A year has passed since the 4-25-99 event. When Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) and we, Falun Dafa practitioners, suffered from the groundless slander and unjust treatment, with some practitioners even jailed and detained, we have endured all these severe sufferings in our bodies and hearts. We (especially the practitioners outside Beijing) have been to Beijing to fearlessly make numerous appeals in the most peaceful and benevolent way. We have been trying to make the central government leaders and related Departments understand Falun Gong and the true story of our cultivation. We hoped they would get to know the unfair persecution of Falun Gong practitioners all over the country. We hoped they could listen to our voice and investigate the whole situation so as to change their attitude and policy. But till now the Falun Dafa practitioners are still unjustly treated and the hat of "evil cult" is still put on Falun Gong as well as the heads of our practitioners.
We are always enduring the sufferings with tolerance and non-violence. That does not mean we fear anything, or we have no idea of the related Constitution and laws. The purpose of this article is to present to the people of our country and throughout the world that declaration of "Falun Gong is an evil cult" is neither congruent with the facts nor accordant with the enactment in the Constitution of the People's Republic of China. Detention or arrest of Falun Gong practitioners is against the laws. Additionally, this delinquent or illegal action is against the common logic also, which is a national-wide abuse of the law and has affected a large number of people. In terms of the severity of persecution, no case in history could be comparable.
Falun Gong is a cultivation method in the Buddha School of Qigong. Mr. Li Hongzhi brought it to the public in May 1992. Since then it has been well-received and beloved by practitioners all over the world. Its spreading is very rapid. As of July 1999, it was estimated that some 100 million people practiced Falun Gong. Why has this happened? The reason is that Falun Dafa directly points to one's heart; it requires cultivation of Xinxing [heart and mind nature; moral standard]; it asks one to have good conduct in society; and it upgrades the moral level of mankind. Teacher Li admonished us that "If you want to be a good cultivator, you should be a good person first." Also Teacher Li points out: "The root of unhappiness is human being's demoralization." "The fundamental way out for the human race is to cultivate morality throughout the world." "Dafa [great law] could improve the moral level and bring happiness to an area, a nation, a country, and even to the entire mankind." Because we all have the will to be a good person and worry about deterioration of human morality, our Teacher's words are echoed in our hearts. After we learned Falun Gong, we began to know the universal principles and we are strict with ourselves. In addition, we have sensed the power of Dafa. We, true practitioners, improve our health and free from any diseases. Falun Dafa is truly the right law, which can benefit both cultivators and the general public alike, and help upgrade the moral standard of mankind.
In terms of such a good Qigong exercise like Falun Gong, most people could understand it while some others could not. When the number of practitioners becomes more and more, some government departments could not understand it either. Teacher Li predicted that, "Just because we act in such a right way, all the ways that are not right, less right, or not so perfect in the society would consider us as an obstacle to them, perhaps because we have revealed their weakness." Nevertheless, it is only a small number of people, not the majority, who is really damaging Dafa.
After the peaceful gathering on April 25,1999, President Jiang Zeming was extremely shocked and angry. He believed in the lies told by some Public Security officials. Having little idea about the facts of Falun Gong, he vowed: "I could not believe that the atheistic Communism could not defeat Falun Gong." Just these simple words pushed more than 100 million practitioners to the opposite side of the Party and the government. Then a lot of people were sent out to collect the so-called evidence on the "crimes" of Falun Gong and Teacher Li. This method of first drawing a conclusion or verdict on something and then seeking testimony to prove the conclusion breaches the principles of the Communist Party.
On July 22, 1999, after a lot of Falun Gong assistants were detained and the preparation for jailing the practitioners who went to appeal was done, the government declared to abrogate Falun Gong. Then, the Department of Public Security announced six regulations against Falun Gong. Since then, a national suppression on Falun Gong practitioners began. At the same time, media such as CCTV, People Daily, etc. launched a nation-wide smear campaign against Falun Gong and Teacher Li Hongzhi. It continued more than one month.
On October 25, 1999, when interviewed by a reporter in France, President Jiang alleged that: "Falun Gong was an evil cult harmful to the society and people." On October 27 and 28, 1999, CCTV and People Daily broadcast and published an editorial article entitled "Falun Gong - An evil cult". Then, the Department of Public Security and the Police used this as the basis to suppress Falun Gong practitioners who showed up to appeal. The persecution on Falun Dafa practitioners has been worsening since.
As most people are skeptical and unhappy about the widespread detention and imprisonment of Falun Gong practitioners, the Department of Justice published a book Abrogate Evil Cult Organization and Prevent and Punish Evil Cult Activity. The Department of Justice is a body for implementing the laws. Without a proper trial and verdict, it has no authority to denounce Falun Gong as a cult. However, they did it. The book they published is full of distortion, lies and slander trying to confuse the general public so as to legalize the government's suppression of Falun Gong practitioners.
The infraction of the Constitution by slandering Falun Gong could not cheat the people. First, let's have a look at the announcement from the Public Security. The Department of Public Security is a governmental body for carrying out the enactment of laws. It has authority to declare some announcement but it has no authority to disqualify Falun Gong. It has no authority to deprive the rights for freedom of belief or gathering and the rights to appeal which are endowed by the Constitution, as tenured by 100 million Falun Gong practitioners. The ban of "group gathering" by the Department limited our freedom, infracted Article 37 of the Constitution. The ban of appeals bereaves us of our rights of making suggestions and comments to the National Government and its officials. This infracted Article 41 of the Constitution.
As a President, without any supportive decision from the Congressional Committee, Jiang Zemin abruptly announced to the world that Falun Gong was an evil cult. According to Article 5 and Article 80 of the Constitution, the President has no authority to decide by himself alone and render legal opinion on any important issues that require congressional resolution. President Jiang's words overran the authority endowed to him by the Constitution. It is illegal and not accordant with the principle of democratic centralism and most importantly it is not based on facts.
As for the editorial article "Falun Gong - An Evil Cult" in the People Daily on October 27, 1999 and other reports against Falun Gong, people who understand the tricks by the government know these are simply the "fabricated public opinion". It could not serve as the evidence and basis for executing the laws. What should be pointed out is that those reports were not telling the truth due to their bias of assuming something evil beforehand and the lost authenticity of the report. The practice of the government is that any articles vituperating Falun Gong and stigmatizing Master Li would be welcomed and published without asking it is true or not. On the other hand, there is even no single word about the numerous cases of regaining health through practicing Falun Gong. It is a shameful failure in the Chinese history of media reporting.
In the document Definition of Application of Law on Manipulating Crime by Evil Cult passed by the Highest Court and the Highest Prosecutions Falun Gong was not referred to specifically. This showed that the two highest legal authorities knew that they had no clear picture to qualify or disqualify Falun Gong.
On October 30, 1999, The resolution on Abrogating Evil Cult Organization, Prevent and Punish Evil Cult Activity passed by the Standing Committee of the People's Congress did not refer to Falun Gong either. This means that the Committee, which has the authority of legislation and making decision on important issues of national impact, does not consider Falun Gong as an evil cult. Just like what Teacher Li had said, in every walk of life there are good people who know what is right and what is wrong.
In conclusion, up to date, there is no legal basis in China to conclude that Falun Gong is an evil cult. The remark of the Chinese national leader was only his personal opinion. The documents from some national organizations and articles in some media are just fabricated reports and/or intentional distortion. They are groundless and misleading. The labeling of "Falun Gong being an evil cult" is the truthful. It should not be used as a legal basis for police, prosecutors, or court to rule on the cases related to Falun Gong. After all, Falun Gong is not a religion, let alone a cult and by no means an evil cult either.
According to the Constitution, only the National People's Congress and the Standing Committee of the People's Congress have the authority to legislate, revise and define law and enact their authority on important issues. Such an important issue, such as designing Falun Gong as an evil cult, which may impact the politics of the country, actually should be passed by the National People's Congress. It is irresponsible to let the media pass the sentence on the case of Falun Gong.
Since July 22, 1999, the government detained and jailed a great number of Falun Gong practitioners who made peaceful appeals to their local and/or central governments. Lots of practitioners were under surveillance, and some have got fired at work for their insisting on the belief in Falun Gong. All these severely violated the Constitution of China and the laws of the Nation, greatly affected social stability, and badly damaged the image and credibility of the Chinese Government in the international community.
Nowadays, the situation is still worsening. Falun Dafa practitioners have no place to appeal. Is this governing our country by law or by totalitarianism?
No matter how the government treats us, we will adhere to our own belief and be kind to everybody. We will still be a good citizen, abide the law and fulfil our social and legal responsibilities. But it is also our responsibility to restore the reputation of Falun Dafa. We will not cease doing so as long as the hat of evil cult forcefully put to our heads is not removed. Although we may surmount any difficulties doing so, our hearts will be in perfect harmony with "Truthfulness, Benevolence, Forbearance ", which will not be changed. We have no complaint about the sufferings that we are enduring. These tribulations are tests for us to see how firm we are in Falun Dafa. And it will establish a great virtue for Falun Dafa. We will continue to explain this to our leaders and relatives. Our appeals, letters, and data are not only to clarify facts for protecting the laws in China and the justice in the world, but also to protect the universal principles as disclosed by Falun Dafa.
Original Chinese text written by a Falun Dafa Practitioner in Beijing
April 20, 2000
(Translated May 3, 2000)
Category: Perspective
