After CCTV reported the self-immolation of five people on Tiananmen Square, it had an explosive effect in the general public. As a result, some special interviews were held with members of the public about the case. Here are some of the opinions gathered in the interviews.
Peng (self employed): I never watch the news on TV. I only watch programs like movie series. Although I know that the stories are made up, I still learn something from them. Since I know that they are not real, I am free from anxiety. Unlike the movie series, the news on TV is made to look real. In fact, it is also made up to deceive the public. They do this to solidify the status and power of the party's leadership. They claimed that Falun Gong practitioners burnt themselves on Tiananmen Square. This must have been made up by Jiang Zemin in an attempt to justify the suppression. It seems to me that the Falun Gong practitioners will suffer more in the future.
Li (policeman): I don't believe that Falun Gong practitioners would self-immolate. They all try very hard to protect the reputation of Falun Gong. Things like this would seriously damage the image of Falun Gong, and they would never do it. Because of my work, I have come to know many people that practice Falun Gong. They are indeed good people. If everyone were like them, then the society would be stable, and people like me would lose our jobs and go home. However, an ordinary person simple cannot behave as well as they do.
Wang (policeman): In fact, we are just tools of the government. We follow orders from above. However, I think the suppression has gone too far. It has been more than a year since it started, and Falun Gong practitioners have been persecuted too much. It has made me uncomfortable to see the torture. Jiang Zemin is really ruthless. This time, it looks like he will go all out (to carry out the persecution). I don't want to be buried with him. In regard to the self-immolation on Tiananmen Square, it must have been made up. Let's wait and see, the truth will soon be revealed.
Wang (teacher): Our whole family was all very indignant after seeing the TV program (about the self-immolation). I immediately called my cousin who practices Falun Gong. We learned from her that it was another put-up job. One of my colleagues was sent to labor camp for practicing Falun Gong. Under pressure from above, our unit fired him. He takes his personal fame and interests very lightly, and everyone in my unit knows that he is a good person. We all felt that it is unfair to treat them like this.
Chen (government officer): Our unit had a meeting about the self-immolation. The meeting lasted for half a day. Nothing but the standard clichés of "elevate understanding" and "enhance political agility" were discussed at the meeting. However, everyone knows that the "self-immolation" was contrived to allow the persecution to continue. The meeting was merely held for show and to follow the format --- this is the procedure.
Meng (student): The self-immolation cannot be real. There are many Falun Gong practitioners around here, and Falun Gong materials can be seen everywhere. I read through all of them and learned that many people were persecuted to death. It is really tragic. However, all of us admire them a lot. Their solidity and determination made them truly great.
Presented above are transcripts of recent interviews I conducted. The authenticity of people's words has been fully preserved. If there are words that are disrespectful for Falun Gong and Falun Gong practitioners, please send your comments and suggestions. Hopefully, this will be understood.
02/02/2001
Category: Perspective
