What bothers me about this cult

I am bothered every time I see a story about the mistreatment of the Falun Gong. I am sure that the Chinese government is doing terrible things to this group (and others) and that is wrong. Everyone is entitled to the protection of the state and due process of law.

The problem is that the stories seldom reveal the true face of the Falun Gong. Here are a few of the things they believe.
  • "mixed-race people [are]…instruments of an alien plot to destroy humanity's link to heaven"
  • gay people will be ''eliminated'' by ''the gods''
  • illness is caused by the indwelling of "an intelligent entity that exists in another dimension"

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Local Falun Gong printer refuses to produce the Asian Pacific Post this week...

The Real Scoop: 2009 January 11
Kim Bolan

I got a copy of this new release from Gurpreet Singh, a journalist and friend, who writes for this excellent weekly newspaper. Bizarre that a religious group that is also protesting against the repression its says it faces would decide to silence a newspaper with which it has a contract.

NEWS RELEASE - FALUN GONG MEMBERS HOLD CANADIAN FREE SPEECH HOSTAGE

- Falun Gong gag order shuts down independent Metro Vancouver newspaper-

In an unprecedented attack on freedom of speech in Canada, some members of the Falun Gong movement this week forced a local printer to block production and distribution of an award-winning independent newspaper.

Readers of the Asian Pacific Post, published by Post Group Multimedia Inc. in Vancouver, British Columbia, were surprised to find their local news boxes empty Thursday after Burnaby-based Epoch Press blocked delivery of the weekly newspaper.

"This is an act of political vandalism," said Asian Pacific Post Managing Editor, Michael Roberts. "The economic impact to our business aside, which is considerable, this an assault on press freedom and an insult to all Canadians who enjoy rights and privileges enshrined in Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms."

"This is bullying pure and simple by a group which the Post has, ironically, long supported in its fight against similar oppression by the Chinese government."

Printer Frank Ciu – in consultation with some senior Falun Gong members in Canada – hijacked the Asian Pacific Post print run claiming a January 8, 2009 front page article on a Falun Gong travelling arts show was offensive to his beliefs, and to the beliefs of his fellow Falun Gong practitioners.

"The Falun Gong, which owns this printing press, vetted our article and finding it not to its taste, simply refused to let it see the light of day," said Roberts. "This is a first in Canadian journalistic history and an outrage of the highest order."

"Incidentally," added Roberts. "The article in question supported the Falun Gong and its right to stage the Divine Performing Arts show without interference from China."

Dr. Dianna Wang, director of the DPA's organizing committee in Vancouver, said she was shown the front page article in advance of its print run and in consultation with Falun Gong "HQ" and the vice-president of the Divine Performing Group, decided they could not allow the story to be distributed.

The Asian Pacific Post is currently looking for a new printer.

"We feel completely betrayed," said Roberts. "This is a matter of trust and integrity."


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