=== Falun Gong
1. Canadian Falun Gong Follower Says Tortured in China
2. Canadian outcry helped Zhang avoid torture
3. 'Chinese labour camp holds hundreds of banned sect'
4. Force against Falun Gong 10 `was minimal'
5. Falun Gong Allowed, Anti-China Activity not

=== Falun Gong - Reports from China's governmen-controlled/influenced media
6. Signatures of One Million Chinese People Against Falun Gong
7. Chinese anti-cult officials say Falun Gong severely violates human rights
8. Beijing Students Say No to Cults
9. Former Falun Gong follower denounces group
10. Falun Gong followers warned not to disrupt Chinese New Year

> Part 2

=== Scientology
11. Scientology critic is cited for contempt
12. Shock and Disbelief

=== Hinduism
13. Hindus build monuments to their faith

=== Islam
14. Mosques are brimming

=== Jehovah's Witnesses
15. The Venus Eye Trap Courting Attention,

=== Witchcraft
16. Boys denied school enrollment because of long hair

=== Hate Groups
17. Aryan Nations members regrouping
18. Many Nazi items will come with Aryan Nations compound
19. City bills KKK for cross security
20. KKK will reapply after permit request is rejected
21. Who'll Watch the Haters Now?

> Part 3

=== Other News
22. Nepal: Jailed missionary before the court end of January
23. Natural Law party gives up fight for floating Irish voter
24. Temple tells militia to stay away
25. Priest arrested over chicken carcasses
26. Ritual Offering vs. Litter
27. Thou shall not ...: WVU spared 'religious explosion'
28. Aunt and 3 nieces fasted to death
29. The lives and slow deaths of four women who fasted for God
30. Sects may soon own TV licences
31. Religious group claims victory as judge grants injunction against school
32. Religious group, board dispute over fine print
33. Jacko to be Uri Geller's 'best man'
34. Mystery cross appears in bathroom window

=== Science
35. Stephen Hawking debunks astrology

> Part 4

=== Death Penalty and other Human Rights Violations
36. A Race to the Death
37. It's Hard To Justify Cuban Embargo

=== Noted
38. The exorcists (Universal Church of the Kingdom of God)
39. Missionaries flock to Britain to revive passion for Church
40. ''Biblically illiterate'flock to classes (Alpha Course)
41. Pastors with a past

=== Internet
42. Paternity test (Chopra)

=== The Y-ners around the corner
43. Fox aims to shut down university's science Web site


=== Falun Gong

1. Canadian Falun Gong Follower Says Tortured in China
Reuters, Jan. 19, 2001
http://www.insidechina.com/
[Story no longer online? Read this]
OTTAWA, Jan 19, 2001 -- (Reuters) A Canadian Chinese follower of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement who was released from a labor camp in China last week said on Thursday he had been repeatedly tortured and feared he would die.

Sculpture professor Zhang Kunlun, unexpectedly freed less than two months into a three-year sentence, said police in the eastern province of Shandong tortured him with electric shocks upon his arrest last July.

''They threatened me, (saying) 'If you shout we will shock your mouth'. My arms, legs and body were burned in many spots from the electricity. You could smell the burning skin,'' the soft-spoken 60-year-old told a news conference.

''My left leg was badly injured. I could not walk properly. It took over three months to heal,'' he said. Zhang, who denied Beijing's claim that he had renounced Falun Gong before being freed, said the police had told him they could do what they wanted.

''If you were beaten to death we could simply bury you and tell the outside world you had committed suicide,'' he quoted one officer as telling him.

Zhang's release eased tensions between Ottawa and Beijing less than a month before a major Canadian trade mission is due to tour China.

Canadian Liberal member of Parliament and human rights activist Irwin Cotler said Zhang had been the first Falun Gong adherent holding overseas nationality who had been sent to a labor camp.
(...)

Zhang said that conditions in the camp were awful and he reported widespread torture of Falun Gong followers.

''They (the camp officials) beat them. Some were beaten unconscious. They were forced to write letters of confession and to denounce Falun Gong. I saw the injuries from the beating and burns on their bodies,'' he said.

At one point, Zhang said, a camp doctor told him: ''If you continue to practice Falun Gong, you are going to die here.''
[...more...]   [Need the full story? Read this]

Amnesty International documentation on China
The official Chinese view of Zhang's release is reported below, in the
item titled, ''Former Falun Gong follower denounces group.''

2. Canadian outcry helped Zhang avoid torture
The Globe and Mail (Canada), Jan. 18, 2001
http://www.globeandmail.ca/
[Story no longer online? Read this]
OTTAWA -- A Chinese-Canadian man released from a labour camp in China last week said he believes he was saved from torture and perhaps even death by the attention his case attracted in Canada.

Zhang Kunlun, was freed abruptly last week from the WanCun labour camp, which he described yesterday as notorious.

On Monday, he fled China to join his daughter, who is a student in Ottawa.

In an interview yesterday, he said that after his arrest for practising the meditation exercises of the banned falun gong movement, he was tortured with electric batons at a police station.

He was later sentenced to three years at the WangCun camp.

''I was expecting to die there because of the very vicious torture,'' Mr. Zhang said through a translator.

''But when I arrived, it was contrary to my expectations and the way they treated me was different . . . perhaps because of the international pressure here.''

He said that other prisoners were dealt with more harshly.
(...)

Mr. Zhang said yesterday that the imprisonment of falun gong followers is designed to coerce them into renouncing their beliefs. He described squalid conditions in the camp, and said he was among 18 prisoners who were held in a 20-square-metre room, where they ate, bathed and tended to their personal needs.
[...more...]   [Need the full story? Read this]


3. 'Chinese labour camp holds hundreds of banned sect'
AP, Jan. 19, 2001
http://www.timesofindia.com/
[Story no longer online? Read this]
BEIJING: In a rare official glimpse into China's use of labour camps to crush the banned Falun Gong sect, a state newspaper reported on Thursday that one camp has held at least 470 group followers.

China's government has refused during its 18-month crackdown on the sect to say how many Falun Gong practitioners have been sent to labour camps, but a Hong Kong rights group estimates that at least 10,000 are being held in 300 camps nationwide.

The Legal Daily said the Masanjiazi Education Through Labour Centre in northeastern Liaoning province held an award ceremony Wednesday for detained Falun Gong followers, apparently to reward those who had renounced the sect.

The newspaper said 47 Falun Gong followers were granted early release, 86 were allowed to serve out their sentences outside of the camp and 337 had their sentences reduced - making a total of 470 people.

The report did not say how many sect followers in total were in the camp. In an indication the numbers likely exceeded 470, the report said the camp extracted 4,200 letters of repentance and written denunciations of Falun Gong and its US-based leader, Li Hongzhi, from detained sect members.

Labour camp sentences are imposed without trial. The government says no sect members are in labour camps purely for practising Falun Gong and that most of those held were sentenced for protesting the ban on the group.
[...more...]   [Need the full story? Read this]


4. Force against Falun Gong 10 `was minimal'
Hong Kong iMail/AP, Jan. 17, 2001
http://beta.yellowbrix.com/
[Story no longer online? Read this]
The government stuck to its line yesterday that only minimal and necessary force was used in efforts to deport Falun Gong members at the weekend. The stance, reiterated in an Immigration Department statement, came after dramatic video footage was posted on the Internet yesterday showing a score of uniformed immigration officers scuffling with 10 sect members in an attempt to deport them on Saturday.

The attempt failed and the members subsequently went on a hunger strike at the airport until they were finally deported to three countries on Monday.

The footage, lasting about 1 minutes, was secretly videotaped by a Japanese Falun Gong follower.

The controversial tape showed sect member Zhang Ying from Japan, her arm forced up behind her back, being roughly pushed into a nearby chair by a male immigration officer, then held in a firm grip. Another member from Australia, Zhong Hongmei, was violently hauled across the room and shoved on to a sofa by another officer.

The other eight members were surrounded and controlled separately by other officers.

The recording then ended abruptly after intervention from alert immigration officers.

A human-rights advocate has urged the department to investigate the matter, since the tape did not show the cause of the scuffle and it was still unclear whether or not the officers had used unnecessary force.

The department yesterday stood by the actions of its officers.
(...)

The spokesman said people without valid travel documents, as was the case in this instance, were subject to removal. To enforce the law, immigration officers might have to use reasonable and necessary force in the execution of their duties.
[...more...]   [Need the full story? Read this]


5. Falun Gong Allowed, Anti-China Activity not
BBC Monitoring, Jan. 19, 2001
http://www.insidechina.com/
[Story no longer online? Read this]
Jan 19, 2001 -- Text of editorial entitled: ''The people in Hong Kong have the responsibility to protect 'one country, two systems''', published by Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao web site on 16 January.

In an interview with Xinhua yesterday [15 January], an official in charge of the State Council Information Office fielded questions regarding to ''Falun Gong'' activities. The contents of questions and answers, which are very specific, can help people understand better what ''Falun Gong'' is all about and why the government has crack down on ''Falun Gong'' according to the law.

From the contents of the State Council Information Office official's interview, we can see clearly that the ban on ''Falun Gong'' is in line with the interests and demand of the masses of people; and it is a reasonable, legitimate, and necessary action carried out on the basis of sufficient legal ground. The most noteworthy of the interview is that according to the official, who is the spokesman of the State Council Information Office, none of the ''Falun Gong'' activists detained in the mainland was imprisoned simply because they practiced ''Falun Gong.'' They were arrested and sentenced to prison terms because their specific action had already violated the state law.
(...)

These are facts. In the mainland, ''Falun Gong'' has been determined as a cult in nature; its organization is listed as an illegal organization, and all its activities are banned. Citizens of Hong Kong under ''one country, two systems'' should, first and foremost, understand the nature of problems created by ''Falun Gong'' and the fact that it is already banned by official order.

Furthermore, the people in Hong Kong, of course, should correctly understand the essence of ''Falun Gong''. Judging from the host of books, periodicals, and propaganda materials already made public, the stuff advocated by Li Hongzhi and ''Falun Gong'', such as ''originating from the cosmos'', ''reincarnation of the Buddha'', and self-treatment of illness without doctor's diagnoses, is obviously against nature and science, and cannot be regarded as a normal, healthy religion which guides people towards self-improvement. All countries in the world oppose cult. Still more, with science and technology advancing rapidly in human society and China's Shenzhou spacecraft already twice traveling in the space, the advocacy of ''the wheel of law in one's belly'' can, without doubt, be amusing to people.

Based on the mainland's rule of law and specific provisions, there is no question about the illegal and fraudulent nature of ''Falun Gong''. Needless to say, however, due to different social systems under ''one country, two system'', laws of the mainland, except for those already designated, are not implemented in Hong Kong, and the people in Hong Kong can reserve different opinions and views towards some matters and issues. There should be no doubt about this point. Therefore, if individuals in Hong Kong are still interested in ''Falun Gong'' and want to ''believe in'' and ''study'' it, they will not violate the law and will not be forbidden to do so.
(...)

Nonetheless, if there are individuals who want to publicize ''Falun Gong'' in a big way in the Special Administrative Region by openly summoning foreigners to Hong Kong to engage in activities with a heavy dose of anti-Chinese political contents, then it is basically not a question of whether ''Falun Gong'' can be tolerated under the ''two systems''. Rather, it has transformed into political provocation. When we calm down and take a fair and impartial look at the so-called ''meetings on exchanging practice'' in Hong Kong in the past few days, it becomes entirely obvious whether these are cultural and religious activities, or anti-Chinese political activities. Gathering people to engage in unlicensed activities, carrying wreaths in front of the central government's ''liaison offices'' in Hong Kong, and assailing the Chinese government and leaders at meetings, these are the irrefutable evidence of political activities.

The spirit of ''one country, two systems'' has been thoroughly implemented in Hong Kong; and it will continue to be implemented in the future. At the crux of the problem is how the people in Hong Kong should further understand ''one country, two system'' to correctly cherish and protect ''one country, two system''. Allowing ''Falun Gong'' to carry out activities according to the law in Hong Kong is a concrete manifestation of ''one country, two systems''. However, using Hong Kong to carry out activities against the central government, especially providing Hong Kong as the venue or base to for the anti-Chinese forces to carry out activities against China is absolutely not the meaning embraced by ''one country, two systems''.
[...more...]   [Need the full story? Read this]


=== Falun Gong - Reports from China's governmen-controlled/influenced media

6. Signatures of One Million Chinese People Against Falun Gong
People's Daily, Jan. 22, 2001
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/
[Story no longer online? Read this]
Some one million people in Fuzhou, Quanzhou and Zhangzhou cities in east China's Fujian Province signed their names Sunday on white scrolls to protest the Falun Gong cult and protect human rights.

The activity was initiated by the China Association of Anti- Evil Religion.
(...)

The purpose of the signature campaign against the Falun Gong cult in the cities is to root out the evil cult, and make sure people will be able to live in a healthy environment and stable society.
[...more...]   [Need the full story? Read this]


7. Chinese anti-cult officials say Falun Gong severely violates human rights
BBC Monitoring/Zhongguo Xinwen She, Jan. 21, 2001
http://beta.yellowbrix.com/
[Story no longer online? Read this]
Text of report by Chinese news agency Zhongguo Xinwen She
Beijing, 20 January: Li Anping, deputy secretary-general of the Anti-Cult Association of China - a non-governmental anti-cult organization in China, recently said when being interviewed by Zhongguo Xinwen She that many facts showed ''Falun Gong'' had seriously violated human rights.

Li Anping said: In recent years, evil cults spread in all parts of the world and have become a major public plague in the international community and seriously violated human rights in various countries of the world. Through spreading its fallacies, the evil cult organization ''Falun Gong'' attacked the government and the laws, endangered the stability and unity of the state, undermined social stability, caused confusion to people's minds, and at the same time, also seriously harmed the physical and mental health of its practitioners.
(...)

Li Anping said: To expose the evil cult nature of ''Falun Gong'' and to safeguard human rights and social stability, the Anti-Cult Association of China launched the activity of ''collecting signatures from over one million people for opposing evil cults and safeguarding human rights''. He said that the activity is now being unfolded in all parts of the country and has won great support from the people throughout the country.
[...more...]   [Need the full story? Read this]


8. Beijing Students Say No to Cults
Xinhua News Agency, Jan. 18, 2001
http://beta.yellowbrix.com/
[Story no longer online? Read this]
Representatives of students from 14 universities in Beijing put forward a proposal Thursday, calling for all university and secondary school students in China to promote science and resist cults.

The student representatives signed their names on the letter of proposal.
[...more...]   [Need the full story? Read this]


9. Former Falun Gong follower denounces group
BBC Monitoring, Jan. 18, 2001
http://beta.yellowbrix.com/
[Story no longer online? Read this]
Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency)
Beijing, 18 January: Falun Gong is indeed an anti-society, anti- human and anti-science cult that has undermined social stability and brought endless pains to families of its followers, according to a former Falun Gong follower.

Zhang Kunlun, an accomplished sculptor, said Li Hongzhi, founder of the cult, has been trying to control Falun Gong followers, cheating money from them and letting people confused in mind.

A citizen of the People's Republic of China must abide by the country's laws and regulations, he said.

Zhang, from Shandong Province in east China, was sent to Canada as a visiting scholar for further study on public money between March 1989 and April 1996.

During his stay in Canada, he began to practise Falun Gong in an attempt to keep fit. Zhang was appointed director of the sculpture institute of an arts school in Shandong after he returned home.

When the Chinese government banned the Falun Gong cult according to law, Zhang, incited by Li Hongzhi and his cult, printed and spread a large number of materials about the cult. For offence acts against public order, Zhang was sent for re-education through labour by departments concerned in accordance with the law.

Under the Chinese law, re-education through labour is a compulsory administrative measure meant for educating those who commit slight offences.

With the patient and meticulous help and education from the provincial re-education department, Zhang came to know the facts that Falun Gong has posed a severe threat to society. He realized the evil motives of Li Hongzhi and the nature of the cult. At the same time, Zhang was looked after well and his high blood pressure lowered to normal level.
(...)

Zhang said he will break all ties with the Falun Gong cult and act within the laws.
(...)

Due to his good behaviour and sincere repentance of his law- breaking activities during the period of reform through re- education, Zhang was released on 10 January.

While Zhang is gradually gaining a clear understanding of the nature of the Falun Gong cult, Falun Gong organizations overseas are spreading rumours that the Chinese government ''detained without reason'' Canadian citizen Zhang Kunlun in an attempt to internationalize the issue. They also rumoured that Zhang was tortured.
[...more...]   [Need the full story? Read this]

* Zhang's own views are made clear in the item titled, ''Canadian Falun Gong Follower Says Tortured in China.''

10. Falun Gong followers warned not to disrupt Chinese New Year
BBC Monitoring, Jan. 19, 2001
http://beta.yellowbrix.com/
[Story no longer online? Read this]
China's party newspaper has carried a commentator's article saying that the Falun Gong group's political aim is ''overthrowing the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and changing China's socialist system''. The group's leader Li Hongzhi and the Falun Gong were termed ''political tools used by these anti-China forces to undermine social stability''. The paper warned Falun Gong followers not to disrupt social order at Lunar New Year. The following is the text of report of Renmin Ribao 20 January commentator's article: ''To safeguard stability is to safeguard the fundamental interests of the people'' by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China news agency)

Beijing, 19 January: The following is the text of Renmin Ribao 20 January commentator's article, entitled: ''To safeguard stability is to safeguard the fundamental interests of the people''.
(...)

Its has been proven that the Chinese government resolved to disband the ''Falun Gong'' cult precisely because it wanted to safeguard the fundamental interests of the masses, consolidate the great achievements of economic and social progress made since the beginning of reform and opening up, and ensure the country's steady development and long-term peace and stability. This important policy decision has won the backing and support of the broad masses and is of far- reaching political significance.
(...)

Comrade Deng Xiaoping also said that ''without a stable environment, nothing can be done, and all achievements already made will be lost.'' In his report to the 15th National Party Congress, Comrade Jiang Zemin clearly pointed out that in the primary stage of socialism, it is of the utmost importance to correctly handle the relationship between reform, development and stability and maintain a stable political environment and public order. China was able to achieve successes of world attention in its reform, opening up and socialist modernization, the Chinese people were able to achieve great improvement in their material well-being as well as spiritual and cultural life, and China was able to boost its international status to an unprecedented height precisely under the guidance of this important principle of the Party Central Committee. China would not have been able to achieve such spectacular progress and changes today without a stable social environment, without its socialist legal system and without good public order.
(...)

We must soberly realize that every time China enters a new stage of development and every time the people livelihood is steadily improving, anti-China forces of the West that are hostile to China and are eager to see chaos in China would try their utmost to create trouble and engage in sabotage. Li Hongzhi and his ''Falun Gong'' cult are precisely political tools used by these anti-China forces to undermine social stability. Party organizations at all levels and all party members must further recognize Li Hongzhi's ulterior political motives as well as the cult nature of the ''Falun Gong'' and must more extensively mobilize and organize forces from all sides to wage a struggle against the ''Falun Gong'' cult in order to effectively safeguard social stability.
(...)

We wish to warn the obsessed ''Falun Gong'' followers that Li Hongzhi and his cult have become political tools of anti-China forces of the West, that they must not hold on to their misguided course and continue to serve as Li Hongzhi's tools in undermining social stability. If Li Hongzhi and his cult continue to be enemies of the people and attempt to disrupt public order when people throughout the country are celebrating the Spring Festival, they would only further expose their evil features and would not succeed.
[...more...]   [Need the full story? Read this]


> Part 2