100,000 have been arrested or are being held in custody. In addition, countless practitioners have been beaten or physically abused by law enforcers. Many have become homeless or are without income for survival, and millions of relatives, friends, co-workers, or bosses have been implicated by association.
Note to Clear Harmony readers: To learn more about the “Guilt by Implication” click here.

The Chinese nation, once enlightened and hopeful, is on the brink of utter disaster. To help save society from this dangerous situation, Falun Gong practitioners are disregarding the danger to themselves and stepping into the streets and onto Tiananmen Square to let people know the truth about the persecution and about Falun Gong. They are hoping that people will embrace its principles of Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance and not be deceived into abandoning them and turning against Falun Gong.

A Nation’s Resources Used to Persecute Good Citizens

Nationwide manpower and financial resources are being utilized to suppress Falun Gong, and huge amounts of money have been moved out of the state treasury to fund the persecution. This further creates pressure on national finances and severe consequences for the national economy. According to a release by a foreign news source on Feb. 27, 2001, Jiang allocated, at one time, 4 billion Yuan for the installation of bugging devices to monitor Falun Gong practitioners. In December 2001, internal information from the Ministry of Public Security revealed that Jiang, once again, allocated 4.2 billion Yuan to set up brainwashing bases across the country. At the bases, specifically set up for persecuting Falun Gong practitioners, brutality and cruelty are used to force practitioners into renouncing their faith in Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance. Money is constantly being allocated to funding various aspects of this vicious persecution, yet the government has been successful in keeping this information hidden from the world.

The daily expenses for persecuting Falun Gong are astronomical. In January 2001, information was leaked from the Ministry of Public Security indicating that on Tiananmen Square alone, the cost of searching for Falun Gong practitioners is 1.7 to 2.5 million Yuan per day, namely 620 to 910 million Yuan per year. With a small amount for capital expenditure, the remaining 95% goes directly as cash income to officers working on site. These include police officers, plain-clothes agents, and jobless people (including those serving jail terms) who are temporarily hired for “security.” These cash distributions take place every day without accounting records. There are no forms, tables, or signatures, and officers claim and collect them by self-reporting their “achievements” for that day.

Government-controlled media sources such as The Xinhua News Agency, CCTV, People’s Daily, and local media across the country continuously spread fabricated, false, and slanderous information about Falun Gong. From the cities to remote areas of the countryside, local police, security officers, as well as officials from the "6-10 Office" (a government agency similar to Hitler’s Secret Service, formed to oversee the persecution of Falun Gong), search for and arrest Falun Gong practitioners. Signatures are forcibly collected to oppose Falun Gong and slanderous exhibitions are frequently arranged. Employers and community groups are told to assign people to monitor practitioners. Given the scope of the persecution, it is estimated that Jiang has involved at least several million people to work for his persecution — all of which could add up to several hundred billion Yuan annually in terms of wages and salaries, bonuses, overtime pay, and rewards. It is hard from outside China to determine actual amounts, due to the information blockade. This money comes partially from the state treasury, partially from local governments, partially from financial exploitation (such as huge fines and fees) of Falun Gong practitioners, and to a lesser extent from penalties paid by employers.

Persecution of Falun Gong Has Gone Beyond Chinese Borders

China’s embassies and consulates in other countries have printed materials that defame Falun Gong and have distributed them locally. They have even hosted “fight and struggle” meetings and sponsored slanderous exhibitions against Falun Gong. The Ministry of National Security has dispatched many special agents overseas to collect information about Falun Gong practitioners outside China and to spread rumours on Chinese-language websites. Whether Jiang has negotiated secret trade agreements with developing countries in exchange for those countries to remain silent on his persecution of Falun Gong, it is difficult for external parties to know. But it is known that in order to export his campaign of persecution to other places around the world, Jiang has spent a huge amount of China’s foreign currency reserve and cash only to find out that kind and justice-loving people still denounce him.

In Violation of China’s Constitution

China’s own Constitution guarantees its people the freedom of religion, the freedom of assembly, and the freedom to appeal injustice. Yet China’s president has resorted to all kinds of vicious and brutal methods to deny people their basic rights and to persecute Falun Gong. He has filled people’s minds with lies and encouraged violence and murder, made the rule of law void, turned people against each other, and placed all of society in turmoil. Jiang’s atrocities have enraged both heaven and earth, and have cast the nation into deep calamity. The “Cultural Revolution” once pushed China’s economy to the verge of collapse. Likewise, today’s President Jiang, with his abusive spending and fascist rule, has once again put the nation’s economy in jeopardy. His actions have weakened economic development, further slackened the Chinese market, left the state treasury empty, and worsened the environment for investments. Jiang’s atrocious behaviour is leading China’s economy toward collapse.

An Urgent Appeal

Dear Chinese countrymen and kind-hearted people, Falun Gong practitioners have never at any time in the past or present been involved in politics or opposed the government. They have only been trying to tell you, “Falun Dafa is good! Do not persecute Falun Gong!” Countless facts have demonstrated that Falun Dafa can improve a person fundamentally and lead people toward compassion. With uplifted moral standards, society can reach higher realms. Let us join our effort to safeguard the principles of Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance, which essentially governs our life, and to explore a beautiful future.

References:
1. Stephane Marchand: “Global Changes and Risks” Column, Le Figaro, December 4th
2. Hu Shaojiang: “Banks’ Bad Debts – A Timeless Bomb to Destroy China’s Economy,” New Epoch Website
3. Zheng Yi: “Comments on ‘The Fake News that Worst Hurts Chinese Self-esteem,’” Free Asia Broadcast
4. Zhang Wei (Oxford University): “A Wobbling Development – Comments on China’s Economy 2001”
5. He Qinglian: “Traps in China”

Others:
China Time
Washington Post
Wall Street Journal
Epoch News Website
United Morning (Web edition)
BBC Chinese Website
New Wave Website
Singdao Daily (Web edition)
Mingbao (Web edition)
Central News (Web edition)
Source: http://www.pureinsight.org/sci/sci/eng/newscontent.asp?ID=14875