USA/CHINA: LI HONGZHI, THE LEADER OF THE FALUN GONG SECT BANNED BY CHINA, SAYS HIS MOVEMENT IS NOT A POLITICAL OPPOSITION FORCE

Record ID: 566000

  • Title: USA/CHINA: LI HONGZHI, THE LEADER OF THE FALUN GONG SECT BANNED BY CHINA, SAYS HIS MOVEMENT IS NOT A POLITICAL OPPOSITION FORCE
  • Date: 24th July 1999
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JULY 23, 1999)(REUTERS) 1. SV/MCU LI HONGZHI DEMONSTRATING EXERCISES PRACTICED BY THE FALUN GONG MOVEMENT (4 SHOTS) 0.24 WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JULY 23, 1999) (REUTERS) 2. SLV/MCU/SV MEMBERS OF THE FALUN GONG MOVEMENT PRACTICING THE GROUP'S SIGNATURE MORNING EXERCISES OUTSIDE THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON (6 SHOTS) 1.14 NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JULY 23, 1999)(REUTERS) 3. MCU (Mandarin) LI HONGZHI SAYING, " I have repeatedly made clear that we do not get involved in politics. I have also asked the practitioners not to get involved in politics,because we are not interested in politics and political power. As a practioner, one should give up such attachment and mentality.It is definitely true that we asked people to be good people, but I don't deny that our what we teach is not in accordance with communist ideology. " 1.46 WASHINGTON,D.C., UNITED STATES (JULY 23, 1999)(REUTERS) 4. SV MEMBERS OF FALUN GONG PRACTICING EXERCISES OUTSIDE CHINESE EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON 2.01 5. CU INTERNET WEB SITE OF FALUNG GONG,SHOWING LI HONGZHI AND URGING FALUN GONG PRACTIONERS IN UNITED STATES TO GATHER IN FRONT OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, IN PROTEST AGAINST ARRESTS OF FALUN GONG PRACTIONERS IN WASHINGTON 2.13 NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JULY 23,1999) (REUTERS) 6. MCU (Mandarin) LI HONGZHI SAYING FALUN GONG PRACTITIONERS IN CHINA HAVE NOT BEEN ENGAGED IN A PROTEST "In fact, it's not a protest, it's that all the practitioners in different regions went to the government to obtain the release of detained practitioners, who had volunteered to help others to learn the practice. They have done nothing criminal. It's just that the government wants to ban the Falun Gong.The practitioners went on their own, spontaneously, to ask the government to release the detained people. 2.44 BEIJING, CHINA (FILE - APRIL 25, 1999) (REUTERS) 7. SLV/SV CROWDS OF FALUN GONG FOLLOWERS GATHERED OUTSIDE THE SECTION OF BEIJING WHERE GOVERNMENT LEADERS RESIDE. THE GATHERING TOOK THE GOVERNMENT BY SURPRISE (4 SHOTS) 2.59 NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JULY 23, 1999)(REUTERS) 8. MCU (Mandarin) LI SAYING WHY THE GOVERNMENT BANNED FALUN GONG: " I think the major reason is the number of practioners is too big and many of them are also Conmmunist Party members." 3.12 WASHINGTON,D.C., UNITED STATES (JULY 23, 1999) (REUTERS) 9. MCU/CU FALUN GONG FOLLOWERS OUTSIDE CHINESE EMBASSY (3 SHOTS) 3.22 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 8th August 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES/ BEIJING, CHINA
  • City:
  • Country: China
  • Reuters ID: LVAE45U0YEHOJRLDQ7ZBFKDPRAKK
  • Story Text: Li Hongzhi, the leader of the Falun Gong, a
    quasi-religious sect banned by China this week, says while his
    teachings are not in accordance with communist ideology, his
    is not political movement.In an interview in New York on
    Friday (July 23)Li said insisted he and his followers "are not
    interested in politics or political power."


    Li spoke in response to what witnesses and human
    rights groups said was the round-up thousands of sect members
    in China as they tried to stage peaceful demonstrations in 30
    cities against the detention of 100 sect leaders.In protest
    against the round-ups, Falun Gong's practioners have been
    performing the group's signature morning exercises outside the
    Chinese embassy in Washington.

    Li said Falun Gong was not a political opposition force,
    but he did say its teachings differed fromthe communist regime's." I
    have repeatedly made clear that we do not get involved in politics, "
    Li said." I have also asked the practitioners not to get involved in
    politics,because we are not interested in politics and
    political power.As a practioner, one should give up such
    attachment and mentality.It is definitely true that we asked
    people to be good people, but I don't deny that our what we
    teach is not in accordance with communist ideology."
    Falun Gong maintains an Internet website with messages
    from Li to his followers, estimated in tens of millions in
    China and around the world.But Li said he has no control
    over his movement's followers,and their actions in China this
    week were spontaneous.Li said," In fact, it's not a protest,
    it's that all the practitioners in different regions went to
    the government to obtain the release of detained
    practitioners, who had volunteered to help others to learn the
    practice.They have done nothing criminal.It'sjust that
    the government wants to ban the Falun Gong.The practitioners
    went on their own, spontaneously, to ask the government to
    release the detained people."
    Li said the government banned Falun Gong because of size
    and what the government perceives is its potential influence.

    " I think the major reason is the number of practioners is too
    big and many of them are also Conmmunist Party members."
    The group first shocked the Chinese government in April,
    when 10,000 members staged a sit-down protest in Beijing to
    demand official respect for the organisation.

    Li, 47, said he was unaware in advance of the April protests.


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