Space Daily: Exposing the Propaganda against Falun Gong

New York - Jul 11, 2002

Since July 8th, utilizing allegations that Falun Gong practitioners overseas tapped into the broadcast signal of the SINOSAT satellite, Jiang Zemin's propaganda machine has attacked and condemned Falun Gong in the Chinese and world media. Careful review of the accusations and reports made by Chinese state-run media, however, reveals inaccuracies, clear contradictions, and an unwillingness to talk by Chinese officials, all of which draw into question
the regime's outpouring of accusations over this matter.

Government "Press Conference," People's Daily Set Propaganda Machine in Motion

According to international media stationed in Beijing, journalists there were hastened to a press conference called by top broadcast officials, where, according to an AP report on July 8, "China's chief broadcast regulator blamed overseas Falun Gong activists for the [alleged satellite signal interruption] incursion."

The same AP story, however, reported that the broadcast chief said the source of the signal was still being traced and "offered no hard evidence that Falun Gong was behind it."

The AP story went on to say: "Officials made the announcement at what they termed a news conference, though they took only two questions before adjourning it and leaving." The officials gave voice to their accusations, and apparently that was the extent to which they wanted to discuss the issue.

Also on July 8th, the Ministry of Information Industry's Radio Administration Bureau claimed its satellite broadcasting had been "interfered with" from June 23 to June 30.

On the same day, the CCTV (China Central TV) program entitled, Focus Interview, broadcast interviews with officials from CBSAT (China Broadcasting TV Satellite) discussing the alleged interference with satellite broadcasting and interviews with villagers in Jingtai County of Gansu province, villagers in Pingjiang county of Hunan province, and others who the CCTV claimed had been "influenced by the interference."

On the same day, China News Service also stated that the People's Daily newspaper was going to run a commentary concerning this incident on July 9. On July 9, China News Service covered the story again, highlighting its prominent publication in People's Daily.

The wheels of China's propaganda machine had thus been set in motion, and within hours, every state-run propaganda organ started to advertise the details of the incident as "reported" in the Focus Interview programme.

Villagers Allegedly "Interfered With" Tell FDI reporters: "We don't receive any TV broadcasts [here]"

According to the Focus Interview, farmers in Sitan Village of Jingtai County in Gansu Province are the primary beneficiaries of CCTV's "Village to Village" TV broadcasts, transmitted to viewers via the SINOSAT satellite.

The Focus Interview program quoted a villager from Yongtai village named "Sun Yonglong" as saying his TV had been "interfered with" on the night of June 23.

Another resident of the same village by the name of Chen, however, told FDI reporters "That can't be true because we don't watch TV. The signal is no good here. In fact, we don't receive any TV broadcasts."

When asked if other people in the village might have been "interfered with," Chen said, "I don't see how that's possible. We never watch TV, none of us do." Chen also indicated that no reporters had actually come to interview people in the village about this matter.

Another villager named Bai, from Yongtai Village, echoed Chen's observations: "Actually, we don't watch TV. We just heard about [the broadcast "interference"] from the media."

State-Run Media's Interviewees Unknown in Their Villages

Mr. Bai went on to say that he has never heard of a person named "Sun Yonglong" in Yongtai village, although the Focus Interview report allegedly quoted a person by that name.

Other Focus Interview interviewees allegedly "interfered with" were also nowhere to be found.

When asked about "Shi Fusheng" of Tiaoshan town, Yongtai County, a resident mentioned by Focus Interview as being "interfered with," Tiaoshan Town Office authorities stated: "We have no such person living here."

An official of Lanqiao Village in Wukou Town, Pingjiang County, Hunan Province hung up the telephone as soon as FDI reporters asked for "Jiang Diancai," whom the Focus Interview program said lived there.

Inconsistent Accounts Received from Different Areas

Regarding the alleged satellite broadcasts, the stories being told were inconsistent from region to region. An employee of Gansu province, Jingtai County TV station said he did not see the alleged broadcast at all and knew nothing about it.

Officials of the Jingtai County Broadcasting Bureau, however, said it was "classified" and could not speak with reporters. Government officials in Jingtai County hung up the phone immediately when questioned about the incident.

Zhang Hefu, a resident of Wukou Town, Pingjiang County, Hunan province, was quoted in Focus Interview as saying the alleged broadcast displayed the words "Falun Dafa Is Good" and showed scenes from Tiananmen Square, and nothing more.

Yet, a Political and Legal Committee member named Long who lives in the same village as Zhang said he saw "a picture of Falun Gong practitioners
demonstrating the exercises."

Zhang Hefu had also said on the Focus Interview program that: "As soon as I saw the Falun Gong program I called the county Political and Legal Committee right away. They told me that Falun Gong had done it using a satellite."

When asked how the county Political and Legal Committee knew so quickly that “Falun Gong had done it using a satellite," Zhang replied, "Because the Committee telephoned the TV station and individuals at the station indicated they had received 'instructions from supervisors' to that effect."

Another Hoax to Attack Falun Gong?

"Tapping into a TV program to broadcast the truth of Falun Gong is very effective in exposing the crimes committed by Jiang Zemin's regime. It is an admirable action," says Falun Dafa Information Centre (FDI) Spokeswoman Ms. Feng Yuan.

However, she believes there are many questionable aspects regarding this specific broadcast incident: "The onslaught of media propaganda regarding the alleged SINOSAT incident is very possibly another hoax, along the lines of the staged-immolation and anthrax incidents.

"That is, the aim is to keep the crimes of Jiang Zemin's regime against Falun Gong from being exposed on TV, and at the same time, incite public hatred of Falun Gong practitioners in order to continue their persecution."

Ms. Yuan added, "What is particularly troubling about this latest attempt by Jiang's regime is that they are targeting 'overseas Falun Gong.' It is enough to give us serious cause for concern…what illicit plan may be
unfolding here?"

Ms. Yuan concludes: "They accuse 'overseas Falun Gong,' but fail to provide any evidence. They showcase interviewees that cannot be found. So-called ‘witnesses’ provide conflicting information or just refuse to talk.

"I think the only thing we really know for sure about this incident is that Jiang's regime is utilizing every imaginable propaganda resource to attack Falun Gong on this issue."

This article was released by the Falun Dafa Information Centre July 11, 2002 and is reprinted here unedited.

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