A CRISIS OF FAITH

July 30, 1999
		This week the Chinese government demanded that the U.S. extradite the leader of Chinese meditation group Falun Gong. After a background report, Liu Xiaoming of the Chinese Embassy discusses China's actions toward the spritual group. Then Erping Zhang, a volunteer spokesman for Falun Gong, discusses his organization's views and their impact in China.

July 30, 1999: A Falun Gong spokesman defends the spiritual group. July 23, 1999: China begins crackdown on Falun Gong. July 23, 1999: Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa on Taiwan and the one-country, two-systems policy. June 12, 1998: Anson Chan discusses Hong Kong's relationship with China. May 25, 1998: Martin Lee on Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement. Sept. 11, 1997: Pro-democracy activist Emily Lau criticizes Hong Kong's government. Sept. 10, 1997: A conversation with Hong Kong's chief executive. July 25, 1997: Hong Kong's housing crisis tests its relationship with China. July 3, 1997: Our correspondents in Hong Kong answer your questions about the handover and the territory's future. June 30, 1997: A panel discussion on the meaning of the Hong Kong handover. May 17, 1996: A discussion on U.S. - China relations March 26, 1996: Taiwan holds its first democratic elections. Browse the NewsHour's coverage of Asia.	ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: One week after China banned a popular spiritual movement known as Falun Gong, the Chinese government yesterday demanded the arrest and extradition of the group's leader, Li Hongzhi, shown here in a video made by his organization. Li was born and raised in China, but now lives in New York. He founded Falun Gong, which draws on Buddhism, Taoism, and ancient Chinese practices of channeling energy within the body, in 1992. The group says its goals are physical and mental fitness and high moral standards, and denies any religious or political role. Falun Gong also rejects being described as a sect. The group claims its practitioners include as many as 100 million people in China, a figure disputed by the Chinese government. Practitioners had regularly gathered in parks to meditate and exercise. But last week, the government banned such gatherings on the grounds that the group is "a threat to political order." Yesterday in Washington, more than 400 Falun Gong supporters met outside the Capitol to protest the Chinese government's demand for their leader's arrest.
	A call for extradition
	ERPING ZHANG, Falun Gong Practitioner: This is based on fabricated evidence. Mr. Li is a permanent resident of the United States, and we are calling on the U.S. Government, a world leader in human rights, as well as the international community, to protect the safety and the security of Mr. Li Hongzhi and his family. ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: The Chinese government called on INTERPOL, the International Police Organization, to capture Li. But the State Department said the U.S. would not turn him over. The U.S. has no extradition treaty with China. Last week, as the Chinese government stepped up its crackdown against the group, State Department spokesman James Rubin expressed concern. JAMES RUBIN, U.S. State Department Spokesman: We are disturbed by reports of the ban, and of some heavy- handed tactics being used to prevent Chinese citizens from exercising internationally protected fundamental rights and freedoms, particularly the freedom of expression, association and assembly, and thought, conscience, and religion. ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: Meanwhile, Chinese state television is running an almost constant video campaign against the group. Newscasts have run pictures showing the group's literature and audio cassettes being crushed by a steamroller. State media have reported such scenes from across the country, as publishing houses and Chinese citizens empty their Falun Gong literature into the streets for destruction. Authorities said they have destroyed more than 1.5 million books and other materials from the group. The crackdown followed demonstrations that began last April, when more than 10,000 people gathered in Beijing at the government leader's compound, known as Zhing Nanhai. It was the largest public assembly in the Chinese capital since the Tiananmen Square demonstrations a decade ago.
	The Chinese government's position
	ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: Today in Beijing arrests of Falun Gong practitioners continued. The Associated Press reported police arrested around 20 people outside Zhing Nanhai, the government leader's compound, one man was beaten, fought back, and was eventually bundled onto a bus. We will hear from a representative of Falun Gong in a few minutes, but now we will turn to Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese embassy's number two diplomat. Thank you very much for being with us. Why is this happening? Explain why the arrests and the outlawing of the organization. LIU XIAOMING, Chinese Embassy: Because this is an illegal organization which has no -- any official registration status, like in this country when you want to establish organization, you have to go through normal legal procedures. ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: Okay. I want you to go on but they tried to get legal status, didn't they? They're illegal because they haven't gotten legal status from the government? LIU XIAOMING: They -- according to our information, they never have any official approval for setting up organization because even today they refuse to recognize, they refuse to recognize that they have a movement, they have organization. They simply say we have no organization whatever, but, in fact, this is a very well organized group. Li Hongzhi set up 39 teaching centers throughout the country and under these 39 teaching centers there are about 1,900 practicing stations, and under this 1,900 practicing stations, there are about 28,000 practicing areas, so it's a very well organized group.
	Has Falun Gong engaged in illegal activities?
	ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: And is that a crime to be a well organized group, or is it something this group is doing? LIU XIAOMING: That's very much so. It's because they have engaged in illegal activities, like harassing governmental agencies, harassing media unit, whoever have a different, you know, view with them, they will subject them to harassment, to the siege. And they also, you know, tried, they also block the traffic, disrupting the public order. In fact, all these facts violate the criminal code of China, so that's why Li was wanted, you know, by the Chinese security department. And just here in this country when you want to put up demonstrations in city, you have to register with the police department. I know that during the bombing -- after the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia, Chinese community want to demonstrate, you know, in front of Capitol Hill, in front of White House, they have to register with the police department; they have to wait even for weeks, but, you know, these organizations mobilize 10,000 strong to besiege the seat of the government, to besiege the -- you know, the newspaper headquarters. ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: You're referring to the demonstration April 25th outside the government compound and also a demonstration outside of a newspaper, right? Now the pictures of that demonstration were of people standing and meditating, but you call it a besieging? LIU XIAOMING: They're sitting in front of the entry of the government agencies, just like if you have 10,000 people sitting in White House, blocking the traffic, interrupting public order, what U.S. police is going to do with them? ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: Okay. Mr. Liu, also the Chinese government has charged this organization with practices that have led to people's deaths. Could you explain that? LIU XIAOMING: Very much so. In fact, Li Hongzhi, you know, this organization is not, you know, practicing so-called meditation. In fact, they are spreading superstitions. You know, Li Hongzhi, portrayed himself as greatest Buddha. In fact, he changed his birth date. ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: As who? LIU XIAOMING: Li Hongzhi, the head of the organization, changed his birth date -- ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: Yes. You said he portrayed himself as somebody. LIU XIAOMING: No. Portrayed himself as the reincarnation of Sakimony. ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: Okay. LIU XIAOMING: He changed his birth date to coincide with Sakimony, the founder of Buddhism. So that you know he defined himself as a god, so his follower -- and he also in his book he propagates the so-called global explosion, the world doomsday. So he said, you know, the world is going to have a third global explosion so all the things now in the world is evil. You can only listen to me. Then he can help you to the high level of paradise. So, in fact, he signed like a life-and-death contract with his followers so many people were driven to insanity, instability and even death according to our accounts. There are about 730 or 743 people died as a result of practicing Falun Gong.
	Disputing the government's accusations
	ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: Now their Internet, the group's Internet has put out a fact sheet disputing these government allegations. And they say that people who have died, for example, who did not seek medical treatment but rather used the Falun Gong methods, did so on their own, that that is not Falun Gong practice. The group also denies that there's any talk about end of the millennium, end of the world kind of thing. They say the government is not telling the truth about this. What is your response to that? LIU XIAOMING: You can read the books, written by Li Hongzhi. Everything is in black and white. People can read, can make their judgments from reading his books. And also they claim that, you know, the people practice these things on their own. Basically that is what is, you know, fabricated in Li Hongzhi's books. So as I said, the followers have a strong belief in his fallacies, so some people become insane. So some people kill their dear ones, kill themselves, do not take medicines. So, you know, this Falun Gong really should be held responsible for the death of the Falun Gong followers. ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: And, finally, Mr. Liu very, very briefly, what do you want the United States to do? LIU XIAOMING: We hope that the United States will understand what is going on in China and will make a positive response to the request of Chinese public security for, you know, to bring Li Hongzhi back to China on trial because he's a criminal. He is suspected of a criminal act so we hope we can have this kind of cooperation. ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: All right. Thank you very much for being with us.