NEWS - May 31, 2007 -- Falun Dafa Information Center [ http://www.faluninfo.net/ ]

NEW YORK, NY - In what may be its most audacious Olympic act yet, China's Ministry of Public Security has issued an incredible directive that lists 43 categories of unwanteds who are to be investigated and barred from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Falun Dafa Information Center has learned. Pariah groups include eerily vague "key individuals in ideological fields," "overseas hostile forces," "counter-revolutionary" figures, the Dalai Lama and all affiliates, members of "religious entities not sanctioned by the state" (e.g. Roman Catholics), "individuals who instigate discontentment toward the Chinese Communist Party through the Internet," and even certain types of "handicapped" persons.

Members of the Falun Gong would be barred, as would "family members of deceased persons" killed in "riots" -- a euphemism for events such as the Tiananmen Massacre -- and Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province, which the regime brands "national separatists." Only at the very bottom of the directive does it identify "violent terrorists" and members of "illegal organizations" as targets for investigation and possible barring.

To be investigated are participating athletes, members of the media, Olympic staff members, referees, sponsors, dignitaries, and the International Olympic Committee itself, among others, to determine whether they fall into any of the 43 categories. If carried out, the directive would amount to an espionage effort of astounding proportions, and would fly in the face of international law.

The Ministry's directive, said to have been issued in April and titled "Notification on Strictly Carrying Out Background Investigations on Candidates for the Olympics and Performing a Pre-Selection Screening" has reportedly been circulated to each Chinese province and autonomous region as well as to all police stations and bureaus in municipalities directly under the Central Government. The Information Center is making available the relevant excerpt of the original document (Chinese) as well as a translation (English).

The directive also calls upon all levels of China's regime to "cooperate," but adds that it is "vital to keep this directive and all associated activities secret... it is of utmost importance to give the look of an easygoing environment to the outside, but in fact keep a firm handle on all activities."

"To see China's rulers abusing their Olympic privileges like this is simply unconscionable," said Mr. Erping Zhang, Information Center spokesperson. "The regime appears to have gone so far beyond international norms as to risk absurdity, and is clearly bent on hiding this fact. This means that a shockingly large number of people could not participate in, work at, sponsor, or report on the Olympics. You might even have your phone tapped although you live in London, or you might be spied on in Florida, simply on account of your possible political or religious beliefs."

"The CCP is making a mockery of the Olympic spirit," Zhang said.

The directive is yet further evidence that China's rulers are capitalizing on the Olympics to quash dissent, particularly the Falun Gong. A Feb. 21, 2001, Reuters report revealed that the campaign against Falun Gong had escalated as China entered the final stages of bidding for the 2008 Olympics. The report cited the state-run Xinhua propaganda outlet as saying the government had given "citations" to 110 organizations and 271 individuals "for anti-Falun Gong work" and to "wipe out" Falun Gong.

A July 17, 2001, report from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, meanwhile, disclosed that after Beijing landed the 2008 Olympics, China's then Vice Premier declared that winning the Olympics was "justification for the country's crackdown on the Falun Gong."

In 2005, an intelligence journal, Intelligence Online, revealed that China's deputy public security minister, Liu Jing, had been assigned the responsibility of wiping out Falun Gong before the Games. A directive was issued "demanding that all of the country's security services lend a hand" in the effort. Notably, investigators were to be appointed even to Chinese embassies around the world to "infiltrate" Falun Gong groups there. This would appear to anticipate the new, April directive dictating massive international espionage.

A growing body of voices has been calling for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics in light of the regime's human rights abuses. Many point in particular to the regime's complicity in Sudan, where it has blocked U.N. and other efforts to stem the tide of genocide, with the regime itself being known to supply arms to the Sudanese government. Some China watchers have likened Beijing's Olympic efforts to those of Nazi Germany in connection with the 1936 Berlin Olympics -- referred to by many as the Nazi Olympics. Historians have said of the '36 Games that "the regime exploited the Games to bedazzle many foreign spectators and journalists with an image of a peaceful, tolerant Germany." (link)

"China's regime is using the Olympics to legitimize its oppression," said Zhang. "Is China's communist dictatorship to decide who gets a share of human rights come Olympics time? Or are the games to just be one big propaganda stunt?"

The Falun Dafa Information Center is calling upon the International Olympic Committee to vigorously investigate the above, and take firm, principled action to uphold the Olympic Charter and the human rights it enshrines.

NEWS - May 31, 2007
Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net

Background
Founded in 1999, the Falun Dafa Information Center is a New York-based organization that documents the rights violations of adherents of Falun Gong (or "Falun Dafa") taking place in the People's Republic of China. In July of 1999 China's autocratic Communist Party launched an unlawful campaign of arrests, violence, and propaganda with the intent of "eradicating" the apolitical practice; it is believed certain leaders feared the influence of the practice's 100 million adherents. The campaign has since grown in violence and scope, with millions having been detained or sent to forced labor camps. The Center has verified details of over 3,000 deaths and over 63,000 cases of torture in custody (reports / sources). Falun Gong is a traditional-style Buddhist "qigong" practice, with roots in the Chinese heritage of cultivating the mind/body for health and spiritual growth.

The case of Wang Bo went to the second round of hearings in Shijiazhuang City on April 27. Six defense attorneys from Beijing courageously walked out of CCP's shadow, and bravely pleaded not guilty for the family of Wang Bo. This drew wide attention from international society.

These six defense attorneys came from four law firms in Beijing, and they are: Li Heping, Li Xiongbing, Zhang Lihui, Li Shunzhang, Teng Biao, Wu Hongwei. From the aspects of legislation, justice and law enforcement, they presented facts and evidence supporting the not guilty plea. They pointed out 13 incidences of authorities violating legal procedures, and submitted supplementary defense statements.

On May 14, Lu Ling, the head judge of Wang Bo's case went to Beijing to review progress with higher authorities. On May 16, the infamous Luo Gan, the CCP's Political and Judicial Committee Secretary, personally traveled to Shijiazhuang City to monitor the situation. The judges for Wang Bo's haven't been around since. On May 21, Wang Bo's relatives went to a middle-level court to ask for Wang's conditional release. Judge Lu Ling said that the second round of hearings had already concluded and the case was returned to the primary court. She also said that anything related to this case, including conditional release, should be redirected to the primary court. When Wang Bo's family asked her why the attorneys were not notified, Lu Ling evaded the question.

The judge of the primary court in Changan District later said that the case had not been returned to the primary court since the primary court did not have the authority to make a decision in this case. The conclusion had already been made to maintain the original sentence, and he said that the defendants had been notified. Wang Bo's relatives called the detention center, and they were told detention center had received no such notice.

None of the six defense attorneys had received any notice, either. The judge was unable to be reached by phone for follow up later. The attorneys considered Shijiazhuang Middle-level Court's procedures were violating the law. The result of the second round of hearings must be released, with both defendants and attorneys notified, be it correcting the original sentence, maintaining the original sentence, or sending the case back to primary court for re-hearing. They could not just shirk responsibilities like this.

The primary hearing of Wang Bo's case had numerous problems: unclear statement of facts, insufficient evidence, procedures violating the law, improper law enforcement. These drew wide attention from overseas media. The second round of hearings did not correct the previous mistakes, and even went worse, for example, presenting flyers which did not belong to the case files as material evidence.

The second round of hearings needs to correct the primary hearing's mistakes, and the innocent Wang Bo's family of three needs to be released unconditionally. Shijiazhuang City middle-level court is shirking its responsibilities, ignoring attorneys' justified defense, paying no attention to social consequences, and openly violating the law in the face of evidence full of flaws. The court does this to please high ranking CCP officials. Doing so means the CCP once again exposes its vicious nature to the world. In fact, this so-called hearing of Falun Gong practitioners is just a show trial, framing practitioners. It uses the pretense of law to cover up the brutal persecution of good-hearted citizens. Needlessly to say, this is another example of the CCP's true nature.

On April 24, 2007, Falun Gong practitioners Ms. Zhai Huiling and her husband Mr. Liu Yonghui were arrested by police from the National Security Group of Fengtai District, Beijing. Two days later, Mr. Liu's mother, Ms. Yang Tiezhen, also a Falun Gong practitioner, was arrested. Ms. Zhai was pregnant at the time and was thus rejected by the Lugouqiao Detention Center. In order for her to be admitted by the detention center, she was forced by the police to have an abortion.

Ms. Zhai Huiling, about 30 years old, is an employee at Fangzhuang Hospital, Fengtai District. Mr. Liu Yonghui, 39 years old, is a driver for the 508 Institution of China Academy of Space Technology. Ms. Yang Tiezhen, 66 years old, lives with her son, Mr. Liu Yonghui, and his family. The family lives at 9 Wanyuanbei Road, Building 2, Donggaodi, Fengtai District, Beijing.

Ms. Zhai was previously imprisoned in Beijing Xinan Forced Labor Camp (also called Beijing Women's Forced Labor Camp) for practicing Falun Gong. During her imprisonment she was allowed only two or three hours of sleep per day, forced to stand for long periods of time, and was beaten frequently. She became extremely thin as the results of this torture.

Around 1:00 p.m. on April 24, 2007, the Fengtai National Security police arrested Ms. Zhai Huiling at Fangzhuang Hospital where she works. The police took Ms. Zhia home, where they intended to search her house, although they did not have a warrant. Ms. Yang Tiezhen was at home with her two-year-old granddaughter and Ms. Zhai's mother who was visiting. Ms. Yang refused to open the door when the police arrived. The officers then put a bag over Ms. Zhai's head and dragged her from the third floor to the first floor. Ms. Zhai suffered injury to both of her hands.

At the same time, Mr. Liu's office staff ordered Mr. Liu Yonghui to go home and persuade his mother to open the door of their home. On the way to his house, Mr. Liu saw his wife being dragged into a car by seven or eight plainclothes police. He went to question what they were doing with his wife and he too was arrested.

The officers then broke into Ms. Zhai and Mr. Liu's home, cut off the power and phone lines, and ransacked the home. They did not present a warrant, police badges or any kind of documents during the incident. No explanation was given as to why they were there. They were all plainclothes police.

Two days later, on April 26, agents from the Fengtai 610 Office arrested the mother, Ms. Yang Tiezhen. Ms. Yang is still being held at the Fengtai Guangfeng Hotel, where brainwashing sessions take place. This location has been operating as a brainwashing center for over one year. Guards can be seen inside the building from the outside. The 610 officers take turns trying to brainwash practitioners continuously day and night.

Ms. Zhai and Mr. Liu were detained in the Donggaodi Police Station for one night and were then taken to Lugouqiao Detention Center. The center rejected Ms. Zhai because she was pregnant. The police later forced her to have an abortion. She is currently out on bail to take care of their two-year-old daughter.

See related report, /emh/articles/2007/5/15/85625.html

Ms. Shi Xiangdao, an employee of the Religion Bureau in Shijiazhuang, and her husband Mr. Liu Xin are illegally jailed in the Second Detention Center of Shijiazhuang. The Shijiazhuang City government is trying to send them to a labor camp and has charged them 500 yuan for physicals, which are required prior to being sent to a labor camp.

On April 29, 2007, at a conference of Religion and Minority Issues held in Shijiazhuang, the Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Committee in Shijiazhuang, Wu Xianguo, gave a speech in which he slandered and attacked Falun Gong. After the conference, Ms. Shi Xiangdong tried to clarify the facts of Falun Gong to Wu Xianguo. Wu Xianguo asked her which government department she worked at, and she told him that she worked at the Religion Bureau. A few minutes later, several policemen came and arrested Ms. Shi. She was immediately taken to the police station at Changzheng Street in Qiaodong District. Later, she was transferred to the police station at Hongqi Street.

Ms. Shi's husband, Liu Xin, went to the police station to ask for her release, but was instead arrested as well. That same day, several policemen took Liu Xin to his house and ransacked it. The police confiscated all of the couple's Falun Gong books, a laptop computer, and a printer.

The couple's daughter Liu Zhiyuan is now living with her 70 year-old grandmother, who only has 600 yuan of monthly income, and is not able to take care of Liu Zhiyuan.

Ms. Shi Xiangdong was jailed in a brainwashing center for a year several years ago because of her refusal to renounce Falun Gong. Her daughter was only a few months old at the time. In 2002, Liu Xin tried to appeal for Falun Gong when Jiang Zemin visited Shijiazhuang, and he was sentenced to a labor camp for three years.

On April 26, Ms. Shi Xiangdong and Mr. Liu Xin applied for permission to hear Falun Gong practitioner Wang Bo's trial. On the same night, officials from the local police department, police station and residence affair office came to their home and threatened them not to go to Wang Bo's trial. At midnight, Shi Xiangdong's supervisor called and asked them not to go to Wang Bo's trial.

On October 16, 2006, Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Li Xue, from Jiaozhou City, Shandong Province, was arrested by police officers from the Jiaozhou City Department. Her home was ransacked as well. They detained her in the Dashan Detention Center in Qingdao City and put her on trial at the Jiaozhou City Court on March 15, 2007. Her family was not notified until after the trial session started.

Ms. Li Xue's parents (both practitioners) rushed to the court and discovered her trial was not held in the courtroom but in a side room, without a jury or visitors.

Ms. Li Xue acted with righteous thoughts, defended herself, and said practicing Falun Gong has never been wrong. Her father was only allowed stay for ten minutes and then he was forced out. The session ended without sentencing.

On May 18, 2007, when Ms. Li Xue's parents went to visit her in the detention center, they learned Ms. Li Xue was secretly sentenced to seven years in prison. They never received sentencing statements and have no idea when the term started. Ms. Li was still detained in Dashan Detention Center and was to be taken to Jinan City Woman Prison several days later.

Note: The following is a shortened version of a longer and more detailed article that appeared on the minghui.ca website (Chinese version of Clearwisdom.net).

1. Three Practitioners Arrested

On April 28, 2007, more than ten agents from Xiangtan City 610 Office and Yuhu District National Security Group arrested Mr. Wang Guilin at his home and detained him in the city's detention center.

At around 5 p.m. on April 26, 2007, Falun Gong practitioners Ms. Li Mengjun and Mr. Zhou Kaiyi went to Shuanbanqiao Market to clarify the truth. On their way home, police officers from Hekou Town arrested and interrogated them at the station. These two practitioners refused to cooperate with the police, so police agents Han Xiaolin and Tang Wenjian and others ransacked both of their homes without any legal procedures.

3. Additional Facts after Mr. Lu Songming and Ms. Lu Mengjun Arrested

Falun Gong practitioners Mr. Lu Songming and Ms. Lu Mengjun were arrested on February 4, 2007. They have been detained in Shuangfeng County Detention Center for three months. Their families went to visit many times, but they were refused each time. The families learned their "case" was submitted to Shuangfeng County Procuratorate, means they face being put on trials.

Note: The following is a shortened version of a longer and more detailed article that appeared on the minghui.ca website (Chinese version of Clearwisdom.net).

At around 10 p.m. on March 26, 2007, five Laizhou City State Security agents led by Liu Jingbing (male) drove three vehicles and stormed into Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Han Qichun's home in Dunhan Village, Shahe Town. They arrested Mr. Han Qichun (who is nearly 70 years old) and two other practitioners, Mr. Song Hongjun and Mr. Zhang Dengle.

Inside the Shahe Town Police Station, agents beat Mr. Han Qichun brutally, causing him to have difficulty breathing; he passed out several times in one night, and his life was in danger. He was released after his daughter was extorted of ten thousand yuan in cash.

Mr. Song Hongjun was secretly taken to Yantai City brainwashing center after twenty thousand yuan was extorted from his family. Mr. Zhang Dengle was release after his family paid a "fine" of five thousand yuan.

The authorities constantly harass him over the phone, claiming they would take his wife into custody since he himself was not healthy enough to take away. Mr. Han Qichun and his wife were forced to leave home to avoid further mistreatment.