DATE=2/17/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA - US - FALUN GONG (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259254
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: China has hinted that, if the United States
grants asylum to members of the banned Falun Gong
exercise and meditation sect, it will create a new
obstacle to improving Sino-US relations. VOA
Correspondent Roger Wilkison reports, China was
reacting to remarks by a U-S immigration official, who
did not discount the possibility that Falun Gong
members could qualify for political asylum in the
United States.
TEXT: The Chinese Government says its crackdown on
the group is designed to maintain social stability and
prevent Falun Gong from doing what it describes as
further harm to the Chinese people. Thousands of
Falun Gong members have been sent without trial to
labor camps and hundreds of others have been tried and
put in prison.
The U-S Government has been critical of China's
crackdown on Falun Gong. On Wednesday, in Hong Kong,
an official of the U-S Immigration and Naturalization
Service, Jean Christensen, was asked at a news
conference whether Washington would grant political
asylum to members of the group.
/////CHRISTENSEN ACT/////
Asylum claims are strictly on an individual basis.
You can't say that because you are a member of one
category you would be automatically granted asylum.
/////END ACTUALITY/////
But Ms. Christensen said that, if asylum seekers claim
to be persecuted for political or religious reasons,
their cases could be considered by U-S immigration.
/////CHRISTENSEN ACT/////
Whether or not they would be successful would depend
on individual circumstances.
/////END ACTUALITY/////
China appears to have taken Ms. Christensen's remarks
as an indication Washington is considering offering
asylum to Falun Gong members. Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said Thursday that
reflects what he called a U-S double standard on the
question of cults. China has previously contrasted
the U-S crackdown on the Branch Davidian religious
cult with its criticism of the way Beijing has dealt
with Falun Gong. Speaking through an interpreter, Mr.
Zhu says the United States is disregarding the facts.
/////INTERPRETER ACTUALITY/////
We ask the U-S side to understand and respect the
principled position of the Chinese government in
resolving and handling the Falun Gong issue and
refrain from doing anything that interferes in Chinese
internal affairs and creates new difficulties for
China-US relations.
/////END ACTUALITY/////
The Chinese government considers Falun Gong an evil
cult. It banned the multi-million member group last
July, three months after thousands of its followers
staged a quiet protest to demand official recognition
for their movement, in front of the Beijing compound
where China's leaders live and work.
What particularly scared the leadership was the
group's ability to mobilize its members. As far as
Beijing is concerned, Falun Gong is a threat to
Communist Party rule.
Mr. Zhu says Beijing's crackdown on Falun Gong has won
the support of the Chinese people and the
understanding of the international community.
(SIGNED)
NEB/RW/FC
17-Feb-2000 05:11 AM EDT (17-Feb-2000 1011 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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