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Falun Gong comments spark alarm

Practitioner
Falun Gong claims the Chinese Government has killed 222 practitioners  


By CNN's Kirsty Alfredson

HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- Hong Kong's Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa has stepped up his criticism of the Falun Gong, mimicking China's line by calling it "an evil cult".

The spiritual movement is outlawed on mainland China but is tolerated in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the 'one Country, two systems' policy.

The comments have alarmed human rights activists who are concerned Hong Kong may move to limit religious freedom and tow China's line.

The Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor group said it was gravely concerned by Tung's comments.

"The only plausible reason for Tung's escalating attacks is to appease Beijing, which recently stepped up its repression of the Falun Gong," said Law Yuk kai, the group's director.

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Speaking in the Legislative Council on Thursday, Tung said, "The Falun Gong is in no doubt an evil cult."

"It is very well organized, has bountiful financial resources, and is a political organization," he said, adding the government is studying the law of other countries in dealing with cults.

"I don't think this is the time to enact a law as we have not arrived at that stage yet."

The comments were carried by China's official news agency Xinhua.

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Law said if the criteria for an evil cult were that it was organized with financial resources, then the Government must brand the Catholic Church, as well as other organizations, evil cults.

"Such criteria are totally arbitrary and it was irresponsible for Tung make such a statement," he said.

"Most effective organizations would aspire to the first two characteristics. It is generally accepted that when necessary organizations will engage in a political manner to combat the oppression or repression of its members."

Concern over religious freedoms

Legislative Councilor Cyd Ho also raised concerns over the chief executive's comments that the Falun Gong would be monitored closely.

She said the major reason for any suppression was that its existence threatened the rule of the Beijing Government.

"There are many non-mainstream religious group in China but none of them can mobilize thousands of people to encircle Tiananmen Square, and none of them can organize persistent protests against the Beijing Government."

She said Tung's statement was damaging the freedoms of religion and assembly.

In the legislative council, Tung was asked by Albert Ho from the Democratic Party whether there was solid evidence to support the claim that the Falun Gong is "an evil sect".

Tung said, "If you had seen the self-burning incidents at Tiananmen Square you would have arrived at the same conclusion."

The Falun Gong has consistently denied that seven people, including a 12 year old girl, who set themselves alight on January 23 were members of the group.

The tough stance by Tung comes as the Falun Gong claims a women died in a Chinese detention center. The Falun Gong say that 222 practitioners have been killed in police custody.

The Falun Gong also maintains that a female practitioner on Thursday was beaten and raped by a plainclothes policeman in Beijing after she posted Falun Gong fliers.

The Falun Gong web site showed pictures of the woman's bruised body.





RELATED STORIES:
RELATED SITES:
• Falun Info Net
• Xinhua News Service

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