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Anti-cult Alert Education

April 20, 2004
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Brief introduction

At the beginning of 2004, a campaign of “Anti-cult Alert Education” was launched nationwide against Falun Gong. This is a new round of escalated and systematical political persecution, which has pivotal files and is thoroughly planned by Jiang Zemin’s regime. The extent of this campaign ranges from rural to urban, from colleges, middle and elementary schools to street neighborhoods, from developed coastal regions such as Beijing and Shanghai to the Xinjiang Construction Army Corps. This campaign is still going on. This report reveals some of the background and facts of the campaign.

The Nature of the Campaign and How It Was Launched.

This campaign is named “Anti-cult Alert Education”, based on the document “A Notice about Launching the Campaign of ‘Anti-cult Alert Education’ in Rural Regions Nationwide”(Referred to as “The Notice” in the following)[2] issued by the Office of Handling and Processing Cult Issues of the State Department, the Organization Department of the Central Committee, the Civilization Office of the Central Committee, the Department of Education, the Department of Public Security, the Department of Agriculture, the Youth League Central Committee and the Chinese Science Association[1]. Two other documents often cited are “Certain Opinions of the State Department to Heighten Reconstruction of the Minds and Morals of Minors”[3] and “Notice of Pushing Culture, Science and Technology, and Sanitation to the Countryside”[2] by the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee and other 13 departments of the state. After “The Notice” was issued, related documents were issued by provinces[4], cities[5], counties[6] and townships[7], as well as the Department of Education [4, 8], and the Youth League Central Committee[9].

The  Anti-cult Alert Education campaign targets Falun Gong. The coordinator of “The Notice” is the “Office of Handling and Processing Cult Issues of the State Department”, also called the “Leading Office of the Central Committee to Process Falun Gong Issues”, or the “610 Office”, because of its founding on June 10, 1999[10]. The office is a private command system with supreme power over the existing party and government organizations, serving the purpose of persecuting Falun Gong for Jiang Zemin, similar to the “Central Committee Group of Culture Revolution” during the Culture Revolution. As the major propaganda policy, the Office of Anti-cult Alert Education in the Countryside Nationwide organized and compiled a “Syllabus of Education of Anti-cult Alert”, which repeats many times the slandering propaganda against Falun Gong and its founder Li Hongzhi[11]. Yantai College of Education claimed outright in its “Implementation of education of anti-cult alert in whole school” that the fight against Falun Gong, not only is a serious political campaign, but also a campaign of seizing the young generation[12]. The Municipal Committee of Youth League, Mengzhou City of Henan Province, explained in its “Implementation of ‘Anti-cult Alert Education Campaign’ among countryside youth” that the reason for carrying out this campaign is because Falun Gong has shifted its activities to the countryside[9].

Organization and Implementation

After “The Notice” was issued, various levels of the CPC Central Committee from central to local founded the “Leading group of Anti-cult Alert Education” and relevant offices and  assigned personnel to form a dedicated working force. For example, the Central Committee founded the “Office of Anti-cult Alert Education in the Countryside Nationwide”[13], in Hunan province; similar offices were founded in 8 counties of Miao and Tujia autonomous precincts[5]. This campaign is executed systematically by the CPC and the government, but routine operation is run by levels of the Political and Judiciary Committee and the “610 Office”, partially led by anti-cult associations. In Qingdao city, Shandong province, the activities are co-sponsored by the Office of Handling and Processing Cult (610 Office), the Municipal Association of Science, and the Municipal Association of Anti-cult[14]. In Dongying city of Shandong province, a “Notice on Implementation of Anti-cult Alert Education in Rural Regions” was issued by the Municipal Leading Group of Preventing and Processing Cults (its agency is the 610 office)[15]. A self-claimed “civilian organization”-“ Anti-cult Association of Boshan District of Zibo City, Shandong” inspects the implementation of the anti-cult activities of towns, offices and developing districts, obviously functioning as a governmental agency.

Another feature of this campaign is to provide trainings for cadres. For example, the Leading Group of Education of Anti-cult Alert of Xiangxi Autonomous Precinct held training classes for caucus personnel, and about 270 people attended the training[5].  Similar training classes were held in Boshan District of Zibo City of Shandong Province, Weixing County of Yunnan Province[16, 17]. In Shanghai, the cities of Fengxian and Jinshan trained several dozen principals of middle and elementary schools[13, 18]. Mobilizing mass meetings were held in different places[19]. For example, Boshan District of Zibo City of Shandong Province held a “District Mobilizing mass meeting of Anti-cult Alert Education”[16].

To heighten the control of this campaign, local experience exchanges are held on a regular basis. Higher authorities, such as provincial and municipal “610 Offices” and related departments, inspect the implementation all the way down to the levels of counties[21] and schools[22]. The extent of inspection includes organization, leadership, plans, schemes, training, as detailed as writing slogans or playing VCDs[23]. Locals are required to provide timely feedback about anti-cult progress [23].

Scheme, Slogan and Materials

The whole campaign is schemed as ““Advocate Science, Care for Family, Cherish Life and Oppose Cults”[1, 2, 9]. There are some other slogans in the countryside such as “Thousands of anti-cult slogans put up on walls; hundreds of thousands of pieces of propaganda sheets to individuals”, “Go to villages, groups, and houses; face to with people,” etc.[16]. The major training materials are the “Syllabus of Anti-cult Alert Education”, organized and compiled by the Office of Anti-cult Alert Education Nationwide. The simplified syllabus was made into flyers and spread extensively. Other materials include anti-cult posters made by the Office of Anti-cult Alert Education Nationwide, video CDs attacking Falun Gong made by the Central Committee Office of Preventing and Processing Cults, or the “610 Office”, and the General Department of Radio, Movie and Television. [24].

Scope of the Campaign

Although the campaign targets rural areas of the nation on the surface, in fact it has extended to the whole society. Besides the middle schools and elementary schools in the country and cities [1, 4,8, 13, 15, 22, [25-32], various colleges and universities have also experienced this type of campaign [12, 33]. During the anti-cult forum for all universities in Zhejiang Province, held in Hangzhou, particularly emphasized the “profound historical and practical significance” of carrying on anti-cult activities in universities while such anti-cult education is undertaken in full scale in rural areas [34]. The campaign covers major coast cities such as Beijing [2] and Shanghai [13, 18] as well as rural areas such as the Army Construction  Corps in Xinjiang [35].

Activity Details

The main method is to display a set of centrally distributed posters. Schools display them in bulletins; organize students to watch propaganda movies, videos and photo exhibitions; hold signature collections, essay competitions, speeches, talent competitions, photo exhibitions, book exhibitions, and popular science exhibitions; hold class meetings; open designated propaganda categories; organize students go to the streets to distribute VCDs, flyers and other materials [2, 16, 23, [24, 25, [26-31]. Related theory and popular art creation competition is held in Inner Mongolia [36]. The Hebei forced labor camp system also organized a lecture troupe to give lectures around the province [37].

Schedule and Funds

According to the document of the Youth League Committee of Mengzhou City, Henan province, the campaign of “Anti-cult Alert Education in Rural Regions” will last one year [9]. It comprises five stages. The following is a detailed schedule of activities:

  • Stage of deployment (from Dec 30th 2003 to Jan 10 th 2004)
  • Stage of education and training (from Jan 11 th 2004 to Jan 15 th 2004)
  • Stage of propaganda (from Jan 16 th 2004 to Mar 31st 2004)
  • Stage of concentrated implementation (from Apr 1 st 2004 to Dec 10 th 2004)
  • Stage of inspection and examination (from Dec 11 th 2004 to Dec 31 st 2004)

 

In Tongzhou of Beijing, the propaganda month is April 2004 [38]. In Longwan District of Wenzhou City, Zhejiang province, activities are divided into three stages: propaganda and deployment (from Feb 9th to Feb 15tth), implementation (from Feb 16th to Mar 14th) and summary and inspection (from Mar 15th to Mar 20th) [32].

Part of the materials for this campaign are provided free by the central committee and another part is paid for by local governments. For example, in Xiangxi autonomous precinct, Hunan Province, besides the anti-cult educational material provided by the central government, local government spent 200,000 Yuan alone on printing materials [6].

Continuation and Extension of the “Million Signature Collection” in 2001

In January of 2001, the China Anti-cult Association launched a campaign of a million signature collections to form the trend of whole society against Falun Gong, meanwhile to justify the persecution to international society and its own people. That campaign mainly targeted students in schools [39] and initiated under the name of “civilian organization”. This time, the campaign was initiated by the CPC’s Political Committee. The purpose of this campaign was to influence children’s parents through brainwashing students or pupils in middle and elementary schools. In Beilun District of Ningbo City, every student was required to make a hand-written newspaper signed by parents in order to influence them [28]. The education system in Wenling of Zhejiang Province advocated the goal of  “Educate one student, influence one’s family, therefore impact the whole society” [30]. In Wuchang Huanghelou middle school, students are encouraged to spread the materials of ““Advocate Science, Care for Family, Cherish Life and Oppose Cults” to their parents, relatives and neighbors to achieve “One spreads to hundreds, hundreds in turn spread to thousands” and to educate every community and all of society [40]. In Quanshan school of Yantai City, Shangdong Province, it is proposed that “Small hands hold big hands” to extend and radiate the activity to families and society through students [41]. Tongchuan city education committee emphasized that “teach students the purpose and significance of anti-cult, direct them to educate their families in order to amplify the effect and form an atmosphere of surveillance” [42]. Obviously, this campaign uses students as a tool to extend the activity to families and society.

While this campaign of “Anti-cult Alert Education” was undertaken, another round of persecution started in mainland China. According to Clearwisdom.net, from January to March of 2004, illegal arrests were still taking place in every province in China. According to incomplete statistics, during these three months, at least 450 Falun Gong practitioners had been arrested with an average of 40 people being arrested every week. They are facing even more brutal torture both mentally and physically [43].

References

[1] Speech given at the commencement of the end of the first semester in 2003 ~ 2004 academic year, No.2 Middle School(High School) of Heqiao of Yixing City, Jiangsu Province. – From “Information Net of No.2 Middle School of Heqiao” February 13, 2004. (Back)
[2] Joint office of Beijing Association for Science and Technology and Beijing Anti-cult Association went to Huairou County and Mentougou District to launch the campaign of Against cult and Advocating popular science. -- From “Beijing Science and Technology Net” (Back)
[3] “Certain Opinions of CPCCC Statement Department to Heighten Reconstruction of Minds and Morals of Minors”(February 26, 2004) (Back)
[4] “Notice of “Anti-cult Alert Education Campaign” in all the elementary and middle schools in the whole province”, issued by Fujian Provincial Department of Education” [Minjiaosi, No.2, 2004] (Back)
[5] On March 30, 2004, the Anti-cult Education Alert campaign was fully launched in all the rural villages throughout the autonomous precinct. After the CCCPC (Central Committee of Communist Party of China) and the provincial committee issued the document regarding the launch of the Anti-Cult Education Alert campaign, government officials at all levels in the region gave their great support and attention, according to the requirements of the CCCPC and the provincial committee, acting quickly to fully launch the Anti-cult Caution Education campaign in all the rural villages throughout the region -- from “Tuanjie Bao” (Tujia and Miao Autonomous precinct of Xiangxi, Hunan Province) (Back)
[6] On January 8, 2004 the training conference for mobilizing the Anti-cult Education Alert campaign in the whole district was held in conference room No.1 in the center of meeting affairs. – from “Government Website of Zhoucun District ” (Zibo City, Shandong Province) (Back)
[7] “Notice Regarding the Establishment of Leadership Teams for the Anti-cult Education Alert Campaign” (Huanyuan Community Committee in Kecheng District, Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province) (Back)
[8] “Notice Regarding Launch of the Anti-cult Education Alert Campaign in all Elementary and Middle Schools in the Province”, issued by Fujian Provincial Department of Education [Minjiaosi, No.2, 2004] and distributed by Luojiang District Education Bureau of Quanzhou City, Fujian Province (Back)
[9] “ Implementation of the Anti-cult Alert Education Campaign among the Youth in Rural Areas”, issued by Mengzhou City Youth League Committee (Mengqingzi, No.20, 2003) (Back)
[10] “Investigations of the ‘610 Office’”, by the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) http://www.upholdjustice.org/NEWS/610_25/2003-09/1064343137.html (Back)
[11] “Syllabus of  Anti-cult Alert Education” issued by the Office of Anti-cult Alert Education Campaign in Rural Areas Nationwide (Back)
[12] “Implementation of the Anti-cult Alert Education Campaign in the Institute” by  Education Institute of Yantai City” on March 2, 2004. (Back)
[13] The experience sharing on the Anti-cult Alert Education Campaign was held in Yicuan County yesterday. – From “Noon News” of April 2, 2004, Channel One of Luoyang TV Station (Back)
[14] According to the CCCPC and the city committee, and the document (No.1, 2003) of “Notice on printing of ‘Implementation of Anti-cult Caution Education Campaign in the Local Rural Areas’” by Lufeng Committee of “610 Leadership Team, from this winter until next spring, launch the Anti-cult Alert Education Campaign in the rural villages with the theme of ‘Advocate Science, Care for Family, Cherish Life and Oppose Cults’” – from “Fengxian Education Developments” January 30, 2004. (Back)
[15] “Anti-cult and Popular Science Exhibit Tour” starts in Qingdao. – From Jinqiao Net, April 9, 2004 (Back)
[16] Report on Anti-cult Campaign in No.2 Middle School in Kenli Town, Dongying City, Shandong Province. – From “Dongying Education Information Net” (Back)
[17] Boshan District Anti-Cult Association enthusiastically launches Anti-ult Alert Education Campaign. – From Shandong Province Folk Organization Information Network (Back)
[18] On February 23, 2004, the party committee and county government of Weixin County held a training class on the Anti-cult Alert Education Campaign at Zhaxi hotel. – From Weixin County Party Construction of Yunnan Province. (Back)
[19] On January 8, a training class on Anti-cult Alert Education Campaign was held at the meeting room on the 2nd floor of the government building, in Jinshan District of Shanghai. – From Caojing Window (Back)
[20] The speech at city’s mobilization meeting of Anti-cult Alert Education Campaign. – From Youth League of Mengzhou City Committee (Back)
[21] On January 7, 2004, three people including the director Wang Jichao from provincial “610 Office”, the director Wang Enming and the section head Zhang Liang from municipal “610 Office”, came to our district to direct and inspect our progress in the battle with cult organization. – From Government Net of Linzi District, Zibo City of Shandong Province (Back)
[22] Provincial and City Government Leaders Came to Our School to Inspect the Anti-Cult Alert Education Campaign: On March 1, directors Zhang Guoqiang and Zhu Hengyi from the provincial “610 Office”, deputy secretary Du Dongqiang from the city’s Political and Judiciary Committee, deputy director Ding Meiding from municipal “610 Office” and the deputy commissioner Deng Jianglin from the Broadcast & Television Bureau of the city, accompanied by the director Qiu Ziping from the county propaganda department, the deputy secretary Du Weiyang from the Political and Judiciary Committee of the county and the commissioner Xu Luxin from the county education bureau, came to our school to inspect our work on the Anti-cult Alert Education Campaign. – From Chengguan Middle School of Xinchang City, Zhejiang Province, April 6 2004 (Back)
[23] Notice on Warm Welcome to the City’s Inspection on Anti-Cult Alert Education in Countryside from the Education Bureau of Zixing City, Hunan Province. – From Zixing Education Information Net. (Back)
[24] Xianghe Youth League Committee of Laofang Region launched the Anti-cult Alert Education Campaign… First, the leaders of Youth League Committee should take time to study seriously the document of “Syllabus of Anti-cult Alert Education” from the Office of Anti-cult Alert Education Nationwide. Second, the members of Youth League Committee should be organized to watch the propaganda posters made by the Office of Anti-cult Alert Education Nationwide, and video CDs made by the “610 Office” of the state and General Department of Radio, Movie and Television that “expose” Falun Gong, advocate the civilization construction of spirit and encourage to become rich. – From Eastern Youth Net, January 13, 2004 (Back)
[25] Chaoyang Elementary School Launches Anti-Cult Alert Education Campaign. – From Chaoyang Elementary School News, Beipei District of Chongqing City (Back)
[26] Elementary Schools of Napo County launched the Anti-Cult Alert Education Campaign with high tide. – From Baise Government Net of Guangxi Province, April1, 2004 (Back)
[27] Shiyan Elementary School, Boshan District of Zibo City, Shandong Province (photo report) (Back)
[28] Beilun Education System Launches anAnti-Cult Alert Education Campaign. – From Beilun Education and Science Net, Ningbo City (Back)
[29] No. 3 Middle School (Wenling City, Zhejiang Province )echoes the related documents issued by the city’s Education Bureau and Taiping Street Community and enthusiastically launches an Anti-cult Alert Education Campaign on campus with the subject “Advocate Science, Care for the Family, Cherish Life and Oppose Cults”. -- From Wenling Education Information Net (Back)
[30] Fangcheng Elementary School (Wenling city of Zhejiang Province) launches an Anti-Cult Alert Education Campaign. – From Wenling Education Information Net (Back)
[31] This morning, the city’s South District carried out the Anti-cult Alert Education Campaign at the train station plaza. The subject of this activity is “Advocate Science, Care for the Family, Cherish Life and Oppose Cults.” – From Qingdao TV Station, February 29, 2004 (Qingdao City, Shandong Province) (Back)
[32] The district’s education system has carried out an Anti-cult Alert Education Campaign. – From No.4 of 2004, “Longwan Education” (Longwan District, Wengzou City of Zhejiang Province) (Back)
[33] An anti-cult photo exhibition was held at the college on March 15, 2004. – From the Science and Technology College of Zhejiang Province (Back)
[34] An anti-cult colloquia organized by colleges and universities in Zhejiang Province was held in Hongzhou on March 5, 2004.” – From China Anti-cult Net (Back)
[35] On March 30, 2004 No. 15 Regiment of No. 1 Farm Division of Xinjiang Army launched the Anti-Cult Alert Education Campaign. – From Army News Channel of Chinanews Net (Back)
[36] “The notice regarding holding a district wide theoretic and mass art contest to“Advocate Science, Care for the Family, Cherish Life and Oppose Cults”. – From Inner Mongolia News Net, January 8, 2004. (Back)
[37] The Labor Camp System Preaching Group of Hebei Province tours the province giving speeches. – From “The Great Wall Online”, March 17, 2004. (Back)
[38] The Youth League Committee of Tongzhou District (Beijing city) launches a series of activities in the Anti-Cult Alert Education Month. – From “CCYL” (The website of China’s Communist Youth League) (Back)
[39] The “Investigation Report on ‘China Anti-cult Organization’ Involved in the Persecution of Falun Gong” (http://www.upholdjustice.org/NEWS/hotcase_22/2004-03/1080336270.html) -- From The World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) (Back)
[40] “Advocate Science, Care for the Family, Cherish Life and Oppose Cults”— Report on Relevant Activities Held in Huanghelou Middle School of Wuhan.” – From Wuchang Education Net (Back)
[41] “A refreshing air blew in the Anti-Cult Alert Education Campaign in country areas of Yantai city”: After launching the Anti-cult Alert Education Campaign, the schools proposed the slogan of “Small Hands Hold Big Hands”, i.e. extending this activity to society and families to the middle school as well as elementary school students. – From Reporter Tian Yu, Xinhua News Agency on April 16, 2004 (Back)
[42] Schools of all kinds and at all levels in the city have widely carried out the Anti-cult Alert Education Campaign.” – From Tongchuan Education Net (Tongchuan City) (Back)
[43] Between January and March in 2004, illegal arrests still occur largely in various provinces in mainland China. According to incomplete statistics based on news from non-governmental channels, during these three months, at least 450 Falun Gong practitioners were abducted and on average, nearly 40 were abducted each week. The abducted Falun Gong practitioners are subjected to even more severe mental as well as physical tortures.  The situation is the most serious provinces such as Helongjiang, Shandong, Liaoning, Hebei and Sichuan, etc. – From Minghui Net, April 15, 2004 (Back)

 


World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong

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Mail Address：P.O. Box 84， New york, NY 10116
Website： http://www.upholdjustice.org/, http://www.zhuichaguoji.org/

 

Chinese Link
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