This is a modern-time story of the most monumental clash between the crushing power of a tyrannical state and traditional values of its people. Also the most under-reported story of its kind. Over night, a nation of over a billion people was forced to choose a side… With the totalitarian, communist regime on one hand, or the values of Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance on the other. This life-threatening choice brought the entire country to another round of cultural revolution. Casualties still counting.
The persecution of Falun Gong is ongoing till this day.
Ancient Roots of Falun Gong
The ancients believed that through disciplined spiritual practice a person is capable of transcending ordinary, material existence. They sought a higher state of being, free of suffering and the illusions of the mundane world. Attaining such a state required moral rectitude, letting go of earthly desires, and the use of meditation practices to improve mind and body. Numerous disciplines arose, offering paths for spiritual growth. Many were quietly passed down over the ages from masters to disciples…
Falun Gong arises out of this lineage and is adapted for a modern lifestyle. Introduced to the public in 1992, Falun Gong became an instant sensation in China.
The Rise of Falun Gong
After the communists took over China in 1949, they spent decades demonizing and violently rooting out all Chinese culture and traditional thought, with an aim to replace it with Marxism and communism. When Falun Gong—a Buddhist spiritual practice—was introduced to the public there, it became an instant sensation. Not only was it a direct continuation of traditional Chinese culture, but due to its remarkable health benefits, in just a few years, 100 million people started to learn the practice. From farmers to university professors, from army officials to top government leaders, Falun Gong became the most popular qigong practice in China’s history.
And that prompted a few communist leaders to lash out…
Terror Unleashed Across China
It began in the middle of the night, July 20, 1999. Across China under the veil of darkness, police dragged Chinese citizens from their beds. Many would be taken to holding centers and jails, others beaten, and some would die from torture.
The Chinese Communist Party ordered nationwide book burnings, publishing bans, and ransacking of homes to destroy all Falun Gong instructional materials. State-owned enterprises, schools, and government offices started mandatory re-education sessions to root out the spiritual practice and reinforce communist ideology. Propaganda saturated state-run media, demonizing the practice.
Millions of innocent people in China have been fired from their jobs, expelled from school, jailed, tortured, or killed simply for practicing Falun Gong.
Why the Persecution?
The CCP is a Totalitarian Regime — it wants all public and private life under its absolute control. Any independent force in society — be it political, religious, judicial, or other, has to be brought under its control, or becomes the enemy.
Falun Gong’s Massive Popularity and Rapid Growth — Falun Gong outnumbered the CCP membership in only six years after introduced to public. CCP’s own official estimates stated 70-100 million people were learning Falun Gong at the time.
Falun Gong’s Absolute Freedom and Independence— In 1996, the CCP pressured Falun Gong to establish a Communist Party branch and charge fees for the practice. In response, Falun Gong withdrew from the state-run qigong association, as Mr. Li (the founder) wanted to keep the practice free of political influence, keep it free of charge, and also just a personal practice that doesn’t have formal membership.
Falun Gong’s Guiding Principles Incompatible with Communist, Atheist Ideology — Falun Gong’s teaching reintroduced the ancient wisdom of spiritual development, belief in the divine, and traditional values. Together with the core tenets of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, the teachings were the exact opposite of communist atheist culture that rules through deceit and struggle.
Politburo Leader’s Political Motivations — CCP leaders of the past would often use violent campaigns against Chinese society as a method of strengthening their own power within the Party. Unpopular and seen as only temporary leader, Jiang used persecution of Falun Gong as his own power grab.
Falun Gong’s size and independence of thought, but also CCP’s inability to subdue Falun Gong made some CCP leaders fearful.
From Crackdown to Genocide — Targeting 100 Million People.
“Eliminate them in 3 months, any means necessary”. all deaths considered suicides.
“Defame their reputations. Bankrupt them financially. And destroy them physically!”
Establishing China’s Gestapo — Jiang needed a new chain of command to carry out the persecution. Falun Gong has become too popular in society, and that included party cadres, army and police officers, and even the judicial system. Jiang distrustful of the established legal system established “610 Office” with the goal to eradicate Falun Gong. The bureau stood outside China’s legal framework, it was given unparalleled powers, and eventually had become notorious for its torture methods; breaking bodies and minds of practitioners.
The Cost of Tyranny — In 2001, a report from the Party’s Public Security Department revealed that, at just the one place of Tiananmen Square, the expense of arresting Falun Gong practitioners was up to 2.5 million yuan per day, which amounts to almost 910 million yuan ($132M) per year.
“The financial resources used to deal with Falun Gong have exceeded the outlay for a war.”
PERSECUTION IN NUMBERS
While it is not possible to know the exact numbers of people detained, tortured, or killed for their Falun Gong practice in China (such figures are considered a “state secret”), several indicators suggest that
— several million detained
— hundreds of thousands tortured
— thousands confirmed killed by torture
— “hundreds of thousands” killed for organs
Organ Harvesting
Organ transplants skyrocketed in China shortly after the persecution started, with tens of thousands of organ sources unexplained each year.
In 2019, an international tribunal in London concluded that Falun Gong have been killed for their vital organs “on a significant scale.”
The Facts:
– before and after persecution
– state websiste promoting
– huge numbers of unexplained donors
– calls to hospitals, doctors admitting falun gong
– number of beds, growth of hospitals
– short promise times
– multiple organs offered when one failed
– doctors admitting
Peaceful Resistance in China
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CCP Attacks on the world -- Transnational Agression.
China actions text goes here.
Peaceful Resistance Around the World
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