Taipei Times (Taiwan): Editorial - The Power of Free Expression

September 26, 2002

To most of the world, the Falun Gong is a movement that promotes exercise and [spiritual] practice. In China, it is considered an "[slanderous term omitted]". However, despite the Chinese government's efforts to suppress it, Falun Gong members (Note: Falun Gong does not have membership) have managed to make themselves seen and heard in the most unlikely places.

In March and then again from late June to mid-September, Falun Gong members repeatedly hijacked TV signals from China's communications satellite Sinosat-1. Broadcasts from China Central Television, China Education TV and a number of local stations were interrupted by Falun Gong images. Beijing was incensed; some media officials lost their jobs and several Falun Gong members have been tried and convicted for damaging radio and television property and of conspiring to undermine law enforcement.

On Tuesday an official of China's Taiwan Affairs Office claimed that the signals were beamed from Taipei and that Taiwan has the responsibility to stop such actions. However, the spokesperson did not present any evidence or concrete information, although another official said Beijing would hand over technical data to prove its claims.

Taiwan's national security agencies have denied interfering with Chinese satellite signals, saying that the military has no need for such interruption at this point. The Directorate-general of Telecommunications has called China's accusations flimsy. According to the directorate-general, no illegal signals have been detected recently despite repeated surveillance. Falun Gong members in Taiwan have denied involvement in the TV-signal hijackings, but added that they were grateful to whoever was responsible.

Many people in Taiwan sympathize with the plight of Falun Gong members in China on human rights grounds. But that doesn't necessarily equate with Taiwan giving governmental support.

To hijack TV broadcasts one must acquire satellite signal transmission equipment and must also break the satellite signal codes. Such interruptions are difficult to trace, especially if carried out from a mobile platform. Taiwan has experienced similar hijackings of TV and radio broadcasts. Under martial law and up until the early 1990s, the KMT government monopolized radio and terrestrial TV frequencies. Some opposition activists imported transmitters and launched pirate radio stations signals in an effort to get their voices heard. The government launched a crackdown, but not until it released the unused frequencies did the signals war come to an end. Now there are a multitude of radio stations and the average person in Taiwan can access a wide variety of television programming.

Taiwan's experience tells us that broadcast interruptions are quite easy and effective, but crackdowns on them are very costly and seldom effective. The only way to prevent them is to solve the underlying issue that prompted them.

In a democratic society, the Falun Gong is just another civic movement or group and people are free to participate in its activities if they wish. But Beijing views it as some kind of terrorist organization. A backlash is inevitable, given that Falun Gong followers have no chance to communicate with the Chinese authorities and resolve their differences. Similar incidents will continue to occur. In fact, there could be even more radical actions. The real problem rests in the fact that the minds of Beijing's officials have long been hijacked by pre-programmed hostility and are no longer receptive to what Falun Gong members have to say. China continues to view an unfettered mind as a dangerous thing.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/news/2002/09/26/print/0000169534