China destroys Falun Gong publications

The newspaper devoted most of its front page to what an editorial called a “solemn political thought struggle” in language reminiscent of political campaigns of the 1950s and 1960s.

“We are confident of victory in this struggle, but helping the majority of Falun Gong practitioners transform their thinking will require arduous efforts,” the commentary said.

Authorities were urged to distinguish between ordinary followers and those who organised, led or promoted the sect. “Differentiate between ordinary leaders and the small minority withpolitical motives, behind-the-scenes figures who harbour intent to create chaos, plotters and organisers,” it said.

The group stunned China’s rulers when it surrounded Beijing’s cloistered Zhongnanhai leadership compound on April 25 in a bold protest against perceived persecution by official media.

Beijing ruled Falun Gong illegal on July 22 after thousands of sect members surrounded government offices in 30 Chinese cities in the wake of a crackdown on sect leaders.

It has since rounded up thousands of members — mostly middle-aged women and laid-off workers — a move that drew criticism from human rights groups. They said Beijing was violating both its constitutional guarantees of freedom of assembly and its international human rights commitments.

In an apparent acknowledgement of the criticism, the People’s Daily commentary said the crackdown should “correctly use legal weapons and strictly follow legal procedures”.

Beijing, however, accused Falun Gong earlier this week of engaging in“anti-government” activities and said sect leader Li Hongzhi was attempting to replace the government.

The political label paves the way for stiff prison sentences for Falun Gong leaders, analysts said.

While official estimates put Falun Gong membership at two million people domestically, the sect says it has 100 million members worldwide. China’s ruling communist party has 60 million members.

US-based Li, who preaches a form of meditation blended with Buddhism and Chinese mysticism, says Falun Gong is apolitical and poses no threat to China.

He preaches that science has created an immoral world on the brink of disaster and says adherents can acquire supernatural powers.

China’s state media have spared no efforts to discredit Li, a former trumpet player and grain clerk from northeastern China.

The People’s Daily carried reports today quoting former musical colleagues from the 1970s who called him a mediocre trumpet player, an undistinguished writer and a friendless loner.

The newspaperquoted his former grain office boss, Yan Guowu, as saying: “At work he didn’t even write good reports, so I can never believe he was able to write a book”.