Investigative Report on Li Lanqing, the Former Lead of the “CCP Central Committee Leadership Team to Handle the Falun Gong Issue”

Foreword

Li Lanqing was the Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China from March 1998 to March 2003 [1]. From June 1999 to 2003, he was also the lead of the “Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee Leadership Team to Handle Falun Gong Issue” (referred to as the “Leadership Team” in this report). As lead of the Leadership Team, Li Lanqing worked hard to propagate Jiang Zemin (former CCP chief)’s policy to persecute Falun Gong. Li was in charge of the persecution throughout China. This report provides evidence of Li Lanqing’s role in the persecution of Falun Gong.

Brief Introduction of the CCP Organization Dedicated to Persecute Falun Gong

The “CCP Central Committee Leadership Team to Handle the Falun Gong Issue” was established on June 10, 1999 by Jiang Zemin. Jiang established the Leadership Team, as a Party organ, bypassing the Constitution and other regulatory procedures. Along with the Leadership Team, an office working for the Leadership Team was also established. Within the CCP organization, it is called the “Office of CCP Central Committee Leadership Team to Handle the Falun Gong Issue.” Within the government hierarchy, it is called the “Office of the State Council to Prevent and Handle Cult Issues.” The two names refer to the same office, which is commonly known as the “610 Office” because it was setup on June 10, 1999.

Please refer to the WOIPFG report on the “610 Office” for details of its establishment, naming, structure, budget and main tasks [2].

Jiang Zemin Appointed Li Lanqing as the Lead of the Leadership Team

On June 7, 1999, Jiang Zemin gave a speech at the CCP Central Politburo meeting. The topic of Jiang’s speech was to “urgently handle and solve the Falun Gong issue.” In his speech, Jiang mentioned the establishment of a dedicated leadership team and named Li Lanqing, then Vice Premier, as the lead of this extralegal organization. Ding Guangen (member of the CCP Central Politburo, member of the Secretariat of the CCP Central Committee and the Minister of Propaganda) and Luo Gan (member of the CCP Central Politburo, member of the State Council, and Director of the Political & Legal Affairs Committee) were named the deputy leads [3]. In November 2002, Li Lanqing was replaced by Luo Gan. In 2007, Zhou Yongkang assumed the lead position replacing Luo Gan.

As the Leadership Team Lead, Li Lanqing was directly in charge of the persecution of Falun Gong on all fronts, including science, education, arts, senior, etc. He gave speeches in various meetings to incite hatred against and demonize Falun Gong. He traveled to various places to inspect and issue specific commands to persecute Falun Gong.

Using Meetings to Propagate the Persecution Policy

On Aug. 15, 1999, Li Lanqing met with representatives from the medical and family planning. Li gave a speech saying that medical workers must “actively participate in the exposure of Falun Gong. The struggle against Falun Gong is a serious political campaign [4].”
  
The Falun Gong followers in China come from all walks of life and all ages, including the retired population, which has long been ignored by the Chinese regime. However, in order to implement the persecution policy among elderly people, “China Aging Problem National Commission” was established in October 1999, and Li Lanqing was the director. On Oct. 22, 1999, Li Lanqing gave a speech on the first meeting of the Commission. Li said that as of Oct. 1, there were 126 million people over 60 years of age in China, which was 10 percent of the population. Li stressed the importance of the “struggle against Falun Gong among old people as a political campaign and urged the elderly people to “continuously upgrade their thoughts and political awareness [5].”     

On Nov. 26, 1999, the meeting to “report situation of the struggle against Falun Gong” was held in Beijing’s People’s Hall. Over 3,000 people attended the meeting. Li Lanqing gave a speech titled “Several Issues in the Struggle against Falun Gong.” According to an attendee, Li Lanqing talked about the policy in persecuting Falun Gong, which was never recorded in written form. Instead, it has been transmitted throughout the nation only via oral communication [6].

On Dec. 15, 1999, the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Propaganda, and China Association of Sciences hosted the 2nd National Popular Science Working Meeting. Li Lanqing, Wen Jiabao and Ding Guangen gave speeches [7]. Li Lanqing’s speech was published on the official media People’s Daily. In his speech, Li Lanqing equated the persecution of Falun Gong to the proliferation of science. Li also defined the tasks “to spread science far and wide in society” as an “important political responsibility [8].”

From July 5 to July 7, 2000, the CCP Central Committee Departments of Organization, Propaganda and Education held the 9th Nationwide Working Meeting of CCP Development in Universities in Beijing. Li Lanqing, Ding Guangen and Zeng Qinghong attended the meeting. Li Lanqing gave a speech saying that “the education and transformation of Falun Gong practitioners in universities must continue [9].”

On Aug. 29, 2000, the Ministry of Justice held a meeting to “reward and share experience of those who did well in the education and transformation (of Falun Gong practitioners).” Li Lanqing sent a congratulatory letter to the meeting. Luo Gan and Wang Maolin gave speeches at the meeting. They praised Masanjia Labor Camp in its use of torture on Falun Gong practitioners and demanded the torture methods to become the nationwide method and standard in transforming Falun Gong practitioners [10]. (WOIPFG note: To transform a Falun Gong practitioner is to make him/her give up the belief in Falun Gong.) After the meeting, officials from all over China visited Masanjia Labor Camp to “learn from its experience [11].” (Note: Masanjia Labor Camp in the northeastern province of Liaoning is notorious for its brutal torture on Falun Gong practitioners. It has been dubbed as the “model” for transforming Falun Gong practitioners by the CCP Central. Please refer to the WOIPFG investigative report on Masanjia Labor Camp for details. (http://www.upholdjustice.org/node/237)

On Jan. 5, 2001, Li Lanqing called a meeting of the leaders of the National Federation of Trade Unions, the Communist Youth League and Women’s Federation. During the meeting, Li Lanqing gave orders to “thoroughly mobilize the general public to participate and intensify the anti-Falun Gong activities.” On Jan. 8, Zhou Qiang, Secretary of the Communist Youth League, held a meeting of all secretaries of the Youth Leagues to study Li Lanqing’s speech and the Central 610 Office announcement about “Falun Gong activities during the Chinese New Year in Beijing.” Specific tasks were delegated according to the announcement [12].

On Jan. 9, 2001, Li Lanqing attended the 11th Meeting of Universities Directly Affiliated with the Department of Education. Li ordered “the management team of all universities must be united and lead the students and faculties in the fierce struggle against Falun Gong.” Li also ordered “the ‘no cult on campus’ program to be held on all university campus and to make the universities an important battle ground against Falun Gong and other organizations [13]”

In order to intensify the persecution of Falun Gong by inciting hatred in the populace, the CCP staged the “Tiananmen Square Self-Immolation” hoax on Jan. 23, 2001. Two weeks after the staged incident, on Feb. 7, 2001, the State Council held a “Working Meeting to Struggle against Cult.” Li Lanqing gave a speech at the meeting reiterating Jiang Zemin’s order to “eradicate Falun Gong.” Li Lanqing defined a three-stage-plan in the eradication campaign. Li also heightened the persecution of Falun Gong to the struggle against “international hostile forces” and “anti-CCP, anti-China forces [14].” As a result, the persecution was intensified throughout the nation.

The State Bureau of Sports summoned all bureau chiefs for a meeting from Feb. 5 to Feb. 7, 2001. Li Lanqing said in his speech, “Sports has politics embedded in it. Sportsmen must have very strong sense of political responsibility in their work. In the organization of sports meets, one must raise it to a political level. The sportsmen must obey the orders from the CCP and the Central Government, and be active in the anti-Falun Gong activities [15].”

On Feb. 26, 2001, seven departments, namely the Department of Organization, Department of Propaganda, Political & Legal Affairs Committee, Ministry of Public Security, Department of Civil Affairs, Department of Personnel, and the State Council Office to Prevent and Handle Cult Issues, jointly held the “Reward Meeting for Accomplished Individuals and Organizations (in the Persecution of Falun Gong)” in Beijing. 110 organizations and 271 individuals were rewarded. Li Lanqing praised the police officers who participated in the brainwashing activities of Falun Gong practitioners, praised government employees who mobilized local CCP members and residents in the persecution of Falun Gong, praised the news media that defamed Falun Gong and “urged the general public to intensify the struggle against Falun Gong [16].” On the same day, the “Accomplishment Report Meeting” was held by the 7 departments. Over 3,000 people listened to the reports from the “accomplished individuals.” The individuals are Chen You (Beijing Public Security Bureau Tiananmen Station Chief), Wang Xian’an (Chief of SINOPEC Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau CCP Committee), Su Jing (Liaoning Province Masanjia Labor Camp Director), Oyang Daixia (Hubei Province Shayang Labor Camp). Wang Maolin, director of the State Council Office to Prevent and Handle Cult Issues, attended [17].

On Feb. 28, 2001, China Aging Problem National Commission held a meeting in Beijing. Li Lanqing attended the meeting and called on the elderlies to “struggle against Falun Gong with determination [18].”

On April 13, 2001, while visiting Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia, Li Lanqing met with Georgia President, Eduard Shevardnadze, and used anti-Falun Gong rhetoric to defame Falun Gong [19].

On Feb. 7, 2002, the 4th China Aging Problem National Commission Meeting was held in Beijing. Li Lanqing gave a speech to urge elderly people to “voluntarily fight with Falun Gong [20].”

Xi Wuyi is one of the “researchers” utilized by the CCP to conduct anti-Falun Gong theory research. In 2002, she was transferred to China Academy of Social Sciences, Institute of World Religion. During June and October that year, Xi Wuyi attended the international conference on cult research and prevention in the U.S. She took the opportunity to spread anti-Falun Gong theory. She also published books on the so-called research. Li Lanqing recommended her book as a reference for government agencies in the persecution of Falun Gong. Her book also won awards issued by CASS [21].  

Spreading Anti-Falun Gong Messages via “Popular Science” Exhibitions

After Li Lanqing’s speech at the 2nd Nationwide Popular Science Meeting in December 1999, the so-called “popular science” exhibitions to defame Falun Gong appeared inside and outside China. Li Lanqing and other members of the Leadership Team traveled to different regions ensuring the spreading of anti-Falun Gong messages through the exhibitions. 

On April 2, 2001, Li Lanqing and Jiang Zemin visited an exhibit at the People’s Liberation Army Museum. The exhibition, titled “pro-science, anti-superstition,” consisted of a group of pictures fabricated to incite hatred against Falun Gong. Li Lanqing emphasized the “importance” of the exhibition [22].

On July 15, 2001, Li Lanqing, along with director of the 610 Office, Ding Guangen and deputy lead of the Leadership Team Luo Gan, attended the “anti-cult, pro-civilization” exhibition in Beijing. In his speech at the exhibition, Li Lanqing said that because of the crackdown on Falun Gong, China won the hosting right of the 2008 Olympics; Li also ordered the exhibition to be displayed inside and outside China [23]. Within a few months after Li Lanqing’s speech, similar exhibitions carrying demonizing information about Falun Gong were hosted by Chinese Embassies in various countries, including Thailand [24], Germany [25], Australia [26], Switzerland [27], Toronto Canada [28], Vienna Austria [29], The Hague, Holland [30], and Russia [31].

Conclusion

According to incomplete statistics gathered by minghui.org, there were 2,802 Falun Gong practitioners persecuted to death by the CCP from 1999 to 2003. Because of the heavy information blockade of the CCP, the actual number of death is much larger. In addition, countless Falun Gong practitioners were injured, crippled and missing as the result of brutal persecution policy proliferated by Li Lanqing. The persecution of Falun Gong constitutes crimes of anti-humanity, torture and genocide. Li Lanqing is directly accountable for these crimes.

WOIPFG calls on the international community to help stop this crime of anti-humanity.

World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong
Telephone: 1-347-448-5790; Fax: 1-347-402-1444
Mailing address: P.O. Box 84, New York, NY 10116

Reference

[1] “xinhua.net” Li Lanqing CV(Back)
[2] “WOIPFG website” Investigative Report on the “610 Office -- General”
http://www.upholdjustice.org/node/197
http://www.zhuichaguoji.org/node/12216 (Back)
[3] “WOIPFG website” Investigative Report on the “610 Office -- CCP Central”
http://www.zhuichaguoji.org/node/3443 (Back)
 [4] “People’s Daily” Aug. 15, 1999 front page, “Li Lanqing met with medical workers in Beidaihe city”(Back)
[5] “People’s Daily” Oct. 23, 1999 front page, “Li Lanqing’s speech on the China Aging Problem National Commission meeting”(Back)
[6] “WOIPFG archive” witness affidavit(Back)
[7] “xinhua.net” Dec. 15, 1999, “Li Lanqing attended the National Popular Science Working Meeting”(Back)
[8] “People’s Daily” Dec. 16, 1999,  “Li Lanqing’s speech at the National Popular Science Working Meeting”(Back)
[9] “Department of Education website”, Dec. 22, 2008 “The 9th Nationwide Working Meeting of CCP Development”(Back)
[10] “WOIPFG website” Investigative Report on Masanjia Labor Camp”(Back)
http://www.upholdjustice.org/node/237 
http://www.zhuichaguoji.org/node/31195  (Back)
[11] “xinhuanet.com” Dec. 24, 2001 “How Shenyang City Masanjia Labor Camp is transforming Falun Gong practitioners” (Back)
[12] “xinhuanet.com” April 25, 2007 “Communist Youth League chronology 2001”(Back)
[13] “xinhuanet.com” Jan. 9, 2001 “Li Lanqing attended the 11th Meeting of Universities Directly Affiliated with the Department of Education” (Back)
[14] “bignews.org” Vol.1121, Feb. 24, 2001 “The CCP Central Committee plans to completely eradicate Falun Gong within the next 18 months”
http://www.bignews.org/20010224.txt (Back)
[15] “news.enorth.com.cn” Feb. 8, 2001 “Li Lanqing gave a speech at the Sports Bureau Chief meeting” (Back)
[16] “website of the Supreme Procuratorate” Feb. 27, 2001 “Li Lanqing’s Feb. 26 speech at the award meeting” (Back)
[17] “newspaper of the People’s Liberation Army” Feb. 27, 2001 page 4, “Anti-Falun Gong report meeting held in Beijing” (Back)
[18] “sina.com.cn” March 1, 2001 “Li Lanqing emphasized on work related to the elderly population”(Back)
[19] “people.com.cn” April 13, “Li Lanqing met with Georgia President”(Back)
[20] “gzdaily.dayoo.com” Feb. 8, 2002 “Li Lanqing attended the 4th meeting of aging problem commission”(Back)
[21] “bjpopss.gov.cn” Nov. 30, 2005 “Modern Beijing Cult study” by Xi Wuyi(Back)
[22] “People’s Daily” April 2, “Jiang Zemin attended an exhibition” (Back)
[23] “CNTV website”，July 17, 2001, “Li Lanqing attended an exhibition” (Back)
[24] “xinhua.net” June 20, 2002 “Anti-cult exhibition opened in Thailand”(Back)
[25] “xinhua.net” May 7, 2002, “Anti-cult exhibition held in the Chinese Embassy in Germany”(Back)
[26] “xinhua.net” March 29, 2002 “Anti-cult exhibition held in the Chinese Embassy in Australia”(Back)
[27] “xinhua.net” March 23, 2002, “Anti-cult exhibition held in Switzerland”(Back)
[28] “xinhua.net” March 7, 2002，“Anti-cult exhibition held in Toronto”(Back)
[29] “xinhua.net” Feb. 22, 2002 “Anti-cult exhibition held in Vienna”(Back)
[30] “xinhua.net” Jan. 1, 2002 “Anti-cult exhibition held in The Hague, Holland”(Back)
[31] “xinhua.net” Jan. 21, 2002, “Anti-cult exhibition held in Russia”(Back)