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The Claim About ''Non-Involvement in Politics'' Is a Lie
2004-12-08 00:00

 

 

On July 30, 1999, this correspondent interviewed Yu Ruichen, the former chief of the "Falun Gong" instruction center in Henan Province, and Li Honglin, its deputy chief. Yu Ruichen is a 65-year-old retired worker, while Li Honglin, 40, is an official of an export and import corporation in Henan Province. During the interview, the two senior provincial "Falun Gong" officials, pious followers of Li Hongzhi, expressed their profound repentance and completely disclosed the sinister political ambitions of Li Hongzhi.

"Li Hongzhi in public preached 'truthfulness, benevolence and tolerance' and clamored about practicing 'Falun Gong' for the benefit of oneself and one's family, having nothing to do with politics. These were all lies," Yu Ruichen and Li Honglin regretfully recalled. "At first, we practiced 'Falun Gong' in order to improve our health. Although we had some doubts about Li Hongzhi's wild ideas, we practiced 'Falun Gong' earnestly. Later, we found that his claim that 'Falun Gong' had 'nothing to do with politics' was untrustworthy. For example, the theory and organizational system of 'Falun Gong,' established on the basis of absolute obedience to Li Hongzhi, had many characteristics of a political organization. Li Hongzhi preached that he was 'God,' Buddha with the greatest supernatural power, the sole 'savior' of mankind, and that his words were 'laws' and his writings, 'scriptures.' With tight control over his followers' thoughts and acts, he utilized the innocent practitioners' desire to find cures for their illnesses to put pressure on the government. For instance, in Tangyin County, the birthplace of Yue Fei, a national hero of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), Li Hongzhi asked the local department in charge of cultural relics to set up a stone tablet bearing an inscription by him in front of the Temple to Yue Fei. When this request was turned down, Li instigated his followers to besiege the local government office.

"During the past two years, articles have been published criticizing 'Falun Gong' and exposing the serious harm it has caused. In response, Li Hongzhi organized his followers to besiege media and publishing establishments and government organs. The siege of Zhongnanhai, the seat of the Central Government in Beijing, completely exposed Li Hongzhi's political ambition to challenge the government, using the fanaticism of his followers. 'Give up tolerance and have contempt for death,' he urged them. 'Then you will become deities; otherwise, you will remain ordinary mortals.' He even threatened 'Falun Gong' practitioners who were reluctant to engage in sieges: 'When I demand that you abandon others, if you do not follow me you will be lost for ever.' The besieging of Zhongnanhai by 'Falun Gong' practitioners caused a tremor of revulsion to run through society. However, from his refuge abroad, Li Hongzhi praised this law-breaking action: 'The practitioners of Beijing did very good work. They are deities, and not mortals any longer.' So how can we believe that 'Falun Gong' has nothing to do with politics?"

The two former heads of "Falun Gong" organizations in Henan Province were deeply sorry for their misdeeds. They warned other people, using themselves as examples: "We disappointed our government and all the people who showed concern for us, for our blindness was used by that schemer Li Hongzhi. All good and honest people must see through the plot of Li Hongzhi, and shun 'Falun Gong' as resolutely as they would shun a deadly drug!"

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