Religious repression
Falun Gong
The crackdown on the Falun Gong organisation is the largest repression of dissent since the June 1989 massacres in Tienanmin square. Zhang Kai
According to the People's Daily (July 24) editorial, "this is a severe ideological and political pertinent to the fundamental beliefs of Communists, pertinent to the fundamental ideological basis of the solidarity of the people of the whole country, and pertinent to the future and destiny of our Party and the state."
This amazing exaggeration of the influence of Falun Gong, a meditation and exercise society, reveals the gross fear of the CCP leadership towards anything that could destabilise its rule, or bring about "the end of the Party and the state"
Falun Gong activities began in 1992, and spread quickly. Estimates of the number of practitioners range from 10 to 100 million. (No-one believes Li Baoku, Deputy Minister of Civil Affairs, who claims the sect has only two million followers).
A government report on Falun Gong showed an extensive network, with 39 provincial headquarters, over 1,900 support stations in counties and cities all over the country, and over 28,000 local groups.
The government has waged a propaganda war against Falun Gong, denouncing it for its illegal and violent activities and harmful effects. The authorities allege that from April 1998 to July 1999, there were 19 cases of massive crowd-gathering to "besiege and attack" government offices and propaganda institutions. On April 25, without any warning, over 10,000 practitioners of Falun Gong "besieged" the Zhongnanhai government complex in Beijing, to demand legal recognition.
Official sources also allege that
BE A Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong, amassed at least RMB 1.2m. (US$ 150,000) in 1993 and 1994 through selling books and teaching Falun Gong practice. Penetrating the CPP itself
The Falun Gong is perceived as a threat because it is not a religion that the CCP feels it can contain and control. On the contrary, CCP members and even high-ranking officials have been recruited into the sect. Official confirm Shijiazhuan, Hebei Province, 1,200 current or retired cadres above the rank of department chief are under house arrest, and
2o rank-and-file Party members and cadres have been told to withdraw from the Falun • The popularity of Falun Gong reflects the general social polarisation, unemployment, disillusionment and accumulating grievances in Chinese society. Heavy handed repression drives frustration underground, but cannot eliminate it. Party leaders are not sure that they will succeed in repressing Falun Dong. "All levels of Party china * structures should fully recognise the complexity and arduousness of this struggle, a top-level document warns. "There shoul be adequate estimate of what may possibly happen after Li Hongzhi and his Falun Gong are revealed and criticised. There should be serious preparations, watching out for the develop ments, and in case of serious happenings, they should be promptly discovered, reported controlled and resolved in order to secure social and political stability." Crackdown on dissent
Similar anxieties provoked the CCP's crackdown on dissidents before and after the tenth anniversary of June Fourth. According to the China Human Rights
Democratic Movement Information Centre, at least 140 dissidents were arrested for their preparatory work in commemorating the June Fourth anniversary. In Hanzhou city, 100 members of the Democratic Party applied to hold a commemorative gathering in a public park, the application was rejected, and 20 people were arrested; 50 people nevertheless gathered in the pavilion of the park for the commemoration. In Sichuan Province, 45 dissidents, against the warning of the authorities, conducted a hunger candlelight vigil. In Liaoning Province, 100 dissidents applied to hold a candlelight vigil on
In Hong Kong, the tenth anniversary drew an impressive 70,000 people. Chants included "Rehabilitate the 1989 Democratic Movement!", "Pursue Responsibility for the Massacre!", One-Party Dictatorship!", and "Build Democratic China!" Outside China, thousands of people joined gatherings or demonstrations in major cities in the US, Canada and England The signature campaign initiated by Wang Dan, the 1989 student leader collected over 150,000 signatures by October 1, the fiftieth anniversary of the People's Republic of China. * October Review Vol.26 Issue 3, August 1999, G.P.O.Box 10144, Hong Kong <or@earthling.net
International Viewpoint #315 October 1999 27
USA explained. "It's unacceptable that here we have people working for the city, but who sleep in their cars because they don't earn enough."
97 What they could win
Community activists were experienced enough to know that victory was more likely if they didn't aim too high. So instead of a national campaign, ACORN and Jobs with Justice poured resources into campaigns led by their local chapters. Meanwhile, locally based organizations focused on workers in their own communities.
At the local level, organizers focused on what they thought they could win. Their proposals ranged from US$6.50 to $12.00 an hour, depending on the local cost of living.
Those amounts were not necessarily adequate, says Pollin. "The cur-