I was very happy to read the article “Pair brings
attention to persecution in China” on Monday (Nov. 24),
because it helps to raise awareness about the severe persecution of
Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) practitioners in China. I am
very appreciative of and impressed by the reporter’s
dedication in writing this article.
I would also like to express my deep appreciation to the
Undergraduate Students Association Council for passing the
“Student Resolution to Support the Freedom of Belief of Falun
Gong Practitioners” on Nov. 18.
I sincerely hope to take this opportunity to clarify one of the
issues that was brought up in the article: “Communist Party
officials outlawed it believing the exercise was cult-like and
caused its followers to commit suicide.”
This is a typical fabrication that former Chinese Communist
Party leader Jiang Zemin used to justify his persecution of Falun
Gong practitioners.
In fact, the teaching of Falun Gong prohibits practitioners from
committing any kind of killing, including suicide. Falun Gong
teaches one how to become a better person according to three
principles: truthfulness, compassion and tolerance.
Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong, says in the book
“Zhuan Falun” that “for practitioners, we have
set the strict requirement that they cannot kill lives.”
In addition, when one Falun Gong practitioner asked whether
suicide was a sin, Li answered, “It counts as a
sin.”
Falun Gong has brought better health and inner peace to millions
around the world. Falun Gong practitioners cherish life and love
peace. Furthermore, in Taiwan and Western countries where Falun
Gong is practiced freely and the media are allowed to report
freely, there has not been a single reported case of suicide among
Falun Gong practitioners.
Hsieh is a graduate student in economics.