DATE=9/9/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA/RELIGION (L-O)
NUMBER=2-253647
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Chinese government has criticized a report
by the State Department alleging religious persecution
in China. V-O-A's Stephanie Ho reports from Beijing a
Chinese spokesman maintains no one is detained in
China because of his or her religious beliefs.
TEXT: The State Department report is the first of an
annual series on religious freedom in nearly 200-
countries and territories around the world.
In China, the report says citizens can face harassment
or long detention in labor camps if they practice
religion outside officially-sanctioned churches. The
report also details incidents of abuse of Buddhist
monks and nuns in China, including in Tibet.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi criticized
the State Department report before it was released
(Thursday) in Washington.
At a regular briefing in Beijing, Mr. Sun maintained
the U-S accusations of religious persecution interfere
in China's internal affairs. He said recent charges
that Chinese Christians have been persecuted are
groundless.
The Chinese spokesman added China's constitution says
it protects religious freedom, but he said religion is
not a legal shield for Chinese citizens. He said
people are not arrested for their religious beliefs,
but because the government considers them criminals.
In July, China carried out a highly-publicized
nationwide crackdown on a spiritual group known as
Falun Gong -- an organization that mixes traditional
breathing exercises with elements from several
different religions.
Mr. Sun -- speaking through an interpreter -- labeled
Falun Gong a cult. He said the government declared
the group illegal to protect, what he called -- normal
religious activity.
/// SUN INTERPRETER ACT ///
Falun Gong is not a religious organization. It
only used some special terms and stock phrases
of Taoism, Buddhism, and Christianity.
/// END ACT ///
The official "Beijing Daily" newspaper reported
(Thursday) authorities detained 19 Falun Gong members
for organizing illegal gatherings. The paper said
five of the detainees are still in custody, while
police set the rest free after they showed signs of
repentance. (SIGNED)
NEB/HO/RAE
09-Sep-1999 14:59 PM LOC (09-Sep-1999 1859 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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