APPENDIX
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
ON FALUN
GONG AND
THE PERSECUTION
IN CHINA
Falun Gong is a development of a very ancient
Chinese traditional discipline of spiritual development and health
improvement. It was introduced to the public in 1992 by Mr Li
Hongzhi, and is centered on the moral qualities of Truth, Compassion
and Tolerance. The movement is non-violent and non-political:
it has no organised structure, hierarchy or membership, has no
central funding and accepts no financial contributions. Falun
Gong has five sets of gentle meditative exercises which benefit
the body and mind.
The Communist Party became concerned at the
rapid growth of Falun Gong when the numbers of practitioners (up
to 100 million) outstripped the membership of Communist Party.
Plans were then made over a number of years for suppression, culminating
in a nationwide ban in 1999, which marked the start of a brutal
persecution that has continued to date.
The severe persecution is sustained by a hugely
resourced nationwide structure—the 6.10 Office—established
by the former head of the Chinese regime, Jiang Zemin with powers
to override legal processes and utilise any official resources
to suppress Falun Gong. The campaign of terror has been accompanied
by continuous propaganda to demonise Falun Gong, through the control
of media at home and by embassies and consulates abroad.
Falun Gong Association (UK)
12 December 2004
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