China Tightening Control Over Tibet

DanaC · 08-20-2006, 04:26 PM

Thats a very good question Bruce.

The lady in question began Falun Gong, because she had very bad health problems. After practising for a year or so, her health was much improved. At the time when she began practising, the Chinese government were wholly supportive of the practice and actively encouraged people to take it up due to the profound health benefits which were being reported.

Unfortunately when it became clear that there were roughly twice as many people following this practice as there were in the Communist party, they began to see it as a potential threat.

They banned its practice and brought in draconian measures against it.

The people who had been practising it were bemused by this. When reports began to circulate about the 'evil' practices of this 'dangerous sect', They (rather naively)thought the government must have been given wrong information and a large contingent of them went to beijing to tell the government the truth, to show them that they weren't the evil people they'd been painted as. They were arrested. Many disappeared, \many were tortured. Then the over 60s were released, including this woman.

She stopped practising. Her health began to fail again, she took it up again secretly. Someone ( a neighbour she thinks) grassed on her and she was rearrested.

Her experiences radicalised her as they did many others. She lost many friends during the initial crackdown. Some are still in prison ( sentenced to three years, released then rearrested as they leave and sentenced again). The state media has conducted an onslaught , discrediting the practice and the people who follow it. Those who did not know much about it now think these people are wicked and traitorous and to be feared and hated. This lady and a few others conducted a secret leaflet campaign to try and get the truth out. She became dangerous and was treated as a threat. Incredibly brave woman. Doesn't look like much. Just a small woman with a very quiet demeanour and a lot of dead freinds.

08-20-2006, 04:26 PM	#16
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Thats a very good question Bruce. The lady in question began Falun Gong, because she had very bad health problems. After practising for a year or so, her health was much improved. At the time when she began practising, the Chinese government were wholly supportive of the practice and actively encouraged people to take it up due to the profound health benefits which were being reported. Unfortunately when it became clear that there were roughly twice as many people following this practice as there were in the Communist party, they began to see it as a potential threat. They banned its practice and brought in draconian measures against it. The people who had been practising it were bemused by this. When reports began to circulate about the 'evil' practices of this 'dangerous sect', They (rather naively)thought the government must have been given wrong information and a large contingent of them went to beijing to tell the government the truth, to show them that they weren't the evil people they'd been painted as. They were arrested. Many disappeared, \many were tortured. Then the over 60s were released, including this woman. She stopped practising. Her health began to fail again, she took it up again secretly. Someone ( a neighbour she thinks) grassed on her and she was rearrested. Her experiences radicalised her as they did many others. She lost many friends during the initial crackdown. Some are still in prison ( sentenced to three years, released then rearrested as they leave and sentenced again). The state media has conducted an onslaught , discrediting the practice and the people who follow it. Those who did not know much about it now think these people are wicked and traitorous and to be feared and hated. This lady and a few others conducted a secret leaflet campaign to try and get the truth out. She became dangerous and was treated as a threat. Incredibly brave woman. Doesn't look like much. Just a small woman with a very quiet demeanour and a lot of dead freinds. Last edited by DanaC; 08-20-2006 at 04:31 PM.

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