Falun Gong (Falun Dafa) Resource Guide: (Updated To 10 December 2008)

FALUN GONG (FALUN DAFA) RESOURCE GUIDE
(Updated to 10 December 2008)

Disclaimer
This package was prepared after researching public information currently available to the
Research Service within a tight time constraint. This package is not, and does not purport to be,
exhaustive in scope or conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee status.
Introduction : This Guide is intended as a starting point for Members deciding applications
regarding Falun Gong practitioners. It is important to note that much of the original information
regarding Falun Gong is sourced directly from either the PRC Government or Falun Gong
organisations themselves. There is, therefore, a noticeable polarity in the primary material
available, whether cited here or in reports by human rights groups and other NGOs. In recent
years, however, a wealth of secondary information and analysis has become available, and this is
also cited in this package.
Please note, however, that the Guide is unlikely to address all issues raised by Falun Gong
applicants..
CONTENTS
Essential Introductory Reading
Background and history
Beliefs and practices
Falun Gong sources (includes details of exercises)
Other sources
Treatment by the Chinese authorities
Reports on general treatment from 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002,
2001, 2000.
In individual provinces: Fujian; Guangdong; Guangxi; Jilin; Liaoning;
Hainan; Shanghai; Zhejiang.
Organisation
In China and the USA
In Australia
Associated organisations
The Epoch Times
New Tang Dynasty Television
ESSENTIAL INTRODUCTORY READING:
Penny, Dr Benjamin 2006, Refugee Review Tribunal Falun Gong seminar, 26 July
UK Home Office 2002, Revolution of the Wheel – the Falun Gong in China and in
Exile, 2nd edition, November
INTERNET: http://www.asylumlaw.org/docs/showDocument.cfm?documentID=997
US Department of State 2008, International Religious Freedom Report 2008: China,

19 September
INTERNET: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108404.htm
‘Illustrations and Explanations of the Falun Gong Exercise Movements’ (from
Chapter 2 of Li, Hongzhi 2001, Falun Gong, April)
INTERNET: http://www.falundafa.org/book/eng/doc/flg_en.doc
OTHER RECOMMENDED READING:
DIMIA 2005, Falun Dafa/Falun Gong Issues Brief: Ref: CHN300605, June
Human Rights Watch 2002, Dangerous Meditation: China’s Campaign against

Falungong, February
INTERNET: http://hrw.org/reports/2002/china/
Amnesty International 2000, People’s Republic of China: the Crackdown on Falun

Gong and Other So-Called “Heretical Organizations”, 23 March, ASA 17/11/00
DIMIA Country Information Service 2002, Country Information Report No 136/02 –

‘Falun Gong Practitioners’, (sourced from DFAT advice of 20 May), 24 May
(CISNET – CX64757)
BACKGROUND AND HISTORY
Penny, Dr Benjamin 2006, Refugee Review Tribunal Falun Gong seminar, 26 July.
Report focus: Transcript of a talk given by Dr Penny, an authority on Falun Gong, to Tribunal
Members. Covers background and history of Li Hongzhi and the movement; beliefs and
practices; government treatment; and the evolution of Falun Gong into an activist organisation.
Dr Penny also responds to questions from Members related to their cases.
UK Home Office 2008, Country of Origin Information Report: China, UK Home Office
website, I June.
INTERNET: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/china-130608.doc
Report focus: Origins and support 21.24, Guiding principles 21.26, Exercises and movements
21.28, Possibility of practising in private 21.30, Denunciation documents 21.34, Important dates
for foreign-based practitioners 21.35, Treatment of Falun Gong practitioners’ relatives 21.36,
Monitoring of activists abroad 21.39, Organ harvesting 21.42.
Ping, Hu 2003, ‘The Falungong Phenomenon’, China Rights Forum, 4 November.

INTERNET: http://www.fofg.org/downloads/a1_Falungong4.2003.pdf
Report focus: Independent in-depth analysis of the movement apparently by a non-practitioner.

Ping discusses the rapid rise of Falun Gong and other spiritual groups to fill the vacuum left by
the collapse of Maoist ideology after the Tiananmen Square deaths in 1989. He comments on the
attraction of the group to simple working-class people, many of whom are women, and the
courage they have shown in practising ren or forbearance in the face of mistreatment. He believes
the group offers a serious challenge to the government.
UK Home Office 2002, Revolution of the Wheel – the Falun Gong in China and in Exile, 2nd
edition, November.
Report focus: This update to the April 2002 report includes information regarding the theoretical
basis of Falun Gong (including the philosophy, leadership, organisation and nature of the group);
the political issues involved in the PRC’s treatment of Falun Gong (including a summary of key
events in the history of the Falun Gong movement; the Chinese authorities’ reactions and reasons
for banning; features of the propaganda campaign against Falun Gong; the mobilisation of civil
institutions; demonstrations and protests by Falun Gong; punishments utilised, including
detentions, trials and sentences, torture, deaths in custody and use of psychiatric treatment; and
migration issues particular to Falun Gong cases.
ter Haar, Barend J. 2002, ‘Falun Gong: Assessing its origins and present situation’, UNHCR
Emergency & Security Service: WriteNet, July.
INTERNET: http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/bth/UNHCR.htm
Report focus: Section 1 and 2 of this comprehensive study by a University of Leiden academic
provide history and background. Section 3.1 provides a biography of Li Hongzhi. [See also
Barend ter Haar’s web site at http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/bth/falun.htm or at
www.let.leidenuniv.nl/~haarbjter/index.html from 1 December 2005.]
Aalderink, Karin 2001, ‘Totally Expunge Evil, Pursue it to the End: Explaining the
Crackdown on the Falun Gong’ (MA Thesis, Department of Chinese Studies Leiden
University, The Netherlands), September.
INTERNET: http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/bth/aalderink/index.html
Report focus: This Masters thesis provides a good overview of the underpinnings of Falun Gong.
The early chapters explore the attitude of imperial governments of China and the Chinese
Communist Party (CCP) towards religion. Chapter six describes the eradication campaign while
chapter seven examines the official documents that support the campaign. Chapter eight focuses
on official accusations against the Falun Gong.
Penny, Benjamin 2001, The Past, Present and Future of Falun Gong (paper presented to a
seminar at the Refugee Review Tribunal in Sydney Australia), 4 May.
Report focus: This paper provides an overview of the Falun Gong organisation, its beliefs, its
methods and its history. It also contains an appendix section with Dr Penny’s comments on
various questions raised by RRT Members at the seminar.
United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) 1999, Chronological List of
Events for the Falun Gong Movement, Resource Information Centre, 5 December.
Report focus: Extensive chronological list of events regarding Falun Gong to December 1999.
‘A Chronicle of Major Events of Falun Dafa (3rd Edition)’ 2004, Pure Insight website, 15
March.
INTERNET: http://www.pureinsight.org/pi/index.php?news=2097
Report Focus: A useful chronology produced by the Falun Gong. Covers the period 1992 to
November 1999.
[NOTE: The two DFAT reports below should not be cited as current reports. They are included
because they provide some useful background material on Falun Gong in the early days of the
crackdown by the Chinese government.]
DFAT 1999, Country Information Report No 397/99 Falun Gong aka Falun Dafa in China, 5
November.
Report focus: Updated by CISNET – CX57264. This early DFAT response regarding Falun Gong
provides a range of information: it provides limited information regarding the organisational
structure and leadership of Falun Gong in the PRC and contains a very broad generalisation
concerning a typical Falun Gong practitioner. The report includes information about the Chinese
Government’s crackdown against Falun Gong in its early stages, including information about the
questioning and detention of practitioners and the basis of initial arrests and sentencing,
particularly mentioning early arrests and sentencing of Falun Gong practitioners in Hainan and
Jilin. The report differentiates between the likely treatment of ordinary practitioners and leaders
and provides information regarding the likely treatment of low level followers and those
practising Falun Gong exercises in public places. It notes anecdotal evidence that indicates that
the treatment of Falun Gong activists by government authorities varies by province and region.
The report refers to prohibitions on civil servants and employees of state-owned representatives
and refers to PRC authorities’ practice of contacting and questioning family members of both
well-known and ordinary Falun Gong practitioners in order to ascertain further information about
the movement. DFAT also notes the Chinese authorities’ capacity to monitor and/or restrict
departure from China of suspected Falun Gong leaders and organisers.
DFAT 1999, Country Information Report No 271/01 New Falun Gong Laws, 28 September.
Report focus: Provides information relating to the operation of the Second Authoritative Judicial
Interpretation issued by the Supreme People’s Court and Supreme People’s Procuratorate on the
“Application of Law While Handling Cases of Organising and Using Cult Crimes’, which took
effect from 11 June 2001. The interpretation “clarifies and supplements” an earlier 1999 judicial
interpretation. It outlines activities which may be construed as offences and particularly refers to
the distribution of organisational and publicity materials for Falun Gong.
BELIEFS AND PRACTICES
Falun Gong sources

Zeng, Jennifer and Deller, John 2006, Transcript of RRT Members Seminar “Falun Gong: A
Practitioner Perspective” held at Sydney RRT/MRT on 22 June 2006, 22 June.
Jennifer Zeng is the author of Witnessing History: One woman’s fight for freedom and Falun
Gong (2005) and is a FG practitioner and former refugee. She was arrested in Beijing in 2000,
and was detained and tortured for twelve months in a labour camp. John Deller is the President of
Falun Dafa Association of NSW. The speakers go into some detail about beliefs and practices,
and discuss the very different levels of understanding among sincere practitioners.
Falun Dafa Association of NSW Inc 2006, Submission: Response to Questions from Refugee
Tribunal Members, 22 June.
On 22 June 2006 representatives spoke at a seminar at the RRT. During the seminar they
responded to questions which had been provided previously in written form by the Tribunal, and
also submitted their answers in a written submission. The paper includes information on how the
FG in Australia determines whether someone is a genuine practitioner, and what levels of
knowledge of the exercises and of the Zhuan Falun should be expected from a genuine
practitioner.
[NOTE: the documents listed below are a small selection of the most important works by the
leader of Falun Gong, Li Hongzhi. A full list is also available at the group’s web site
http://www.falundafa.org/eng/books.htm.]
Li, Hongzhi 2005, Teacher’s New “Jin Wen”, 16 May.

INTERNET: http://www.falundafa.org/book/eng/doc/newjw.doc
Report focus: 409 pages of lectures, poems and articles from 2002 to 2005, the latest being an
address to an April 2005 Falun Gong Conference in Manhattan (p.400), at which Li discussed the
Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party (from the Epoch Times) and its influence. Also of
interest is an April 2004 address to students from Asia-Pacific countries such as Taiwan at a
meeting in New York (p.253), where he discusses the phenomenon of people taking up Falun
Gong as a way of applying for asylum: “I’ve heard there are seminars in New York City’s
Chinatown on applying for asylum…they specifically teach in there how to learn Falun Gong. Of
course, they’re not really teaching people Falun Gong. They’re telling people how many
movements there are, how many exercises, and what books there are in Falun Gong, along with
what the immigration officer will ask in his test…” The same talk also contains background
information on the organisation of Falun Gong, about local coordinators, the setting up of
schools, and recruiting voluntary staff for media outlets such as television stations. Also of note is
a February 2005 article called “Turning the Wheel towards the Human World” (p.364) in which
he discusses the recent movement away from the Communist Party in China, and the fact that it
will soon collapse. This is because it chose to make an enemy of Falun Gong: anyone remaining
in the Party will be in peril, because “its sins are unforgivable”.
Li, Hongzhi 2001, Falun Gong, (Translation of Chapter I, II, III Updated), April.
Report focus: The Falun Dafa web site states that in this latest update of Master Li’s introduction
to Falun Gong, Chapters 4 and 5 have been replaced by “The Great Consummation Way of Falun
Dafa”.
‘Illustrations and Explanations of the Falun Gong Exercise Movements’ (from Chapter 2 of
Li, Hongzhi 2001, Falun Gong, April).
This document has been extracted from pages 52-73 of the book described above, for the
convenience of Members who wish to consult or print the five sets of exercises only.
Li, Hongzhi 1999, “Falun Dafa Lecture in Sydney”.

INTERNET: http://www.falundafa.org/book/eng/xnjf1.htm
Lecture focus: A 46 page transcript of the lecture, including long list of questions and answers,
translated from the Chinese in July 1999 (no date given for the lecture but presumably refers to
Li’s visit to Australia in May 1999).
Li, Hongzhi 1998, Zhuan Falun, English Version, Internet Version, Third Translation
Edition (Updated in March 2000), USA.
INTERNET: http://www.falundafa.org/book/eng/zflus.html
Report focus: A 223 page document containing Master Li’s Lectures (1 through to 9) explaining
the beliefs and practice of Falun Gong. It explains all aspects of cultivation practices and serves
as essential reading for those wishing to practice Falun Gong. It contains information about the
difference between Falun Gong and other Qigongs, the right and wrong ways of cultivating the
Fa, the different levels of spiritual attainment with Falun Gong, eg, transcending the five elements
and the three realms, supernormal capabilities, etc
Other sources
Chang, Maria Hsia 2004, Falun Gong: The End of Days, New Haven, Conn., Yale University
Press.
RRT: RRT Library 322.10951 CHA
Contents: 1. A Religious Sect Defies the State – 2. Chinese Religions and Millenarian
Movements – 3. Falun Gong: Beliefs and Practices – 4. The State vs. Falun Gong – 5. The
Persecution of Other Faith
Report Focus: This book is an excellent and concise look at Falun Gong and its place in
contemporary China. The publicity for the book states:
The world first took notice of a religious group called Falun Gong on April 25, 1999, when
more than 10,000 of its followers protested before the Chinese Communist headquarters in
Beijing. Maria Hsia Chang investigates events in the wake of the demonstration: Beijing’s
condemnation of the group as a Western, anti-Chinese force and doomsday cult, the sect’s
continued defiance, and the nationwide campaign that resulted in the incarceration and torture
of many Falun Gong faithful.
Maria Hsia Chang discusses the Falun Gong’s beliefs, including their ideas on cosmology,
humanity’s origin, karma, reincarnation, UFOs, and the coming apocalypse. She balances an
account of the Chinese government’s case against the sect with an evaluation of the credibility
of those accusations. Describing China’s long history of secret societies that initiated powerful
uprisings and sometimes overthrew dynasties, she explains the Chinese government’s brutal
treatment of the sect. And she concludes with a chronicle of the ongoing persecution of
religious groups in China – of which Falun Gong is only one of many.
Penny, Benjamin 2003, ‘The Life and Times of Li Hongzhi: Falun Gong and Religious
Biography’, The China Quarterly, Volume 175, September.
INTERNET:
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayIssue?jid=CQY&volumeId=175&issueId=-1
Report focus: Examines discrepancies between the various biographies describing Li’s early life,
from the Chinese government, and early and later Falun Gong material. Argues that the Falun
Gong version belongs to the Chinese tradition of Buddhist and Daoist religious biographies.
Penny, Dr Benjamin 2003, Falun Gong: What was it? and what is it now? A talk for the
Refugee Review Tribunal National Members’ Conference, 29 August.
Report focus: History of Falun Gong’s formation; earlier good relations with the Chinese
government; relationship to other cultivation systems; background of Li Hongzhi; general Falun
Gong world view; reasons for government crackdown; evolution of Falun Gong into an activist
organisation.
Penny, Dr Benjamin 2003, Questions and Answers on the Falun Gong movement, 22
September.
Report focus: Following his seminar at the Tribunal in August 2003, Members submitted
questions to Dr Penny. He provided answers on private and public practice of Falun Gong in
China; leaders and ordinary practitioners; whether Chinese consulates would photograph FG
protesters; spiritual goals of practitioners; Chinese computer databases on the FG, and travel
documents; and other subjects.
Fisher, Gareth 2003 ‘Resistance and Salvation in Falun Gong: The Promise and Peril of
Forbearance’, Nova Religio 6: 2, pp. 294-311.
INTERNET: http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/abs/10.1525/nr.2003.6.2.294?journalCode=nr
Report focus: Discusses in particular the principle of ren or forbearance and its importance in the
spiritual life of the Falun Gong practitioner. Ren plays a significant role in determining how
practitioners interact with the Chinese government, since harassment and torture are seen as
opportunities to practise forbearance, leading to spiritual development.
[Note: This is a scanned PDF document, and it cannot be copied and pasted.]
Burgdoff, Craig 2003, ‘How Falun Gong practice undermines Li Hongzhi’s totalistic
rhetoric’, Nova Religio 6,2, p.332.
INTERNET: http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/abs/10.1525/nr.2003.6.2.332
Report focus: This article is of interest because the writer himself joined a Falun Gong group in
Ohio and participated in the practices. He makes the interesting point that ordinary practitioners
did not generally discuss the details of Li Hongzhi’s doctrine, and that “Falun Gong practice does
not require unquestioning acceptance of all the Master’s teaching”. The loose organisational
structure means that “there is no hierarchy in place to enforce orthodoxy and little or no emphasis
upon dogmatic discipline”. Participants seemed to come and go as they pleased, and there was no
pressure exerted on the writer to increase his involvement or to volunteer with organising events.
Report focus: Section 3.2 of this comprehensive study by a University of Leiden academic gives a
summary of the “great teachings of the dharma wheel”, the teachings of Li Hongzhi.
[See also Barend ter Haar’s web site at http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/bth/falun.htm or at
Aalderink, Karin 2001, ‘Totally Expunge Evil, Pursue it to the End: Explaining the
Crackdown on the Falun Gong’ (MA Thesis, Department of Chinese Studies Leiden
University, The Netherlands), September.
INTERNET: http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/bth/aalderink/index.html
Report focus: Chapter 5 of this thesis discusses the history and nature of the Falun Dafa
Research, the nature of the Falun Dafa, and the life of Li Hongzhi.
TREATMENT BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES
2008 – 2007- 2006 – 2005 – 2004 – 2003 – 2002 – 2001 – 2000
2008
Bodeen, C. 2008, ‘China Falun Gong follower receives 3-year sentence’, Associated
Press Newswires, 25 November.
RRT: (FACTIVA)
A Beijing court Tuesday sentenced a follower of the banned Falun Gong meditation
movement to three years in prison on a vaguely worded charge, her lawyer said. Artist
Xu Na was convicted of “using a cult organization to undermine implementation of the
law,” her lawyer Cheng Hai said. He had yet to study the verdict – the second time
authorities have used the vague charge this month to imprison a group member but said
her family planned to appeal.
According to the U.S.-based Falun Gong Information Center, Xu and her husband were
picked up in the Chinese capital on Jan. 26 as part of a security sweep tied to the Beijing
Olympics. The center said Xu’s husband, musician Yu Zhou, died in police custody 11
days after his detention, a claim that could not be verified.
Falun Gong attracted millions of followers in the 1990s with its program of traditional
Chinese calisthenics and philosophy drawn from Buddhism, Taoism and the often-
unorthodox teachings of founder Li Hongzhi, who lives in hiding overseas.
Originally promoted by authorities, it was banned in 1999 after members mounted a

massive demonstration outside government headquarters in Beijing. Authorities labeled it
an “evil cult.”
A clerk with Beijing’s Chongwen District People’s Court, who gave only his surname,
Wang, confirmed there was a verdict against Xu but declined to confirm the sentence.
Xu’s sentencing follows that earlier this month of former Shanghai university librarian
Liu Jin on the same charge. She was imprisoned for three and a half years. Liu’s lawyer
said she had passed on information about the group downloaded from the Internet.
US Congressional-Executive Commission on China 2008, ‘Freedom of Religion’,

Annual Report 2008, 31 October, pp.12, 38, 60, 87-93.
INTERNET: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-
bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_house_hearings&docid=f:45233.pdf
“The central government’s ‘‘6–10 Office’’ (established in 1999 to implement the policy
that outlaws Falun Gong) issued an internal directive to local governments nationwide
mandating propaganda activities to prevent Falun Gong from ‘‘interfering with or
harming’’ the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Beijing and Shanghai Public Security
Bureaus also issued local directives providing rewards for informants who report Falun
Gong activities to the police. Stories published in the state-controlled media, as well as
statements made by Chinese officials, sought to link Falun Gong with terrorist threats in
the lead-up to the Olympics. (p.12)
…According to the Falun Dafa Information Center, since the beginning of 2008 at least
nine Falun Gong adherents in Beijing have died in police custody. In April, Falun Gong
adherent and popular Beijing-based folk singer Yu Zhou died in police custody within
two weeks of being detained on his way home from a concert. (p.38)
…In June 2008, authorities detained Ha Jingbo and Jiang Ruoling, two middle school
teachers from Dongfeng county in Jilin province, for distributing educational leaflets
about Falun Gong. (p.60)
The central government intensified its nine-year campaign of persecution against Falun
Gong practitioners in the months leading up to the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic
Games. Chinese security forces continued to detain and imprison Falun Gong
practitioners and subjected some who refused to disavow the practice to torture and other
forms of abuse in reeducation through labor (RTL) camps and other detention facilities.
In September 2007, Zhou Yongkang, then-Minister of Public Security and current
member of the Politburo Standing Committee, ordered that all police and public security
forces ‘‘strike hard on overseas and domestic hostile forces, ethnic splittists, religious
extremists, violent terrorists, and the Falun Gong cult’’ to safeguard ‘‘social stability’’ for
the 17th Party Congress and the Olympics. Official accounts of the crackdown were
publicly available on Web sites for all 31 of China’s provincial-level jurisdictions in
2007–2008. Since the government outlawed Falun Gong in July 1999, it has detained
thousands—most likely hundreds of thousands—of practitioners. Chinese government
Web sites regularly report detentions of Falun Gong ‘‘criminal suspects’’ and some
provincial and local authorities offer rewards as high as 5,000 yuan (US$732) to
informants who report Falun Gong ‘‘escaped criminals.’’ In July, Chinese state media
reported the arrest of 25 Falun Gong practitioners and the destruction of 7 Falun Gong
publishing operations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.124 In 2007,
Yingshang county government in Anhui province revealed that it had detained 13
‘‘Falun Gong and other cult criminals,’’ held another in ‘‘public security detention,’’ and
‘‘reeducated and reprimanded’’ more than 1,600. During the same period, Miyi county in
Sichuan province recorded detentions of 62 practitioners as part of its ‘‘strike hard’’
campaign and claimed to have ‘‘transformed’’ 14 of them. Relying on reports from
practitioners and their families in China, sources outside of China, not all of whom are
themselves Falun Gong practitioners, estimate that Chinese authorities detained ‘‘at least
8,037’’ practitioners between December 2007 and the end of June 2008 in a nationwide
pre-Olympics crackdown. (pp.87-88)
…Publicly available government documents detail the central role of the 6–10 Office in
the persecution of Falun Gong. Since its inception, the 6–10 Office has also expanded its
targets to include other religious and qigong groups that the central government deems
‘‘harmful.’’ According to Nanjing City Public Security provisions published in June
2008, the 6–10 Office is at the forefront of ‘‘organizing and leading the struggle against
Falun Gong.’’ Its responsibilities include ‘‘directing investigations into significant
cases,’’ ‘‘digging deep to uncover covert plots and organizers,’’ ‘‘gathering
intelligence,’’ and ‘‘organizing and coordinating the prevention, control, and punishment
of Falun Gong and other harmful qigong organizations by municipal public security
forces.’’ A notice posted on a Yunnan provincial government Web site in March 2008
declares that the government must ‘‘sternly guard against’’ Falun Gong, calling it a
‘‘cultic, anti-Communist Party, anti-socialist organization.’’ It warns government
workers that ‘‘if [you] hear of Falun Gong reactionary propaganda immediately notify
your unit leaderand the public security ‘610’ Office.’’
An April 2008 notice posted on the Gutian county government Web site in Fujian
province describes the central government’s ‘‘basic policy’’ outlawing the practice of
Falun Gong and outlines five primary tasks to implement: (1) ‘‘explicitly order the
dissemination of information regarding the ban [on Falun Gong],’’ (2) ‘‘carry out
comprehensive administration [of the policy],’’ (3) ‘‘fully utilize all legal weapons,
sternly punish the criminal activities of cult ringleaders and key members,’’ (4) ‘‘do a
good job at transformation through reeducation for the great majority of practitioners,’’
and (5) ‘‘prevent external cults from seeping into the area, reduce the conditions that
allow cults to propagate.’’
Several reports mention ‘‘three zeroes’’ that security officials should aim to achieve. An
official report from the Communist Party Political-Legal Committee of Wuling district in
the city of Changde in Hunan province urges cadres to ‘‘resolutely achieve the ‘three
zeroes goal’ in 6–10 management work,’’ which is defined as ‘‘no petitions in Beijing,
zero incidents of local assemblies and protests, zero incidents of interference with
television broadcasts.’’ The same report also stresses the need to carry out four tasks to
this end: (1) ‘‘strengthen the prevention, control, and management [of Falun Gong] and
conscientiously keep an unflinching eye on Falun Gong practitioners,’’ (2) ‘‘strengthen
the use of transformation through reeducation as a line of attack against their
fortifications, use all your might to transform obstinate Falun Gong elements,’’ (3)
‘‘strengthen strikes against and punishment of [Falun Gong], give the ‘Falun Gong’
underground gang a forceful scare,’’ and (4) ‘‘strengthen anti-cult cautionary education,
reinforce the people’s ability to recognize, prevent, and oppose cults.’’
Aggressive surveillance is a key aspect of the 6–10 Office’s work. The Wuling Party
Political-Legal Committee describes having implemented a set of three ‘‘responsibility
measures’’ to ensure that ‘‘more than 600 Falun Gong practitioners’’ are closely
monitored by the district police, neighborhood committee, and their own relatives. The
Committee also instructs security officials to organize an ‘‘inspect and control’’ system
whereby local police are to conduct home ‘‘visits’’ of Falun Gong practitioners three
times per day. In order to monitor more ‘‘die-hard’’ practitioners, public security forces
are to form an ‘‘inspection and control small group’’ to carry out ‘‘24-hour
surveillance.’’ A county report from Jiangxi province also stresses the need to ‘‘dispatch
inspection and control personnel’’ during ‘‘important periods of time’’ in order to
ascertain a practitioner’s ‘‘movement 24 hours a day,’’ and report ‘‘unusual situations’’
in a timely manner to the 6–10 Office.144 In addition to surveillance, the 6–10 Office is
also required to develop broad ‘‘intelligence channels’’ that allow them to ‘‘know
whenever the enemy moves.’’ (pp.88-90)
Working in concert with the 6–10 Office to undermine Chinese citizens’ right to believe
in and practice Falun Gong and other banned religious sects is a national network of
‘‘anti-cult associations’’ (fanxiejiao xiehui).158 Local anti-cult associations can be found
at the provincial, county, municipal, and neighbourhood level. (p.91)
DIRECTIVES AND MEASURES RELATED TO FALUN GONG AND THE

OLYMPICS
In April 2008, the central government 6–10 Office issued an internal directive to local
governments nationwide mandating propaganda activities to prevent Falun Gong from
‘‘interfering with or harming’’ the Olympics.165 References to the directive appear on
official Web sites in every province and at every level of government. 166 Most official
reports focus on demonstrating that local authorities have stepped up security and
fulfilled the requirement to ‘‘educate’’ target audiences on the directive’s content.Local
authorities distributed the directive widely in an effort to raise public awareness.
References can be found on various Web sites ranging from public entities with indirect
relations with the state (state-run enterprises, public schools, universities, parks, TV
stations, meteorological
bureaus, etc.) to commercial and social entities with no obvious ties to the state.168 Anti-
cult associations also actively circulated and promoted the 6–10 Office’s Olympic
directive.
Olympic and municipal officials in Shanghai and Beijing also issued directives
pertaining to Falun Gong in the lead-up to the 2008 Olympic Games. The Shanghai
Public Security Bureau sent a warning to Falun Gong practitioners and other dissidents in
April 2008 demanding that they remain in the city during the Olympics and report to the
public security office at least once a week until the end of October. The notice threatened
to detain or punish anyone who violates the order.In November 2007, Beijing Olympic
organizers reminded visitors to the games that possession of Falun Gong writings is
strictly forbidden and that no exceptions would be made for international visitors. The
Beijing Public Security Bureau issued a public notice offering a reward of up to 500,000
yuan (US$73,100) for informants who report Falun Gong plans to ‘‘sabotage’’ the
Olympics. From January to June 2008, public security agents reportedly arrested at least
208 practitioners from all 18 districts and counties in Beijing municipality. Falun Gong
sources have documented the names and other information for 141 of the 208
practitioners who were detained in Beijing, 30 of whom are now reportedly being held in
reeducation through labor camps with sentences as long as two-and-a-half years. (pp.91-
92)
US Department of State 2008, International Religious Freedom Report 2008: China,

19 September, Section II: ‘Abuses of Religious Freedom’.
“The Government continued to repress groups that it designated as “cults,” which

included several Christian groups and Falun Gong….The Government continued to
harshly repress religious groups designated as cults, including the Falun Gong…On
September 22, 2007, authorities detained Christian lawyer Gao Zhisheng shortly after a
letter he wrote to a foreign government, addressing human rights and religious freedom
issues, became public. Gao’s current whereabouts were unknown at the end of the
reporting period. In December 2006 the Government convicted Gao of “inciting
subversion” for sending a letter to President Hu Jintao detailing abuses against Falun
Gong practitioners.
…According to Falun Gong practitioners abroad, since 1999 more than 100,000
practitioners have been detained for engaging in Falun Gong practices, admitting that
they adhere to the teachings of Falun Gong, or refusing to criticize the organization or its
founder. The organization reported that its members have been subject to excessive force,
abuse, rape, detention, forcible psychiatric commitment and treatment (including
involuntary medication and electric shock treatment), and torture, and that some
members, including children, have died in custody. Practitioners who refused to recant
their beliefs were sometimes subjected to extrajudicial “legal education” centers after the
expiration of their criminal sentences.
Overseas Falun Gong organizations alleged a surge in arrests and deaths of Falun Gong
practitioners carried out in order to prevent disturbance during the Olympic Games.
Reports of abuse were difficult to confirm because the Government prevented Falun
Gong members from meeting with foreign reporters and government officials. These
organizations also reported that the Government harassed their members in other
countries, including the United States, through threatening phone calls and physical
harassment. The Government frequently used harsh rhetoric against the Falun Gong.
Some foreign observers estimated that at least half of the 250,000 officially recorded
inmates in the country’s reeducation-through-labor camps were Falun Gong adherents.
Falun Gong sources overseas placed the number even higher. For a more detailed
discussion, see the 2007 Human Rights Report.
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada 2008, CHN102867.E – China: Treatment

of children of Falun Gong practitioners; whether children of Falun Gong practitioners
are subject to sanctions, including reduced access to education and to health care, 26
June.
INTERNET: http://www.irb-
cisr.gc.ca/en/research/rir/?action=record.viewrec&gotorec=451962
Amnesty International 2008, ‘China’, Amnesty International Report 2008, 28 May.

INTERNET: http://thereport.amnesty.org/eng/regions/asia-pacific/china
“Falun Gong practitioners were at particularly high risk of torture and other ill-treatment
in detention…Millions of people were impeded from freely practising their religion.
Thousands remained in detention or serving prison sentences, at high risk of torture, for
practising their religion outside of state-sanctioned channels. Falun Gong practitioners,
Uighur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists and underground Christian groups were among those
most harshly persecuted… During the year over 100 Falun Gong practitioners were
reported to have died in detention or shortly after release as a result of torture, denial of
food or medical treatment, and other forms of ill-treatment.
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom 2008, Annual Report

of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, 1 May, pp. 182
& 189.
INTERNET: http://www.uscirf.gov/images/ar2008/annual%20report%202008-
entire%20document.pdf
Religious freedom restrictions and sometimes brutal abuses continued to target

unregistered religious groups, those considered by the government to be “cults,” and
religious communities associated with ethnic minority groups. Severe crackdowns
targeting Uighur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, “underground” Roman Catholics, “house
church” Protestants, and various spiritual movements such as Falun Gong continued in
the last year. (p.182)
…Police continued to detain current and former Falun Gong practitioners and to place
them in re-education camps. Police reportedly have quotas for Falun Gong arrests and
also target former practitioners. Tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been
sent to labor camps without trial or to mental health institutions for re-education because
of their affiliation with an “evil cult.”
In the past year, reports continued to surface regarding the re-arrest of Falun Gong
members who had been released after completing prison terms. For example, Bu
Dongwei, a lawyer in Beijing working on legal aid issues for the Asia Foundation, was
sentenced to two and one half years imprisonment for possession of Falun Gong-related
literature. In addition, the Chinese government has reportedly continued to pressure
foreign businesses in China to sign statements denouncing the Falun Gong and to refuse
to employ the group’s followers. Numerous allegations of government-sanctioned organ
harvesting from incarcerated Falun Gong practitioners have surfaced within the last year.
Independent investigation into the practices of a hospital in Sujiatun, Shenyang proved
inconclusive. However, based upon a report from two prominent Canadian human rights
activists, international human rights organizations have called for an independent
investigation and for continued international attention to allegations of organ harvesting
from prisoners. (p.189)
US Department of State 2008, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2007 –
China, 11 March, Sect. 2.c.
INTERNET: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100518.htm
Public Falun Gong activity in the country remained negligible, and practitioners based
abroad reported that the government’s crackdown against the group continued. In the
past, the mere belief in the discipline (even without any public practice of its tenets)
sometimes was sufficient grounds for practitioners to receive punishments ranging from
loss of employment to imprisonment. Falun Gong sources estimated that since 1999 at
least 6,000 Falun Gong practitioners have been sentenced to prison, more than 100,000
practitioners sentenced to reeducation-through-labor, and almost 3,000 died from torture
while in custody. Some foreign observers estimated that Falun Gong adherents
constituted at least half of the 250,000 officially recorded inmates in reeducation-
through-labor camps, while Falun Gong sources overseas placed the number even higher.
In the past, many practitioners were detained multiple times.
Over the past several years, Falun Gong members identified by the government as “core
leaders” were singled out for particularly harsh treatment. More than a dozen Falun Gong
members were sentenced to prison for the crime of “endangering state security,” but the
great majority of Falun Gong members convicted by the courts since 1999 were
sentenced to prison for “organizing or using a sect to undermine the implementation of
the law,” a less serious offense. Most practitioners, however, were punished
administratively. Some practitioners were sentenced to reeducation-through-labor.
Among them, Yuan Yuju and Liang Jinhui, relatives of a Hong Kong journalist working
for a television station supportive of Falun Gong, were sentenced to reeducation-through-
labor for distributing Falun Gong materials. Some Falun Gong members were sent to
“legal education” centers specifically established to “rehabilitate” practitioners who
refused to recant their belief voluntarily after their release from reeducation-through-
labor camps. Government officials denied the existence of such “legal education” centers.
In addition hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners were confined to mental hospitals,
according to overseas groups.
Police continued to detain current and former Falun Gong practitioners and used
possession of Falun Gong material as a pretext for arresting political activists. In March
Chi Jianwei, a member of the CDP, was sentenced to three years in prison for using a cult
to undermine implementation of the law, reportedly after authorities found Falun Gong
material at his house. Early in the year, authorities sentenced Cui Xin, an elderly resident
of Harbin, to seven years’ imprisonment for her involvement with Falun Gong. Police
confiscated Falun Gong materials from Cui’s home following her arrest in December
2006. The government continued its use of high-pressure tactics and mandatory anti-
Falun Gong study sessions to force practitioners to renounce Falun Gong. Even
practitioners who had not protested or made other public demonstrations of belief
reportedly were forced to attend anti-Falun Gong classes or were sent directly to
reeducation-through-labor camps. These tactics reportedly resulted in large numbers of
practitioners signing pledges to renounce the movement
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 2008, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF

CHINA: Review of Information on Falun Gong, 11 February.
RRT: CISNET CHINA CX193304
R.1, R.2 and R.3. The Chinese government has not loosened its restrictions on Falun
Gong and advice provided previously (Beijing reftels CX43498, CX64757, CX125116,
CX161676, CX174138) on treatment of Falun Gong practitioners remains current. We
have no further advice on specific treatment of Falun Gong practitioners across different
provinces.
R.4. Statistics are not available on how many people are detained in China’s Re-
education Through Labour (RTL) centres, although common estimates are 300-400,000.
RTL is an administrative detention system primarily used to detain people alleged to have
committed “misdemeanours” such as prostitution and drug-related offences (see
CX175914). While it is also used to detain religious practitioners and for political reasons
(both political dissidents and people who have upset local authority figures), we judge it
unlikely that Falun Gong adherents make up half of all RTL detainees.
We have had very limited reports from independent sources (ie not connected to the
Falun Gong movement) that Falun Gong adherents have suffered abuse in detention. We
note findings of UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Manfred Nowak (who visited China
in 2005) that torture remains “widespread” throughout China’s criminal justice and
detention systems, particularly in rural areas, indicating that Falun Gong adherents would
not be the only detainees to suffer abuse. There are regular reports (including from
Chinese human rights activists and lawyers, other embassies and international media) of
people who have been detained for political reasons suffering poor treatment in detention.
Generally speaking, we judge it unlikely that detained Falun Gong adherents would
suffer significantly worse abuse than people detained for political dissent.
…R.6. Our previous advice (CX161676 and CX174138) remains current [on the
treatment that a Falun Gong practitioner who is an unsuccessful asylum seeker and is
returned to China might receive from authorities].
2007
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada 2007, CHN102560.E – China: Treatment

of family members of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese authorities; situation of
persons who unwittingly or knowingly assist Falun Gong practitioners (e.g., by
allowing use or rental of property, offices, office equipment, vehicles, etc.); the
treatment of such persons if they deny knowledge of having assisted Falun Gong
practitioners, agree to cease such assistance, or denounce Falung Gong, 11 July.
cisr.gc.ca/en/research/rir/?action=record.viewrec&gotorec=451386
US Department of State, China Profile of Asylum Claims and Country Conditions,

May 2007, Section III.B.8, pp.13-15.
INTERNET: http://cdjp.org/gb/fileupload/China_May_2007.pdf
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom 2007, Annual

Report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, May,
pp.124 -125.
Full 292 page report
INTERNET:
http://www.uscirf.gov/countries/publications/currentreport/2007annualRpt.pdf#page=1
“Beginning with the banning of Falun Gong in 1999, the Chinese government has
conducted a violent campaign against “evil cults” and “heretical sects.” Tens of
thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been sent to labor camps without trial or
sent to mental health institutions for re-education because of their affiliation with an
“evil cult.” Falun Gong practitioners claim that nearly 6,000 practitioners have been sent
to prison and over 3,000 have died while in police custody. Some human rights
researchers estimate that Falun Gong adherents comprise up to half of the 250,000
officially recorded inmates in reeducation through labor camps. The UN Special
Rapporteur on Torture reported that Falun Gong practitioners make up two-thirds of the
alleged victims of torture. Given the lack of judicial transparency, the number and
treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in confinement is difficult to confirm. During the
Commission’s August 2005 visit, high level Chinese government officials defended the
crackdown on the Falun Gong as necessary to promote “social harmony.”
Police continued to detain current and former Falun Gong practitioners and place them
in reeducation camps. Police reportedly have quotas for Falun Gong arrests and target
former practitioners, even if they are no longer practicing. In the past year, reports
continued to surface regarding the re-arrest of Falun Gong practitioners who had been
released after completing terms of imprisonment originating from the original
crackdown in 1999 and 2000. For example, Bu
Dongwei, a lawyer in Beijing working on legal aid issues for the Asia Foundation, was
arrested for possession of Falun Gong-related literature. In addition, the Chinese
government has reportedly continued to pressure foreign businesses in China to sign
statements denouncing the Falun Gong and to refuse to employ the group’s followers.
Multiple allegations of government sanctioned organ harvesting from incarcerated Falun
Gong practitioners have surfaced within the
last year. Independent investigation into the practices of a hospital in Sujiatun, Shenyang
proved inconclusive. However, based upon a report on the allegations from two
prominent Canadian human rights activists, several international human rights
organizations have called for an independent investigation and continued international
attention to allegations of such organ harvesting from prisoners.
US Department of State, 2007, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2006 –

China, 6 March, Section 2c ‘Freedom of Religion’.
Report focus: “The government continued to wage a severe campaign against the Falun
Gong movement. Falun Gong practitioners were subject to close scrutiny by local
security personnel, and their personal mobility was tightly restricted, particularly
at times when the government believed public protests were likely. (Sec.1c)
Public Falun Gong activity in the country remained negligible, and practitioners
based abroad reported that the government’s crackdown against the group
continued. Since the government banned the Falun Gong in 1999, the mere belief
in the discipline (even without any public manifestation of its tenets) has been
sufficient grounds for practitioners to receive punishments ranging from loss of
employment to imprisonment. Although the vast majority of practitioners
detained have been released, many were detained again after release (see section
1.e.). Falun Gong sources estimated that at least 6,000 Falun Gong practitioners
had been sentenced to prison, more than 100,000 practitioners sentenced to
reeducation through labor, and almost 3,000 had died from torture while in
custody. Some foreign observers estimated that Falun Gong adherents constituted
at least half of the 250,000 officially recorded inmates in reeducation-through-
labor camps, while Falun Gong sources overseas placed the number even higher.
In March UN Special Rapporteur Nowak reported that Falun Gong practitioners
accounted for 66 percent of victims of alleged torture while in government
custody.
Falun Gong members identified by the government as “core leaders” have been
singled out for particularly harsh treatment. More than a dozen Falun Gong
members have been sentenced to prison for the crime of “endangering state
security,” but the great majority of Falun Gong members convicted by the courts
since 1999 have been sentenced to prison for “organizing or using a sect to
undermine the implementation of the law,” a less serious offense. Most
practitioners, however, were punished administratively. Some practitioners were
sentenced to reeducation through labor. Among them, Yuan Yuju and Liang
Jinhui, relatives of a Hong Kong journalist working for a television station
supportive of Falun Gong, were sentenced to reeducation through labor for
distributing Falun Gong materials. Apart from reeducation through labor, some
Falun Gong members were sent to “legal education” centers specifically
established to “rehabilitate” practitioners who refused to recant their belief
voluntarily after release from reeducation-through-labor camps. Government
officials denied the existence of such “legal education” centers. In addition,
hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners have been confined to mental hospitals,
according to overseas groups (sec.2c)
2006
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 2006, China: Return of failed asylum
seekers, 14 September.
RRT: CISNET China CX161676.
In relation to the question “what treatment failed Falun Gong claimants might expect”, this states:
A.1. It is not possible to comment definitively on how Chinese authorities would treat
returnees to China who were failed asylum seekers. It would be very likely that Chinese
authorities would interview them and might keep them under surveillance and detain
them for a short period. Any further action would depend on the circumstances of the
individual cases. Authorities maintain a dossier on every PRC citizen and we would
expect authorities would record the person’s failed asylum attempt in this file. This
conveivably could impede the person’s attempts to obtain employment (particularly
government employment) or engage in further education.
A.2. Advice provided in BJ019034 of 17 July 2000 remains current. China continues to
regard Falun Gong as an “evil cult”: a danger to Chinese people and state security. Falun
Gong followers who are obvious in their practice, who seek to spread information or
otherwise promote Falun Gong are likely to be detained and, particularly if they refuse to
renounce the practice, placed in detention – usually in Re-education Through Labour
facilities (administrative detention). The period of detention could be weeks or years,
depending both on practitioners’ past actions and their willingness to repudiate their
actions and recant their beliefs. Falun Gong followers who practise privately and do not
make their beliefs known are less likely to face repercussions.
Since China banned Falun Gong in 1999, the international Falun Gong organisation has
become more politicised and more vocal in its opposition to China’s Communist Party. If
practitioners have played an active role in Falun Gong organisations overseas, the
Chinese authorities are more likely to take an interest in their cases. For example,
authorities might repeatedly interview people, keep them under surveillance and,
particularly if authorities believe that the people remain active Falun Gong practitioners
and are in contact with overseas Falun Gong groups, might detain them.
US Department of State 2006, International Religious Freedom Report 2006: China (includes
Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau), 15 September.
The latest USDOS report states that during the year “the Government continued its repression of
groups that it categorized as ‘cults’ in general and of small Christian-based groups and the Falun
Gong in particular”. Other references to Falun Gong include:
After the revised criminal law came into effect in 1997, offenses related to membership in
unapproved cults and religious groups were classified as crimes of disturbing the social order.
A ban on cults, including the Falun Gong spiritual movement, was enacted in 1999. Under
Article 300 of the criminal law, “cult” members who “disrupt public order” or distribute
publications may be sentenced to three to seven years in prison, while “cult” leaders and
recruiters may be sentenced to seven years or more in prison. Under the new Public Security
Administrative Punishment Law, which took effect March 1, 2006. Falun Gong adherents
could face five to fifteen days of administrative detention and fines of up to $125 (1,000
RMB) for using superstitious cults or qigong activities to disrupt public order or harm public
health. Public security officials said the law would be used against Falun Gong.
[and]
During the period covered by this report, government repression of the Falun Gong spiritual
movement continued. Membership in the Falun Gong and other groups considered cults was
illegal. Distributing Falun Gong literature or encouraging others to join the spiritual movement
was punishable by criminal and administrative sanctions, including reeducation. As in past
years, foreigners who distributed Falun Gong materials were expelled from the country,
including an Australian expelled in October 2005 after attempting to distribute the book Nine
Commentaries on the Communist Party. In January 2006 the Government released U.S. citizen
Charles Lee after three years of imprisonment for Falun Gong-related activities. The
authorities also continued to oppose other groups the Government considered “cults,” such as
the Xiang Gong, Guo Gong, and Zhong Gong qigong groups.
Matas, David & Kilgour, David 2006, Report Into Allegations Of Organ Harvesting Of Falun
Gong Practitioners In China, 6 July.
INTERNET: www.david-kilgour.com/2006/Kilgour-Matas-organ-harvesting-rpt-July6-eng.pdf
Report focus: Matas is a Canadian immigration and human rights lawyer and Kilgour is a
Canadian former MP and Secretary of State for the Asia Pacific region. They were asked by the
Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of the Falun Gong in China to investigate the claim that
Falun Gong prisoners are being used for the harvesting of body organs which are then sold for
profit. Their paper concludes that the evidence points to the claim being true.
and was detained and tortured for twelve months in a labour camp. John Deller is the President of
Falun Dafa Association of NSW. Detailed discussion about the current situation in China, and
about Jennifer Zeng’s own experiences.
also submitted their answers in a written submission. This paper includes information on the
current situation for practitioners in China, and whether treatment varies between different
provinces and between urban and rural areas. It also examines the treatment of failed asylum
seekers in China.
Ansley, Clive Malcolm 2006, Affidavit of Clive Malcolm Ansley regarding the persecution of
Falun Gong and the possibility of Falun Gong victims bringing suit in China, 27 March
(Parts 1 and 2).
Report focus: Clive Malcolm Ansley is a Canadian expert on Chinese law and its justice system,
and has given expert advice to the Canadian and other government bodies. In this affidavit he
declares that FG practitioners are vilified and sometimes arrested and tortured by the Chinese
authorities, whose goal is to completely eliminate the group. He states that all practitioners are at
risk, not only leaders; and that failed asylum seekers are at risk. The document includes several
attachments such as articles from The Epoch Times, and a letter to the Chinese president written
by Ansley on behalf of Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada. This affidavit was submitted by the
Falun Dafa Association of NSW Inc.
2005
US Department of State 2005, International Religious Freedom Report 2005: China, 8

November.
Report focus: This report focuses on restrictions of religious freedom in the PRC and contains
numerous references to repression of the Falun Gong including the following:
Arrest, detention, and imprisonment of Falun Gong practitioners continued, and there have
been credible reports of deaths due to torture and abuse. Practitioners who refuse to recant
their beliefs are sometimes subjected to harsh treatment in prisons, reeducation-through-labor
camps, and extra-judicial “legal education” centers. Falun Gong adherents engaged in few
public activities within China during the period covered by this report, perhaps due to the
strength of the Government’s campaign against the group. However, there were continuing
revelations about the extra-legal activities of the Government’s “610 office,” implicated in
most alleged abuses of Falun Gong practitioners…
…Estimates of the number of Falun Gong…practitioners have varied widely; the Government
claimed that prior to its harsh crackdown on the Falun Gong beginning in 1999, there may
have been as many as 2.1 million adherents of Falun Gong in the country. Some estimate that
the true number of Falun Gong adherents in the country before the crackdown was much
higher. The number has declined as a result of the crackdown, but there are still hundreds of
thousands of practitioners in the country, according to reliable estimates…
…During the period covered by this report, government repression of the Falun Gong spiritual
movement continued. At the National People’s Congress session in March 2004, Premier Wen
Jiabao’s Government Work Report emphasized that the Government would “expand and
deepen its battle against cults,” including Falun Gong. There were credible reports of torture
and deaths in custody of Falun Gong practitioners….
…According to Falun Gong practitioners in the United States, since 1999 more than 100,000
practitioners have been detained for engaging in Falun Gong practices, admitting that they
adhere to the teachings of Falun Gong, or refusing to criticize the organization or its founder.
The organization reports that its members have been subject to excessive force, abuse,
detention, and torture, and that some of its members, including children, have died in custody.
For example, in 2003, Falun Gong practitioner Liu Chengjun died after reportedly being
abused in custody in Jilin Province. Some foreign observers estimate that at least half of the
250,000 officially recorded inmates in the country’s reeducation-through-labor camps are
Falun Gong adherents. Falun Gong places the number even higher. Hundreds of Falun Gong
adherents were also incarcerated in legal education centers, a form of administrative detention,
upon completion of their reeducation-through-labor sentences. Government officials denied
the existence of such “legal education” centers. According to the Falun Gong, hundreds of its
practitioners have been confined to psychiatric institutions and forced to take medications or
undergo electric shock treatment against their will….
…In December 2004, a Beijing attorney sent an open letter to the National People’s Congress
highlighting legal abuses in cases involving Falun Gong. The letter focused on the April 2004
detention and subsequent administrative sentencing of Huang Wei of Shijiazhuang, Hebei
Province. It described how Falun Gong cases are handled outside normal legal procedures by a
special Ministry of Justice office, known as the 610 office. The letter alleged that mistreatment
is typical of the ongoing campaign against Falun Gong. After the open letter was published,
Huang’s wife disappeared, and her whereabouts remain unknown. The asylum request of a
Chinese diplomat and other former government officials allegedly involved in the
Government’s campaign against Falun Gong overseas brought additional scrutiny and
negative attention to the extra-legal activities of the 610 office, including allegations that it
sought out Falun Gong practitioners abroad and forcibly returned them to the country.
Chaney, C. 2005, ‘The despotic State Department in refugee law: Creating legal fictions to
support Falun Gong asylum claims’, Asian-Pacific Law and Policy Journal, Vol.6, Issue 1,
Winter.
INTERNET: http://www.hawaii.edu/aplpj/archive.html#2006
Report focus: This article argues that “Falun Gong asylum cases represent a flaw in US refugee
law…[as] the system forces adjudicators to accept USDOS’s politically motivated yet
unsubstantiated descriptions of the Falun Gong’s situation in the PRC, causing them to grant
asylum to aliens who would otherwise be excluded or removed”. It makes the case that the Falun
Gong is neither a religion nor a political opinion, and therefore does not fit into the framework of
refugee law. Includes discussion of Falun Gong doctrine (III/A/1,2); government perceptions of
the group (III/B); religion in Chinese legal discourse, including qiqong groups and “heretical”
cults (III/B/1,2,3); and misleading aspects of the USDOS Religious Freedom Report of 2004
(III/C). Section IV examines some immigration appeal cases based on Falun Gong claims.
DFAT 2005, Country Information Report No. 05/34: China: Update on Falun Gong, 30 June.
RRT: CISNET – CX125116
Report focus: Confirms that the advice given in CX43498 of 17 July 2000 and CX64757 of 24
May 2002 remains relevant, as regards: the type of Falun Gong followers who would be more
likely to attract the attention of authorities and the kind of treatment they could expect; the current
attitude/treatment by PRC authorities; differences of treatment depending on Provinces;
assessment of the cause of death of followers in custody.
DIMIA 2005, Falun Dafa/Falun Gong Issues Brief: Ref: CHN300605, June.
Report focus: 12 Page Report. Executive summary:
Despite protestations that it is merely promoting an exercise practice conducive to health and
well being, Falun Gong is regarded by the Chinese authorities as essentially destabilising to its
control. Chinese authorities have concerns about the organisation’s ability to mobilise large
numbers of adherents to protest what they describe as their innocent practice. The overriding
concern however, is Falun Gong’s propagation of traditional Chinese cultural values and a
belief system, fundamentally at odds with the Party’s doctrine.
These concerns emerged slowly. Indeed there was some government support for the activities
of Falun Gong founder Li Hongzhi up until the late 1990s. Deng’s heir, Jiang Zemin, took a
hard line with Falun Gong however and did so in a way intended to consolidate his power and
influence over the Party apparatus. He represented Falun Gong as an enemy of the state and
positioned himself in the vanguard of defending the country. Jiang contrived the passage of
legislation that ultimately outlawed Falun Gong and created administrative machinery to
identify and manage this threat.
That much is known and widely accepted as fact. However, the picture since the early years of
this decade is far more difficult to represent with either conviction or clarity. As the two
parties came into ideological collision, their respective descriptions of “facts” diverged widely
to the stage where we are unable to provide Falun Gong numbers with any precision as we are
similarly unable to describe the scale of their incarceration. The lack of credible, in-country
observers has exacerbated this.
In some respects, a portrayal of the dimensions of Falun Gong strength in China and their
numbers imprisoned is not essential to the focus of this paper. The undisputed fact is that all
Falun Gong followers claim persecution and many are imprisoned – often illegally or without
judicial trial or appeal, in either “re-education through labour” camps or psychiatric hospitals.
The environmental conditions and labour regime in the camps are harsh and the death toll is
probably significant.
Accounts of torture are more difficult to prove although on the balance of probability, torture
of Falun Gong adherents is frequent and consequential death likely in some cases.
US Commission on International Religious Freedom 2005, Annual Report of the United
States Commission on International Religious Freedom, May.
INTERNET: http://www.uscirf.gov/images/stories/pdf/Annual_Report/2005annualRpt.pdf
Report focus: This report names China as a “Country of Particular Concern” and states that “the
government continues to be responsible for pervasive and severe violations of religious freedom
and related human rights”. Of the Falun gong it states that:
Beginning with the banning of Falun Gong in 1999, the Chinese government has continued to
carry out a campaign against what it calls “evil cults” and “heretical sects.” Thousands of
Falun Gong practitioners have been sent to labor camps without trial or sent to mental health
institutions for re-education due to their affiliation with an “evil cult.” Falun Gong
practitioners claim that between 1,000 to 2,000 practitioners have been killed as a result of
police brutality. Given the lack of judicial transparency, the number and treatment of Falun
Gong practitioners in confinement is difficult to confirm. Nevertheless, there is substantial
evidence from foreign diplomats, international human rights groups, and human rights
activists in Hong Kong that the crackdowns on the Falun Gong are widespread and violent. In
addition, the Chinese government has reportedly continued to pressure foreign businesses in
China to sign statements denouncing the Falun Gong and to discriminate against its followers
in hiring. Local officials in foreign countries have also stated that they were warned by
Chinese diplomatic personnel about the loss of potential business contacts if they continued to
advocate on behalf of Falun Gong.
For USCIRF reports see:

INTERNET:
http://www.uscirf.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2136&Itemid=106
Amnesty International 2005, Urgent Action: Fear of torture or ill-treatment/possible prisoner

of conscience, ASA 17/009/2005, 22 April.
INTERNET: http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA170092005?open&of=ENG-CHN
Report focus: Brief urgent appeal on behalf of practitioner Liu Yawen who was detained on 31
March. Overseas groups claim that 1800 practitioners in China have either died in custody, or
shortly after they have been released, largely as a result of injuries sustained in detention.
Falun Gong Human Rights Working Group 2005, Alienating its own citizens: A report on the
Chinese Government’s worldwide refusal to renew its citizen’s passports, April.
INTERNET: http://www.falunhr.org/reports/Passport/Passport-S.pdf
Report focus: 104 page report by a Falun Gong-related human rights group. It contains case
studies and personal testimonies from around the world, of Falun Gong Practitioners visiting
other countries who now cannot return to China because the local Chinese consul will not renew
their passports. Includes a large section on Australia.
UN Commission on Human Rights 2005, Civil and political rights, including the question of
torture and detention: Report of the Special Rapporteur, Theo van Boven, 30 March,
E/CN.4/2005/62/Add.1.
INTERNET:
http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G05/132/80/PDF/G0513280.pdf?OpenElement
Report focus: Paragraphs 226-386, on pages 49-80 (of a 450 page report), are devoted to China.
Of these, paras 226, 228-237, 239-255, 258-269, 272-3, 278,280-1,286-90, 301, deal with
allegations received by the Special Rapporteur about abuses against Falun Gong prisoners. Paras
305, 352,356-8, 360, 364-5, 368-72,378-81, 383-4 consist of replies from the Chinese
government in relation to cases previously alleged in the 2004 report about Falun Gong
practitioners: all of the allegations of torture are denied, and any deaths attributed to illness,
accident or suicide (several allegations from the 2004 report do not seem to be addressed at all).
Para. 382 constitutes a statement from the Chinese government on the nature of Falun Gong as a
harmful cult, justifying the arrest of those who have broken the law, but affirming China’s
commitment to the UN Convention Against Torture and to the rights of the individual. Para.256
contains a summary of a letter of concern sent to the Chinese government by the Special
Rapporteur, in collaboration with other Special Rapporteurs, which:
…expressed concern at reports of systematic repression against the Falun Gong and other
“heretical organizations” (“xiejiao zuzhi”). Over the past five years, hundreds of cases of
alleged violations of the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners have been brought to the
attention of the Special Rapporteurs. Many of these allegations have been reported back to the
Chinese authorities and are reflected in reports of the Special Rapporteurs to the Commission
of Human Rights. The Special Rapporteurs are concerned that reports of arrest, detention, ill-
treatment, torture, denial of adequate medical treatment, sexual violence, deaths, and unfair
trial of members of so called “heretical organizations”, in particular Falun Gong practitioners,
are increasing. They are concerned that these allegations may reflect a deliberate and
institutionalized policy of the authorities to target specific groups such as the Falun Gong.
According to information received, on 10 June 1999 the Central Committee of the Chinese
Communist Party established an office for dealing with the Falun Gong, commonly referred to
as the “610 office” (for the date of its establishment) and officially later as the State Council
Office for the Prevention and Handling of Cults. This institution reportedly was given a
mandate to repress Falun Gong and other “heretical organizations”, and is operating outside of
the rule of law. Reports indicate that the Falun Gong was officially banned on 22 July 1999
through a decision of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and since then several decisions, notices,
regulations and other judicial interpretations have been issued by the government and judicial
authorities to legitimize the official repression against “heretical organizations”, including the
Falun Gong. In addition, according to reports a media campaign was launched against the
Falun Gong and Falun Gong practitioners in June 1999…Further reports indicate that in
February 2001, the Central Committee of the Communist Party called for a Central Work
Conference of high-level party officials. The purpose of this meeting was reportedly to adopt a
plan calling for the formation of local “anti-cult task forces” in all universities, state
enterprises and social organizations, to reinforce the “6-10 Office” and strengthen local
control over the Falun gong. An analysis of reports received by Special Rapporteurs indicates
that alleged human rights violations against Falun Gong practitioners, including systematic
arrest and detention, are part of a pattern of repression against members of this group. Most of
those arrested are reportedly heavily fined and released, but many are detained and ill-treated
in order to force them to formally renounce Falun Gong. Those who refuse are sent to “re-
education through labour” camps, where reportedly torture is used routinely resulting in many
deaths. The Special Rapporteurs are further concerned by reports that few Falun Gong
practitioners are prosecuted. When charges are laid they reportedly include allegations such as
“disturbing social order”, assembling to disrupt public order”, stealing or leaking state secrets”
or “using a heretical organization to undermine the implementation of the law”. According to
the information received, those prosecuted have been unfairly tried and many have received
lengthy prison sentences. In this respect it is reported that on 5 November 1999, a Notice
issued by the Supreme People’s Court instructed all local courts to do their “political duty” in
bringing to trial and punishing “severely” those charged with “heretical organizations crimes”,
“particularly Falun Gong”, and to handle these cases “under the leadership of the Party
committees”…
Reporters Without Borders 2005, ‘Cyberdissident Zhang Lin formally charged’, 22 March.
INTERNET: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=12562
Report focus: Cyberdissident Zhang Lin has been charged with “attempting to subvert state
power” and faces a heavy jail sentence. Zhang has posted articles on websites linked to the Falun
Gong spiritual movement such as Dajiyuan.com and Epochtimes.com, as well as Boxun.com, a
website about human rights in China.
Wiest, Nailene Chou 2005, ‘Tumultuous tenure for religion chief; Falun Gong’s banning
cast a spotlight on his administration, even as party toned down hostility to “opium of the
people”‘, South China Morning Post, 14 March.
INTERNET: http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/
Report focus: Discusses the role of the State Administration of Religious Affairs, its director Ye
Xiaowen, and the new CCP concept of “mutual adaption of socialism and religion” which is said
to have replaced outright hostility to religion.
Olesen, Alexa 2005, ‘China to enact new regulations on religious freedom’, Associated Press
Newswires, 1 March
Report focus: The new Regulations on Religion Affairs came into effect in March 2005, covering
such areas as religious donations, tax exemptions, and foreign students. They are purported to
protect religion, but critics say they only protect state-sanctioned groups, and could be used
against banned organisations such as the Falun Gong.
US Department of State 2005, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2004: China
(includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau), 28 February.
Report focus: States that “the Government continued its crackdown against the Falun Gong
spiritual movement, and tens of thousands of practitioners remained incarcerated in prisons,
extrajudicial reeducation-through-labor camps, and psychiatric facilities. Several hundred Falun
Gong adherents reportedly have died in detention due to torture, abuse, and neglect since the
crackdown on Falun Gong began in 1999”. Section 2c looks specifically at freedom of religion,
but several references to the Falun Gong are found in 1a.Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of
Life; 1c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; and 2b.
Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association.
Falun Gong Human Rights Working Group 2005, The Falun Gong Report: Stories of
Conscience, February.
INTERNET: http://www.flghrwg.net/reports/2005/Report2005.pdf
Report focus: This is a 156 page report by a Falun Gong-related human rights group. It gives a
detailed history of the movement; the crackdown by the Chinese government, including notable
incidents such as the 1999 demonstrations; case histories and personal testimonies of particular
individuals and families who have been imprisoned and tortured, including photographs;
descriptions of the workings of the 610 office; and detailed descriptions of the methods of torture
used on practitioners, with illustrations. The group’s previous reports from 2003 and 2002 can be
found on its web site at http://www.falunhr.org/reports/2003/Report2003.pdf and
http://www.falunhr.org/reports/2002/Report2002.pdf .
UNHCR 2005, The Falun Gong Movement in China, 1 January.
Report focus: January 2005 advice from UNHCR which contains comments on protection
considerations for practitioners. States that there exists “no evidence known to UNHCR to
suggest that all Falun Gong members are being systematically targeted by the Chinese authorities
(especially in view of the large numbers involved). Therefore, although membership of Falun
Gong alone would not give rise to refugee status, a prominent role in certain overt activities (such
as proselytising or organising demonstrations) which bring the membership to the attention of the
authorities, may do so. As is general practice, each claim requires an examination on its own
merits”.
2004
Chang, Maria Hsia 2004, Falun Gong: The End of Days, New Haven, Conn., Yale University
Press.
RRT: RRT Library 322.10951 CHA
Contents: 1. A Religious Sect Defies the State – 2. Chinese Religions and Millenarian
Movements – 3. Falun Gong: Beliefs and Practices – 4. The State vs. Falun Gong – 5. The
Persecution of Other Faith
Report Focus: Chapter 4 of this book includes an account of the range of laws, rules and
regulations which the Chinese government has used against the Falun Gong. This includes new
rules which have been formulated particularly with Falun Gong in mind. Chapter 5 includes
discussion of the contradictions between the freedom of religion guaranteed in the Chinese
constitution, and the regulations which prevent this in practice; and lists some of the other major
religious groups across the country that have experienced restrictions and arrests. Conditions in
modern China, with the widening gulf between rich and poor, are the context for the growth in
these groups and for the government’s repression.
Reporters Without Borders 2004, ‘11 Falun Gong members arrested for posting torture
photos on Internet’, 29 December.
INTERNET: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=12179
Report focus: 11 members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement were arrested for using
the Internet to disseminate photos of the torture some of them have undergone in prison. More
than 20 Falun Gong followers are already in prison for the same reason.
‘Chinese Falun Gong members “confess” concocting torture photos’ 2004, BBC Monitoring
online, source: Xinhua News Agency, 27 December.
RRT: CISNET – CX118820
Report focus: Xinhua has accused Falun Gong of encouraging practitioners to concoct
photographs of torture to “slander the country”. It quotes alleged examples of how practitioners
had put together false stories and photographs to be published on Minghui.org.
Wu, Vivian 2004, ‘New guidelines on religious freedom; Guarantees issued on the pursuit of
beliefs – but not for illegal groups’, South China Morning Post, 20 December.
Report focus: The new government regulations on religion, set to come into effect in March 2005.
Some commentators think that a “slight improvement” could result, but critics point out that
illegal groups such as Falun Gong and the underground Catholic Church will not benefit.
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board 2004, CHN43081.E – China: Whether the self-
immolations of 23 January 2001 in Tiananmen Square were a fabrication; if so, who is
making the allegations and based on what evidence (2001 to November 2004), 7 December.
INTERNET: http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/research/rir/?action=record.viewrec&gotorec=416268
Stone, Alan A. 2004, ‘The Plight of the Falun Gong’, Psychiatric Times, November 2004,
Vol. XXIII, Issue 13.
INTERNET: http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/p041157.html
Report Focus: The author is a psychiatrist who was involved in attempts by the World Psychiatric
Association to organise an independent fact-finding mission to China. The purpose of the trip was
to investigate allegations of “systematic misuse of psychiatry in China” particularly in the
treatment of Falun Gong practitioners. In the end, the Chinese government would not allow the
mission to take place. The report contains useful and recent background material collected by the
author from other sources, including reference to “hundreds of accounts of Falun Gong
psychiatric abuse reported from all over China”.
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board 2004, CHN43070.E – China: The censorship by
Chinese authorities of email messages from abroad, particularly those containing the words
“Falun Gong” or “Falun Dafa” and references to treatment of its practitioners; the filtering
by Chinese authorities of email messages sent from “hotmail.com” addresses (2002-2004), 17
November.
INTERNET: http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/research/rir/?action=record.viewrec&gotorec=416274
Falun Gong Human Rights Working Group 2004, United Nations Reports on China’s
Persecution of Falun Gong, November.
INTERNET: http://www.falunhr.org/reports/UN2004/UN2004.pdf
Report focus: 128 page report which compiles excerpts from United Nations reports from the last
few years, containing many references to Falun Gong practitioners in detention. The first 25% of
the report, headed as ‘Background’, is not by the UN and contains graphic information and
photographs. Not all of the UN material is specifically about Falun Gong practitioners, and some
refers to countries other than China. A compilation of earlier UN reports from 2000-2003 can also
be found on the website at http://www.falunhr.org/reports/UN2000-2003/UNReport2000-
2003.pdf
McDonald, Hamish 2004, ‘What’s wrong with Falun Gong’, The Age, 16 October.
INTERNET: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/15/1097784013251.html?from=storylhs
Report focus: Feature article covering: “brainwashing centres” in Gwanzhou City and around the
country where practitioners are sent; government propaganda campaigns in the media; protests
outside Chinese embassies overseas, and their response.
‘Falun Gong Practitioners Jailed for Libeling Gov’t’ 2004, Xinhua News Agency, Embassy
of the People’s Republic of China website, 12 September.
INTERNET: http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/zt/ppflg/t173963.htm
Report focus: 5 people received sentences of 5 to 14 years in prison for vilifying the
government’s image through spreading fabricated stories on persecution of cult practitioners.
DFAT 2004, DFAT Report 310 ‘RRT INFORMATION Request: CHN16862’, 11 August.
Report focus: Brief report on public security authorities issuing formal written warnings to cease
Falun Gong activities.
Amnesty International 2004, Amnesty International Report 2004: China, June.

INTERNET: www.web.amnesty.org/report2004/chn-summary-eng
Report Focus: This states only that in 2003, “Rhetoric intensified in the official media against the
Falun Gong spiritual movement, which was banned as a “heretical organization” in July 1999,
apparently exacerbating the climate of violence and intolerance against the Falun Gong . Detained
Falun Gong practitioners, including large numbers of women, were at risk of torture, including
sexual abuse, particularly if they refused to renounce their beliefs.”
UN Commission on Human Rights 2004, Civil and political rights, including the question of
torture and detention: Report of the Special Rapporteur, Theo van Boven, 23 March,
E/CN.4/2004/56/Add.1.
INTERNET:
http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/(Symbol)/E.CN.4.2004.56.Add.1.En?Opendocum
ent
Report focus: Pages 51-87 of this 420 page report are devoted to China. Of these, paras 246-295,
303-330, 340, 342-3, 345, 348-50, 354, 359, 386, 400, 403 deal with allegations received by the
Special Rapporteur about abuses against Falun Gong prisoners. Paras 332-336 constitute a
restatement of the Chinese government’s position on the Falun Gong, calling it “an anti-social,
anti-scientific, anti-humanitarian sect whose violent tendencies are becoming steadily more
apparent”. It lists various crimes committed by practitioners under the influence of the sect,
including the murder of relatives, destruction of telecommunications facilities and other “spoiling
activities”, illegal accumulation of wealth, stealing state secrets and disrupting public order. It
justifies the strong measures taken by the Chinese government in outlawing the group, but states
that it does not use torture, but only “kindly assistance and patient persuasion”. Later paragraphs
contain replies from the Chinese government in relation to cases previously alleged in earlier
reports by the Special Rapporteur: all of the allegations of torture are denied, and any deaths
attributed to illness, suicide or murder by other inmates. It is not clear how many of these refer to
Falun Gong practitioners.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services 2004, CHN04002.SND – China: Information on

Treatment of Family and Relatives of Falun Gong Adherents, 25 February.
INTERNET: http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/asylum/ric/documentation/CHN04002.htm
Report focus: The only specific reports of harassment of family members come mainly from the
Falun Gong movement itself. The Falun Gong website provides accounts of family members
allegedly being arrested in order to pressure adherents who are wanted by authorities into
surrendering, or otherwise punished for the adherents’ Falun Gong activities. To the extent that
these accounts are accurate, however, it is unclear whether they are part of a systemic national
practice or are the work of zealous local officials.
Amnesty International 2004, People’s Republic of China: Controls tighten as Internet
activism grows, ASA 17/001/2004, 28 January
INTERNET: http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA170012004?open&of=ENG-CHN
Report Focus: In November 2002, Amnesty International documented 33 people who had been
detained for Internet-related offences, including three Falun Gong practitioners who, according to
Amnesty International’s information at the time, had reportedly died in custody. Prison sentences
ranged from two to 12 years.
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board 2004, CHN42293.E – China: Information on the
release of 159 Falun Dafa practitioners from Long Shan and Shen Xin Reforming Centre;
name of person who authorized the release (September 2001), 20 January.
cisr.gc.ca/en/research/rir/index_e.htm?action=record.viewrec&gotorec=416337
2003
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board 2003, CHN42185.E – China: Situation of people
who do not practice Falun Gong, but who oppose the government’s policy of labelling the
group a cult and who encourage others to learn about Falun Gong (2001-2003), 2 December.
INTERNET: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/topic,464db4f52,47e13a6f2,403dd1e98,0.html
Ping, Hu 2003, ‘The Falungong Phenomenon’, China Rights Forum, 4 November.

INTERNET: http://www.fofg.org/downloads/a1_Falungong4.2003.pdf
Report focus: Independent in-depth analysis of the movement apparently by a non-practitioner.

Ping discusses the rapid rise of Falun Gong and other spiritual groups to fill the vacuum left by
the collapse of Maoist ideology after the Tiananmen Square deaths in 1989. He comments on the
attraction of the group to simple working-class people, many of whom are women, and the
courage they have shown in practising ren or forbearance in the face of mistreatment. He believes
the group offers a serious challenge to the government.
Amnesty International 2003, People’s Republic of China: Continuing abuses under a new
leadership – summary of human rights concerns, AI Index: ASA 17/035/2003, 1 October.
INTERNET: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engasa170352003
Report Focus: This report includes 2 pages on the Falun Gong (pp.13-14) concluding that the
Falun Gong spiritual movement remains a key target for repression in China. It states:
Amnesty International is unable to verify these figures, but continues to receive reports
from various sources of serious human rights violations, including arbitrary detention,
torture and ill-treatment targeted at Falun Gong practitioners across the country,
particularly those who refuse to renounce their beliefs.
organisation.
September.
DFAT 2003, Country Information Report No 57/03, Criminal Changes, 20 June.

CISNET – CX76018
Report Focus: This report examines the likelihood of Chinese police or officials fabricating
evidence against Falun Gong practitioners
Edelman, Bryan & Richardson, James T. 2003, ‘Falun Gong and the Law: The
Development of Legal Social Control in China’, Nova Religio, 6: 2, pp. 312-331.
Report focus: Examines the function of the legal system in China, in the context of a communist
system of government, and looks in detail at the legal structures which exist to inhibit the Falun
Gong. Includes a timeline of particular legislation which has been passed, and other significant
reactions to the group. Describes the case of Chen Zixiu, a practitioner who was arrested and died
in custody, apparently after being beaten; her daughter attempted to file criminal charges against
the PSB but no lawyer would take her case.
Keith, R.C. & Lin Z. 2003, ‘The “Falun Gong problem”: Politics and the struggle for the
rule of law in China’, The China Quarterly, No.175.
INTERNET: http://www.olemiss.edu/courses/inst203/keithlin03.pdf
Report focus: Examines the relation between the criminal justice treatment of Falun Gong and
“the struggle for the rule of law in China [where] it appears that the law has not been able to
transcend the conceptual bias of past criminal law on counter-revolution”.
‘U.S. Must Protest China’s Deadly Abuse Of Religious Prisoners – Reports state that China
is beating religious prisoners to death’ 2003, Freedom House website (sourced from Falun
Dafa Information Center website), 11 June.
INTERNET: http://www.freedomhouse.org/religion/news/bn2003/bn-2003-06-11.htm
Report focus: Urgent appeal from Freedom House’s Center for Religious Freedom, on five Falun
Gong Practitioners who died while in Chinese custody, apparently beaten to death.
DIMIA Country Information Service 2003, Falun Dafa / Falun Gong (Country Issues Brief),
May.
CISNET – CX86201
Report focus: This is a 3 page DIMIA summary of the Falun Gong movement, including
Political Context, Human Rights Issues, Practitioners of FG outside China, and FG in Australia.
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board 2003, CHN40908.E – ‘Subject: China: Reports on
the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners post “re-education,” including whether
practitioners’ employment status or their ability to travel is negatively affected’, 8 April
INTERNET: http://www.cisr-irb.gc.ca/en/research/rir/?action=record.viewrec&gotorec=416395
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board 2003, CHN40879.E – China: The nature, mission
and geographical reach of the “610” and “621” offices in China and the differences between
the two, 8 January.
2002
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board 2002, CHN40474.E – China: Update to
CHN37941.E of 10 January 2002 on the harassment of family members of Falun Gong
practitioners by the Public Security Bureau, 27 November.
INTERNET: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/topic,464db4f52,47e13a6f2,3f7d4d6de,0.html
Kindopp, Jason 2002, ‘China’s war on “evil cults”‘, Current History, September, pp. 259-
266.
INTERNET: http://www.currenthistory.com/Article.php?ID=210
RRT: Library (Sydney and Melbourne)
Report focus: Examines the PRC authorities’ treatment of Falun Gong within the context of its
wider “war on cults”. The author comments that the ability of groups such as Falun Gong “to
mobilize large numbers of people to take concerted action against political authorities” constitutes
a significant challenge to the “cornerstone of the Chinese Communist Party’s symbolic order”
and provides an explanation for the ruthless crack down on Falun Gong.
Human Rights Watch and Geneva Initiative on Psychiatry 2002, Dangerous Minds: Political
Psychiatry in China Today and its Origins in the Mao Era, August.
INTERNET: http://hrw.org/reports/2002/china02/china0802.pdf
RRT Library, HRW CHINA 2002

Report focus: This extensive report examines the use of judicial psychiatry by Chinese authorities
for political purposes. Chapter VIII of the report particularly focuses on the targeting of Falun
Gong practitioners for psychiatric abuse in recent years.
Report focus: Section 5 of this comprehensive study by a University of Leiden academic looks at
the growth of protests by the Falun Gong movement in China, and the response of the Chinese
government. 5.1 describes events from the 1999 demonstration in Beijing onwards. 5.2 describes
the tactics used by the Chinese government to legitimate its attacks on the group.5.3 examines the
“traditional and statist ways of looking at religious phenomena, including new religious
movements”, which include labelling all kinds of groups as heretical. 5.4 looks at the Falun
Gong’s response to its treatment by the Chinese government. Section 6 examines migration and
asylum issues in relation to Falun Gong practitioners.
DIMIA Country Information Service 2002, Country Information Report No 136/02, ‘Falun
Gong Practitioners’, (sourced from DFAT advice of 20 May), 24 May. CISNET – CX64757
Report focus: Highlights authorities’ concern regarding the ability of Falun Gong members to
organise themselves and propagate Falun Gong beliefs. Also highlights the considerable
provincial discretion in PRC treatment of Falun Gong practitioners Notes that PRC authorities are
less interested in individual members practising alone than those actively propagating Falun Gong
as a “core” member. Briefly refers to conditions of detention and deaths in custody.
Human Rights Watch 2002, Dangerous Meditation: China’s Campaign against Falungong,
February.
INTERNET: http://hrw.org/reports/2002/china/
Report focus: Provides an account of the self-immolation incident in Tiananmen Square in

January 2001. (See pp.19-22) Discusses freedom of belief in China in Part II.
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board 2002, CHN37941.E20 – China: Whether there is
evidence that the Public Security Bureau (PSB) is harassing (ie arresting, interrogating,
demanding self-criticism) the family members of known Falun Gong practitioners; if so,
whether the PSB is performing these actions in order to obtain information about the
practitioner, the organization, and / or other members, 10 January.
INTERNET: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/topic,464db4f52,47e13a6f2,3df4be1d30,0.html
2001
DFAT 2001, Country Information Report No 255/01 – China: Falun Gong Update, 12
September.
CISNET – CX57264
Report focus: Updates CISNET – CX38557, noting that the PRC Government’s campaign against
Falun Gong remains as outlined in that response; there has been no hardening or thawing in
official attitudes.
DFAT 2001, Country Information Report No 262/01 – Falun Gong Claim, 7 September.
CISNET – CX57787
Report focus: Provides information on the likely treatment of Falun Gong returnees. DFAT
considers that “It remains our assessment that a known Falungong follower would likely be
subject to monitoring upon return to China” and notes that “We are not aware of any cases of
Falungong practitioners returning from abroad who were subjected to legal or administrative
penalties who were not also engaging in conduct illegal under Chinese law.”
DFAT 2001, Country Information Report No 94/01 – Falun Gong Related Demonstrations, 20
March.
CISNET – CX51051
Report focus: The report focuses on Falun Gong-related demonstrations. It notes that “It is likely
a known activist would be subjected to monitoring on return”. Also states that DFAT is “not
aware of any official membership cards or certificates associated with Falungong membership.”
2000
DFAT 2000, Country Information Report No 396/00 – Update on Falun Gong (Falun Dafa),
17 July.
CISNET – CX43498
Report focus: Provides information regarding practices of PRC border officials in relation to the
return of Falun Gong practitioners. Highlights differential treatment between leaders and ordinary
practitioners of Falun Gong.
DFAT 2000, Country Information Report No 150/00 – Falun Gong registration rejected in
Japan, 28 April.
CISNET – CX41724
Report focus: Details reports that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government had rejected an
application from Falun Gong members in Japan to register the group as a non-profit organisation.
The report notes that the decision had been made with consideration to the bilateral relationship
with China.
DFAT 2000, Country Information Report No 58/00 – Update Information on Falun Gong, 4
February.
CISNET – CX39773
Report focus: The report notes that Falun Gong practitioners are likely to be subject to official
monitoring on their return to China, but differentiates between the likely treatment of leaders and
“ordinary” members.
BY PROVINCE
Fujian Province
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board 1999, CHN33255.EX ‘China: Falun Dafa
(Falun Gong, Falungong) update; update to CHN33180.EX of 26 November 1999; update to
CHN33002.EX of 8 October 1999 regarding Falun Dafa in Fujian province; existence of any
documentation associated with Falun Dafa practice’, 3 December.
INTERNET: http://www.cisr-irb.gc.ca/en/research/ndp/ref/?action=view&doc=chn33255ex
Guangdong Province
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board 2002, CHN40500.E – China: Treatment of Falun
Gong practitioners in Guangdong province with particular emphasis on Baiyun district,
Guangzhou City (July 1999-November 2002), 29 November.
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board 2002, CHN38346.E20 – China: Reports of Falun
Gong-related events in Guangzhou City and environs (including Long Gui Village) since the
self-immolations on Tiananmen Square on 23 January 2001; whether the Public Security
Bureau (PSB) has increased its crackdown; reaction of members; current situation; types and
lengths of punishments meted out to persistent practitioners; whether a profile of a typical
local Falun Gong practitioner is ascertainable (23 January 2001-2002), 20 February.
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board, 2001, CHN36921.E – China: A demonstration

held in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on 22 June 2000 to protest the anniversary of the
ban on the Falun Gong; any reports of arrests and whether practitioners had to hide out in
Qingyang, 30 April.
INTERNET: www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/3df4be1c20.html
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board, 2001, CHN36335.E – China: “Falun Dafa
Research Society” in Zhuhai district, Guangzhou; leaders, activities and treatment by the
authorities, 2 February.
Guangxi Province
DFAT 2001, Country Information Report No 195/01 – Falun Gong Movement in Bei Hai City,
2 July.
CISNET – CX54504
Report focus: Provides information regarding treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in Bei Hai
City in Guangxi.
Jilin Province
November.
CISNET – CX38557
Report focus: Updated by CISNET – CX57264. This early DFAT response mentions arrests and
sentencing of Falun Gong practitioners in Hainan and Jilin.
Liaoning Province
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board 2003, CHN40919.E – China: Information on the
treatment of Falun Gong practitioners by the Liaoning Public Security Bureau (PSB) and
other police forces; reports of police brutality; statements of police policy or attitude towards
Falun Gong members in November and December 2001, 24 February.
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board 2002, CHN39550.E – China: The existence and
use of Dalian N.621 Enforcement Centre, 6 August.
INTERNET: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/publisher,IRBC,,CHN,3f7d4d6a31,0.html
Report focus: Provides information regarding the alleged use of a centre in Dalian for the
detention and treatment of Falun Gong practitioners.
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board 2002, CHN39549.E – China: Whether the Dalian
City Public Security Bureau (PSB) released an anti-Falun Gong campaign announcement in
November 2000, 6 August.
INTERNET: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/topic,464db4f52,47e13a6f2,3f7d4d6a2a,0.html
Report focus: Provides information from Falun Gong sources regarding a “strike-hard” campaign
by the Dalian City Police Department against Falun Gong practitioners.
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board 2002, CHN39398.E – China: Treatment by the
government of Falun Gong practitioners in Dalian City and Liaoning Province since the
Tiannamen immolations in January 2001, 9 July.
INTERNET: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/topic,464db4f52,47e13a6f2,3df4be20c,0.html
Report focus: Details a variety of sources dealing with the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners
in the province of Liaoning between January 2001 and July 2002. No information specific to
Dalian city could be found for this period
Hainan Province
November.
CISNET – CX38557
Report focus: Updated by CISNET – CX57264. This early DFAT response mentions early arrests
and sentencing of Falun Gong practitioners in Hainan and Jilin.
Shanghai Province
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board 2002, CHN40181.E – China: Treatment of Falun
Gong practitioners in Shanghai (2001-November 2002), 26 November.
Zhejiang Province
Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board 2002, CHN38318.E9 –China: The key contact for
Falun Gong at Hangzhou University (Xixi campus) from October 1995 to March 2000; the
activities and treatment of Falun Gong practitioners at Hangzhou University from September
1995 to June 2000, 8 January.
INTERNET: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/topic,464db4f52,47e13a6f2,3df4be1e34,0.html
ORGANISATION
In China and the USA
and was detained and tortured for twelve months in a labour camp. John Deller is the President
of Falun Dafa Association of NSW.
DIMIA 2005, Falun Dafa/Falun Gong Issues Brief: Ref: CHN300605, June.
Report focus: Contains a brief examination of structure and organisation: “Falun Gong makes no
claim to having a formal organisation. However, standardisation of websites, information flows
and the nature and scale of public visibility indicate levels of activism and at the least, informal
organisation, if not some controlling group”.
Bell, M.R. & Boas, T.C. 2003, ‘Falun Gong and the Internet: Evangelism, Community, and
Struggle for Survival’, Nova Religio, 6/2.
INTERNET: http://socs.berkeley.edu/~tboas/falungong.pdf – Accessed 15 November 2005.
Report focus: Examines in detail the importance of the internet to Falun Gong’s organisation,
structure, and communications, both within China and around the world: “…it is safe to say that
Falun Gong is the largest religious movement born alongside the rapid global proliferation of the
Internet. Certainly, its growth has coincided with the Internet boom, in China and around the
world”. Within China, the internet is used to organise activities, and to pass information in and
out of the country. The Chinese authorities have sought to control the internet by electronic
means; by well-publicised arrests; by the “promotion of self-censorship”; and by “an aggressive
propaganda campaign”.
organisation.
September.
Burgdoff, Craig 2003, ‘How Falun Gong practice undermines Li Hongzhi’s totalistic
rhetoric’, Nova Religio 6,2, p.332.
INTERNET: http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/abs/10.1525/nr.2003.6.2.332
Report focus: This article is of interest because the writer himself joined a Falun Gong group in
Ohio and participated in the practices. He discusses the loose organisational structure, stating that
practitioners have little contact with Li, and that “Falun Gong has at best a virtual central
organization, comprised of independent cell-like local groups. There is no hierarchy in place to
enforce orthodoxy and little or no emphasis upon dogmatic discipline. There is no ‘official’
membership, and practitioners are free to participate as much or as little as they like without
censure. There is no attempt to isolate practitioners from society, and no manipulation f sexuality
or finances other than emphasizing the need for strict moral behaviour”. It appears that “while Li
jealously guards his spiritual authority, he seems to have willingly relinquished organizational
control. In fact, Li insists that practitioners who take on organizational roles should have
absolutely no authority over other practitioners. Arguably, the absence of any other official
authority figure strengthens Li’s unique status and power and makes any relinquishment of his
organizational control unlikely. In any case, the lack of an organizational hierarchy works against
institutionalization”. Practitioners are not required to contribute financially: although individual
practitioners financed local events themselves, there was no pressure on others to contribute or to
volunteer services. “The loose organizational structure of Falun Gong also means that there are
no membership lists. There are no initiation rituals, instead, new members are simply taught the
exercises and invited to participate in events as they occur. Increased or decreased participation
does not seem to affect one’s status in the group. While membership lists are not maintained,
email addresses and lists are usually exchanged and this is the preferred method of
communication and organization”. The email system is very effective for circulating information
quickly: “the organizational structure is both web-based and web-like”.
Fisher, Gareth 2003 ‘Resistance and Salvation in Falun Gong: The Promise and Peril of
Forbearance’, Nova Religio 6: 2, pp. 294-311.
Report focus: Discusses in particular the principle of ren or forbearance and its importance in the
spiritual life of the Falun Gong practitioner. The last part of this paper discusses the drawbacks of
Falun Gong’s loose organisational structure, such as the development of a Falun Gong splinter
group operating in Hong Kong which has repudiated Li as leader, and follows Master Peng Shan
Shan. [Note: This is a scanned PDF document, and it cannot be copied and pasted.]
UK Home Office 2002, Revolution of the Wheel – the Falun Gong in China and in Exile, 2nd
edition, November.
Report focus: Includes information on the leadership, organisation and nature of the group. See
Section 1b ‘Theoretical basis: leadership’ and Section 1c ‘Theoretical basis: organisation’.
Tong, James 2002, ‘An Organizational Analysis of the Falun Gong: Structure,
Communications, Financing’, China Quarterly, Vol.171, September, p.636-660.
INTERNET: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=CQY
Report focus: Provides an analysis of the two opposing views of Falun Gong: the state’s
argument that Falun Gong was a well organised movement with a clear hierarchical structure, a
centralised administration system, a well developed communications and mobilisation system and
a solid financial base prior to its suppression; and Falun Gong’s assertion that it had no
organisational structure, no membership rosters, no local offices, telephones or financial
accounts, etc.
Report focus: Section 4 of this comprehensive study by a University of Leiden academic

examines the size, spread and structure of the movement within China. It states that “the rough
geographical distribution of the membership seems to be clear. The two demonstrations and
subsequent Falun Gong protests and state persecutions all indicate that the movement was
represented to some considerable extent in the big cities of northern and western China (including
Beijin, Tianjn, and Chongqing), as well as across all northern provinces. When we look at a
sample of the people who have died in the course of the suppression campaign, we find that the
majority of the victims come from the north…All the hijackings of cable television time (which,
unlike hijacking of satellites, requires local presence) also took place in Heilongjiang, Jilin,
Liaoning, Shandong and Chongqing (Sichuan)’.
DFAT 2001, Country Information Report No 94/01 – Falun Gong Related Demonstrations, 20
March.
CISNET – CX51051
Report focus: Includes the statement that DFAT is “not aware of any official membership cards
or certificates associated with Falungong membership.”
In Australia
and was detained and tortured for twelve months in a labour camp. John Deller is the President
of Falun Dafa Association of NSW.
also submitted their answers in a written submission. The paper includes information on how the
FG in Australia determines whether someone is a genuine practitioner, and when they would
provide a letter of support; current numbers in Australia; and what levels of knowledge of the
exercises and of the Zhuan Falun should be expected from a genuine practitioner.
Falun Dafa Association of NSW 2005, Sample letter of support for application for Review of
Protection, 10 June.
Report focus: This is a scanned copy of a type of letter written in support of applicants by the
President of the Falun Dafa Association of NSW, John Deller. Please note that he has since
changed his email address.
DIMIA Country Information Service 2003, Falun Dafa / Falun Gong (Country Issues Brief),
May.
CISNET – CX86201
Report focus: “The Falun Gong Association in Australia does not provide a list of officials nor
does it provide any membership details. There is, however, an official website for the Falun Gong
movement in Australia which can be accessed at http://www.falundafa.org.au. It lists contact
names for further information about the movement, regional meeting places and details of other
Falun Gong activities.
Mr John Deller identifies himself as a spokesperson for the Falun Dafa in Australia. In October
2001 he attended the News Corp Annual General Meeting and noted his concerns at the manner
in which the Falun Dafa had been referred to by the News Corp Executive. In March Mr Deller
addressed a gathering at the Villawood Processing Centre sharing his concerns about the possible
deportation of two Falun Gong practitioners to China”.
Falun Dafa Association of Australia 2001, Information provided by the Falun Dafa
Association of Australia to the Refugee Review Tribunal on 11 May 2001 as answers to the
following questions with regards to the practice and operation of Falun Gong in Australia and
China, 11 May.
Report focus: Answers questions with regards to the practice and operation of Falun Gong in
Australia and China. Reconfirmed information provided in January 2000 by Falun Fo Xue
(Falundafa Buddhist Association) of Australia.
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS
The Epoch Times

Jurkowitz, Mark 2005, ‘Time for a change; International paper puts an emphasis on universal
freedoms’, The Boston Globe, 31 May.
INTERNET: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2005/05/31/times_for_a_change/
Report focus: Examines The Epoch Times, giving some rare independent commentary on the
paper, which has links with the Falun Gong. States that many staff are Falun Gong practitioners,
including John Nania, the US editor in chief; Stephen Gregory, the opinion editor; and Martin
Fox, the Boston editor. The paper’s name is said to mean “a time of importance and change”, and
Fox comments that “the people that are involved with the paper see this as a certain time in
history when things are changing…Fundamental things are going on”. The paper is said to be
owned by “a privately held company of investors who ‘support the values of the paper, human
rights and universal freedoms’. A federal tax form filed last year by the Epoch Times Association
Inc. indicates that it is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization based in New Jersey”. The paper’s
Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party is claimed to be responsible for “more than 1.9
million people” resigning from the Chinese Communist Party.
The Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party was published by the The Epoch Times
http://english.epochtimes.com/ towards the end of 2004. The Epoch Times stated: “The ‘Nine
Commentaries’…are a book-length set of nine editorials that tell the true history of the CCP.
Written under the auspices of The Epoch Times editorial board, the authorship is anonymous”.
Although the greater part of the Commentaries examines issues apart from the Falun Gong, there
are obviously important links between the two, and they have been referred to directly in recent
talks given by Li Hongzhi.
New Tang Dynasty Television

Internet: http://www.ntdtv.com/xtr/eng/aMain.jsp
Website focus: This television station appears to have some links to the Falun Gong. It provides
general Chinese-language programming, with some leaning towards the spiritual; traditional
Chinese culture [the Tang dynasty is regarded as a high point in Chinese history]; and Falun
Gong-related news items. The Chinese government has accused New Tang of being run by the
Falun Gong, and continues to attempt to block its transmission into China by putting pressure on
satellite providers.

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FALUN GONG (FALUN DAFA) RESOURCE GUIDE

(Updated to 10 December 2008)

ESSENTIAL INTRODUCTORY READING:

 US Department of State 2008, International Religious Freedom Report 2008: China,

OTHER RECOMMENDED READING:

 Human Rights Watch 2002, Dangerous Meditation: China’s Campaign against

 Amnesty International 2000, People’s Republic of China: the Crackdown on Falun

 DIMIA Country Information Service 2002, Country Information Report No 136/02 –

BACKGROUND AND HISTORY

Ping, Hu 2003, ‘The Falungong Phenomenon’, China Rights Forum, 4 November.

Report focus: Independent in-depth analysis of the movement apparently by a non-practitioner.

BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

Falun Gong sources

Li, Hongzhi 2005, Teacher’s New “Jin Wen”, 16 May.

Li, Hongzhi 1999, “Falun Dafa Lecture in Sydney”.

TREATMENT BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES

2008 – 2007- 2006 – 2005 – 2004 – 2003 – 2002 – 2001 – 2000

Originally promoted by authorities, it was banned in 1999 after members mounted a

US Congressional-Executive Commission on China 2008, ‘Freedom of Religion’,

DIRECTIVES AND MEASURES RELATED TO FALUN GONG AND THE

US Department of State 2008, International Religious Freedom Report 2008: China,

“The Government continued to repress groups that it designated as “cults,” which

Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada 2008, CHN102867.E – China: Treatment

Amnesty International 2008, ‘China’, Amnesty International Report 2008, 28 May.

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom 2008, Annual Report

Religious freedom restrictions and sometimes brutal abuses continued to target

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 2008, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF

Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada 2007, CHN102560.E – China: Treatment

US Department of State, China Profile of Asylum Claims and Country Conditions,

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom 2007, Annual

US Department of State, 2007, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2006 –

US Department of State 2005, International Religious Freedom Report 2005: China, 8

Report focus: 12 Page Report. Executive summary:

For USCIRF reports see:

Amnesty International 2005, Urgent Action: Fear of torture or ill-treatment/possible prisoner

UNHCR 2005, The Falun Gong Movement in China, 1 January.

Amnesty International 2004, Amnesty International Report 2004: China, June.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services 2004, CHN04002.SND – China: Information on

Ping, Hu 2003, ‘The Falungong Phenomenon’, China Rights Forum, 4 November.

Report focus: Independent in-depth analysis of the movement apparently by a non-practitioner.

DFAT 2003, Country Information Report No 57/03, Criminal Changes, 20 June.

RRT Library, HRW CHINA 2002

Report focus: Provides an account of the self-immolation incident in Tiananmen Square in

Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board, 2001, CHN36921.E – China: A demonstration

In China and the USA

Report focus: Section 4 of this comprehensive study by a University of Leiden academic

The Epoch Times

New Tang Dynasty Television

You might also like

US Department of State 2008, International Religious Freedom Report 2008: China,

Human Rights Watch 2002, Dangerous Meditation: China’s Campaign against

Amnesty International 2000, People’s Republic of China: the Crackdown on Falun

DIMIA Country Information Service 2002, Country Information Report No 136/02 –