Epochtimes Editorial
Two significant events occurred in the twentieth century. One was the rise and fall of communism and the other was the development of the concept of human rights.
The founding of the communist ideology is significant not only because of its staying power — it has lasted nearly a hundred years and killed eight million people during its development — but the fact that Marxism was employed at all has had a major repercussion on humankind. It is evident that the power of communism has withered away in the last ten years. However, there are still regimes that insist on the communist ideology even though history has proven that it opposes humanity and freedom.
Political ideology and human rights must reach a common understanding. An example of an ideology gone wrong is Nazism, which left behind a bloody history. People stood up and proclaimed that human life must be respected. Many countries vowed: “Never Again!” Guided by international law, the United Nations’ historical documents such as the “International Human Rights Constitution” and the “Convention Opposing Genocide” set the tone of the importance of respecting human rights in society.
However, at the turn of the century, human beings are again experiencing a test and we are forced to ask if genocide exists in today’s society? Given the preponderous amount of evidence we must answer yes.
A large-scale persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is happening in China right now. To justify the government’s brutal actions, they conveniently labeled Falun Gong a “cult” and banned the practice in 1999. People’s freedom of belief are deprived daily. If individuals insist on practicing Falun Gong they will be arrested, beaten, sent to brainwashing classes, mental hospitals, and labor camps. For many, the torture that they have received has led to death. This persecution has directly affected a hundred million people as well as their families and friends.
How have the people of the world responded?
Unfortunately, at the beginning of the persecution, most media outlets were unaware of what Falun Gong is, and took the slanderous words crafted by the Chinese Communist Party as the truth. The media not only kept people unaware of the human rights violations, but also helped the Chinese Communist Party to mislead the public.
Falun Gong practitioners have continually used peaceful appeals to expose the persecution. Gradually, television and newspaper outlets began reporting on groups of Falun Gong practitioners on Tiananmen Square who were beaten and arrested by police for just shouting, “Falun Dafa is good!” The world finally is getting to know, little by little, about Falun Gong’s peaceful resistance and becoming more aware of Jiang Zemin’s cruel and ridiculous suppression of Falun Gong.
The second year of the persecution was also the last year of the twentieth century. Countries verbally denounced the persecution, but they still didn’t take any strong action. They conducted business as usual while turning a blind eye to China’s human rights violations. As Jiang Zemin was carrying out his policy of genocide, such as reporting the deaths of tortured Falun Gong practitioners as suicides, confiscating money and possessions of practitioners, and using inhumane torture techniques, the international vow of “never again” remained just empty words as it was announced that the 2008 Olympics would be held in Beijing.
Posting date: 8/Jan/2004
Original article date: 7/Jan/2004
Category: Media Report
