Australian Financial Review
Page 52
I am an ordinary Australian with no Chinese background or connection. Yet I
have had some experience of Falun Gong (“ Falun Gong claims are
groundless”, AFR Letters, June 25).
I first touched on it out of curiosity. Why were these people being
persecuted in China? Later I read the teachings of Li Hongzhi and practised
the exercises.
The philosophy is pretty simple. Try to live your life using the principles
of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance.
Do the exercises, do not get involved in politics and help other interested
people learn Falun Gong, making sure that all is done free of charge.
It is emphasised that it is not a religion nor religious sect, there is no
hierarchy and therefore no organisation as such. Pretty simple.
The people I met in the practice groups are all kind, rational, likeable,
everyday sort of people. No mental illness, no hidden agenda, no evil cult.
All are concerned with the human rights abuses, the deaths and the
imprisonment of family, friends and other Falun Gong participants that have
taken place inside China over the last three years now.
The real situation is slowly emerging and right-minded people around the
world are seriously questioning what is going on.
The letter from Feng Tie of the Chinese Embassy is reminiscent of the sort
of material written by the Nazi political machine in Germany 60-plus years
ago. It is threatening and the use of terms like notorious, evil cult, pack
of lies, heretical fallacies are not supported by the actions of Falun Gong
people both in Australia and in many other countries.
I have seen no evidence of people “murdering their children or parents”
nor forcing participants not to seek medical help when falling ill. If
anything, I have seen and heard to the contrary and can quote examples.
I also see their only tools in protesting against the atrocities going on in
mainland China are peaceful, law-abiding and open demonstrations coupled
with explanations of what Falun Gong is about.
It concerns me that China in a few years is to host the Olympic Games, when
world attention will be focused there.
If China is seeking world acceptance as host of the Olympics, then the
stance embraced by Feng would have to take a major turn and the injustices
being carried out against Falun Gong rectified with truth, compassion and
tolerance.
He also misses one simple fact. There are Falun Gong practitioners in
countries all over the world. China is the only country persecuting them.
Peter MacDonald,
Fulham Gardens, SA.
Posting date: 30/June/2003
Original article date: 30/June/2003
Category: Media Report
