An underground challenge to China's status quo

As Obama plans his visit to China in November, he should pay attention to the Tuidang movement. It shows that the Chinese people understand human rights and civil liberties.

By Caylan Ford

from the October 21, 2009 edition

Washington - The lead image on the Sept. 27 edition of the Jinzhou evening newspaper was hardly unusual. In anticipation of the 60th anniversary of Communist Party rule in China, it featured a street lined with enormous red flags beating in the wind.

It would have been nearly indistinguishable from any other Chinese state-run newspaper that day but for one important detail. In the bottom left corner of the photo, scrawled on a bike rack, were eight tiny but clearly visible characters: "Heaven condemns the Communist Party; denounce it and be blessed."

Similar writings that dare to challenge the divine mandate of China's rulers appear regularly across China, hanging as banners in city parks, posted on Internet forums, or handwritten on paper bank notes. It is all evidence of a movement that has silently swept the nation. Called Tuidang, which translates simply as "withdraw from the party," the movement encourages people to publicly renounce their membership in Communist organizations. The implications are manifold. This is the first time since the 1980s that China has seen such a large, organized dissident movement – if an underground one.

The day after the image ran, the Jinzhou newspaper came under investigation by the government. Its website was shut down, and the paper taken out of circulation.

The incident represents a fitting analogy for the state of the Communist Party today. Beneath the pomp and power lie resentment, discontent, and questions. In 60 years of Communist rule, China has endured political and social upheaval that have left deep psychic wounds.

But in the country's totalitarian climate, the people have few avenues to openly discuss their country's history or to make peace with their own role in it. Since China has not had its opportunity for truth and reconciliation, its citizens are finding their own ways to do this.

Perhaps that explains the extraordinary appeal of the Tuidang movement, which organizers say has more than 60 million participants. It began in late 2004, when New York-based Chinese dissident newspaper
DaJiYuan (Epoch Times, affiliated with the spiritual movement Falun Gong) ran a series of polemic editorials detailing the history of the Communist Party in China.They also proclaimed that the country would not truly be free or prosperous until it was rid of the party, which, it argued was at odds with China's cultural and spiritual values.

Millions of copies of the articles found their way into mainland China through e-mails, faxes, and underground printing houses. Some Chinese readers say the articles finally confirmed what they suspected all along – about the Great Leap Forward, the Tiananmen massacre, the Cultural Revolution. This offered recognition that their memories were real and their suffering was shared.

But despite appearances, this is not a political movement in the conventional sense. Unlike the student movement of 1989 or the more recent Charter 2008 manifesto – both of which embraced the language of Western democracy – the Tuidang movement employs distinctly Chinese language and meaning. More Confucian than humanist, it often makes its points by drawing on Buddhist and Daoist spirituality.

Denouncing the party is thus not simply political activism, but takes on spiritual meaning as a process of cleansing the conscience and reconnecting to traditional ethics and values.

In December 2004, one month after the articles were published by the dissident newspaper, its editors starting receiving statements from readers declaring their wish to disavow membership in the Communist Party, the Communist Youth League, or the Young Pioneers, sometimes after their memberships had technically expired. Today, statements representing some 60 million people have been sent to the newspaper, which posts them to an online database.

The authenticity of the declarations is impossible to independently verify. Most people sign them using aliases to protect their safety, and there are no provisions to prevent fraudulent postings.

But the numbers are really not the point. For those who do send in their statements disavowing the party, the postings offer a rare platform to vent frustrations, discuss ideas, share stories of suffering, or find forgiveness.

Many relay tales of personal victimization under the Communist Party. Take, for instance, Ding Weikun, a 74-year-old veteran party member from rural Zhejiang Province. In 2003, his town's government colluded with private developers to seize the land of local farmers. The farmers protested, Mr. Ding wrote, and armed thugs were brought in to suppress them. "I witnessed the killing and injuring of dozens of villagers, on the spot," he noted. The old man tried to pursue justice by appealing to the local government, but he was arrested and sentenced to prison by the very party that he had served for 40 years.

While some write of their personal suffering, others speak of their crimes. For them, withdrawing from the party is about seeking absolution.

"I have always thought that I was a good man, but looking back I realize that I had gradually lost myself," wrote Xiao Shanbo, a former party member from China's northeastern Liaoning Province. "My mind and heart slowly became corrupted. I declare invalid all the words and deeds I have done in the past. These were decisions that I made out of ignorance due to the lies and propaganda of the [Communist Party]."

Mr. Xiao never specifies his crimes, but closes his posting with a plea for forgiveness: "God, please give me this chance! I have gone through much arduous soul-searching, and I intend to change my ways and make up for what I have done."

The Communist Party has reacted to the phenomenon with predictable disdain. Terms related to the movement are among the most vigorously censored on the Chinese Internet, and at least 71 people have been imprisoned for possessing movement literature or propagating its spread. That means that, if found, the activist who vandalized the bike rack in Jinzhou city will be in serious trouble.

The party may have good reason to be anxious. For decades, its power has relied on an ability to censor information, control public memory, and suppress dissenting views. The statements of participants offer a rare glimpse and great insight into the sources of discontent in China.

The Tuidang movement also shows the manner in which Chinese people understand human rights, civil liberties, and democracy, and how they might reconcile these ideas with a more traditional Confucian worldview. It could perhaps even serve as a precursor for another democracy movement.

But one way or another, the movement certainly challenges the popular view that most Chinese people are satisfied with the status quo. As President Obama prepares for his November visit, it is reason to consider engaging more with the Chinese people, and not only with their government.

Today, as more and more Chinese citizens are remembering their past, they may well change China's future, too.

Caylan Ford is a master's degree candidate in international affairs at The George Washington University, where she studies Chinese politics and international security. She is currently writing a thesis on organized dissent in China. She is also a volunteer analyst at the Falun Dafa Information Center and was a staff writer for Epoch Times until 2007.

[Editor's note: The original version did not give the English name of the referenced newspaper or the affiliation. Additional information about the author has also been added.]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/1021/p09s01-coop.html

24/10/2009 07:03:00 Secret China Staff

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The story is from the Song Dynasty (960 A.D.-1279 A.D.).

Wang Tianqing was a Taoist master in Jianchang (today's Nancheng County), Jiangxi Province. His disciple, Zheng, whom people called Taoist Zheng, followed Wang Tianqing for years and learned from Wang the way to invite the "Thunder Deity" to generate rainfall or eliminate demons. Each time the Thunder Deity granted his request.

During the Gaozong Emperor's time (around 1131 A.D.) in the Song Dynasty, Taoist Zheng went to Linchuan County. Several guests went to visit him and asked to meet the "Thunder Deity." Although Taoist Zheng refused at the beginning, he could not resist their repeated requests and reluctantly agreed.

Taoist Zheng performed his regular routine: he chanted incantations, drew some symbols, and then held a sword and declared something loudly. After a while, accompanied by cold winds and splashes of rain, a deity wearing a tall hat and carrying a heavenly ax in hand appeared. The deity said, "I am the Thunder Deity, I come to Master Zheng's summon. Please tell me what I should do."

Taoist Zheng said, "Several friends of mine want to meet you so I summoned you. I don't have anything particular for you to do." The Thunder Deity was very angry. He said, "Each time you summon me, I must first report to the Heavenly Emperor to get permission before I can come down. Afterwards, I report to the Heavenly Emperor what I have done. Today you summoned me to play with your friends. How can I report this to the Heavenly Emperor? My heavenly ax does not allow me to come down to earth vainly. Master Zheng, you should take a hit from my ax." With these words, the Thunder Deity hit Taoist Zheng's head with the ax. The guests were so horrified they all fainted. After a while they came to and found Taoist Zheng dead.

When I wrote this article, I remembered a conversation between my friends, Mr. Chen, a theist, and Mr. Liu, an atheist. They are good friends but like to argue with each other. One day Liu said to Chen, "You say deities exist, so summon one to come here for me to see!" Chen replied, "I cannot summon deities. I cannot even summon a provincial governor to come here, yet you know we have a governor. You have not met the governor, the chairman of the country, or the president, but they do exist. Deities are far superior to governors, chairmen, presidents, or any human being. How can we human beings summon deities on a whim?"

http://en.secretchina.com/culture_history/3471.html

 

加拿大建立全球首个国会法轮功之友 图片来源：大纪元资料图片

 

加拿大建立国会法轮功之友 全球首个

【正体版】   【打印机版】 【字号】大  中  小

【大纪元10月30日讯】（大纪元记者Cindy Chan加拿大渥太华报道）加拿大不同党派的参议员和国会议员在渥太华结成了一个组织，关注法轮功修炼者遭受迫害的问题。这个组织名叫 “国会法轮功之友”，是全世界首个在国会建立的，致力于支持遭受中共迫害的法轮功团体。

“国会法轮功之友”主席苗锡诚在接受大纪元采访时说：“我们的第一目标是确保国会议员们都充份了解关于法轮功的问题。”“成立这个组织的关键目地是鼓励中国政府尊重基本人权。”

联合国、世界各地的一些政府团体、人权组织和独立调查员们，共同证实了酷刑和中共政府有组织的从被囚禁的法轮功学员身上盗取人体器官非法出售的事实。

苗锡诚说，国会法轮功之友的第一步是会见加拿大法轮大法学会。接下来，可能与会法轮大法学会一起在国会山举办一些活动，比如，该组织成员、议员斯考特.瑞德将主持五月二十七日的中国人权问题论坛。

“我们很高兴的了解到这个组织成立了。”加拿大法轮大法学会负责人李讯在接受采访时说，“议员们的关注也表明了这件事情的重要，这对于在中国的法轮功学员无疑是一个鼓励。”

该组织成员包括两位参议员和18位来自保守党、自由党和新民主党三大不同党派的国会议员。

法轮功自1992年开始在中国传出，以“真善忍”为指导，因为修养心性，祛病健身的神奇效果而迅速普及。到1999年北京独裁者发动大规模‘灭绝’运动之前，官方估计已经有七千万到一亿人修炼法轮功。

十年前，加拿大是西方国家中首个对中共迫害法轮功进行公开批评的国家。据《环球邮报》报道，1999年7月20日中共对法轮功学员大规模逮捕和关押开始后不久，加拿大政府给中国外交部递交了正式的抗议信。

议员们持续的努力和加拿大人的关注使得一些在中国被非法关押的法轮功学员陆续获释，前总理克里靖和马田也在多个场合向中国领导人提出停止迫害。

中共对法轮功的迫害不仅限于中国国内，在海外，中共驻加拿大的使领馆采取种种手段，不断诋毁法轮功，在他们的签证办公室发放仇恨宣传材料，控制加拿大中文媒体煽动民众敌视法轮功，施压加拿大官员要求他们不支持法轮功等等。但是支持法轮功的声音一直绵绵不绝，势不可挡。

加拿大法轮大法学会负责人李讯相信，国会法轮功之友“将在国会里起到一个积极的作用”，因为它反映了加拿大人的意愿，延续了从1999年法轮功遭受迫害开始，加拿大就起到的抵制迫害的带头作用。

议员Woodworth 先生在一份给媒体的声明中说，“修炼法轮功的加拿大人向我们请求帮助。”“做为议员最起码应当做到的就是，当有需要时，站出来为人权发声。”

 

新唐人提交盖台事件证据：疑似干扰源CHT

【大纪元10月29日讯】（大纪元记者吴涔溪台湾台北报导）新唐人亚太台遭盖台事件有最新事证！新唐人技术部门在连续15天的盖台事件中，透过卫星解码器，发现一个疑似或就是干扰源的频道，名叫“CHT”。巧的是，这与中华电信的英文代号相同。NCC已要求中华电信，必须在11月6日针对亚太台侦测影片上重覆出现疑似干扰源“CHT”做出说明。

上述的最新事证，是新唐人亚太台29日在首次的“卫星干扰处理及防范工作”调查小组会议上所提出，该项会议由国家通讯传播委员会（NCC）召开，出席代表包含NCC资源管理处、北中南三区监理处、国防部参谋本部通信电子室、国家航太中心、中华电信、新唐人亚太台代表以及学者专家。

新唐人亚太台向中华电信租用发射的卫星讯号，上月在中共建政前两星期17日至10月1日连续15天遭不明原因盖台，10月1日并遭到整日盖台干扰，由于涉及“中新一号”卫星通讯及国防安全，立法院交通委员会日前做成决议，要求NCC及中华电信必须彻底调查盖台真相，防止类似事件再度发生。

中华电月余仍查无干扰源

会议首先由中华电信卫星处副处长邱文福进行报告。邱文福表示，当干扰发生时，中华电信即按照卫星干扰标准作业流程进行检查，确定链路设备本身没有问题，但干扰现象持续存在，便架设示波器及频谱仪进行监控，发现干扰讯号是纯载波（pure carrier），没有特定讯号内容。

针对外界关心对于干扰现象是否有反制能力？邱文福表示，中华电有采取反制措施，即对此干扰源进行干扰，但对方没有任何反应。至于究竟干扰源来自何方？中华电至今仍没有掌握，邱文福仅强调，察明干扰源的确有困难。但是他表示，已经建立了备援机制，在中新一号上移出空的频段，未来再发生干扰现象，可以立即移到别的频道，保证新唐人亚太台的正常收视。

新唐人：“CHT”是谁？

在听取完中华电信的报告后，受邀列席的新唐人亚太台代表朱婉琪提出一项证据资料，指出干扰讯号并非纯载波，而是一个名为“CHT”的不明频道。

9月23日晚上7时37分发生断讯时，为了侦测干扰源，亚太台技术部门在7时55分，要求中华电信阳明山机房的工作人员，暂时停止亚太台卫星讯号上链。就在中华电信将亚太台的讯号关掉后，技术员透过一般的卫星接收解码器（IRD，Integrated Receiver-Decoder），即小耳朵的解码器，在亚太台的频道上（即频率3689MHz）接收到一个频道，名为“CHT”。

接下来在不同的IRD及不同时段上，都发现相同的“CHT”，这个频道的ID识别码VID是4194、AUD是4195、PCR是4194。

朱婉琪严正表示，亚太台技术人员所提供的侦测资料，掌握了疑似或就是干扰源的讯号叫CHT，对于但是CHT到底是谁？请NCC及专家学者深入调查，必要时召开公听会向国人说明。

NCC：中华电需提报告说明

新唐人亚太台提供的十分钟影像说明，令在场的中华电信代表邱文福略为激动，因为中华电信的代号也是“CHT”，他表示必须要对IRD及相关设定问题进行了解，暂时无法回应。与会学者对于“CHT”所代表的意义，有不同的解读，认为需要调查。

会议主席、NCC资源管理处处长林清池要求，中华电信必须在下周五针对IRD上头出现的“CHT”做出说明。同时对于如何保障客户权益的备援机制，例如移频或是换另一个转频器，必须有清楚说明。

针对中华电信提出的移频方案，朱婉琪说，站在新唐人的立场，移频无法彻底解决干扰问题，因为新唐人报导许多中国真相，讯号上链至卫星采“单路单载波”（SCPC），很容易受到干扰，希望转为多路单载波（MCPC），即和其他许多频道放在同一个载波中上链，一旦发生盖台干扰，波及面将更广，恶意的干扰源应多少有所顾忌，比起新唐人目前“单路单载波”上链，不失为一个防范方式，同时也更易引起政府方面的重视。

对于亚太台提出的MCPC方案，与会者微笑不语，中华电信则没有表示具体意见。

CHT资料同时交国际判读

朱婉琪会后接受媒体采访时表示，针对台湾发生最长时间的盖台事件，亚太台技术组提供了以上的证据资料，对于中华电信从断讯到现在，经过月余提不出来任何具体查证表示不可思议，呼吁“全民找真相”，希望国人能共同把侵害台湾人民通讯自由、知的权利，甚至可能危及国防安全的黑手找出来！亚太台也会将此资料提供给记者无疆界等国际组织的卫星专家共同查明真相。

亚太台针对“CHT”的提证，引起不小的震撼。NCC表示，原本要将今天会议上所有资料提供给亚太台，但开完会后，中华电信表示拒绝提供。亚太台对此感到不解。NCC承诺中华电下周五提供的报告，将同时提供给亚太台。并在收到报告后，研议召开第二次小组会议。

美东时间: 2009-10-29 10:06:43 AM  【万年历】
本文网址：http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/9/10/29/n2705504.htm

By Luo Ya
Epoch Times Staff Oct 28, 2009

 

Since the eruption of ethnic riots in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China on July 5, 2009, the Chinese regime has continuously blocked access to the Internet and other communication channels in the area. Xinjiang currently holds the record for the longest Web outage since the invention of the Internet.

Wang Dahao, a local media personality with many years of experience at various newspaper, television, radio, and Internet media outlets, said on his blog that he had spent thousands of yuan to fly to Shenzhen to use the Internet. He noted being deeply disappointed when he went online in Shenzhen.

"There is nothing to see online. Everything that I wanted to see had been deleted," Wang said.

Wang further expressed lack of hope that the Internet would ever be restored in Xinjiang. He posted online several articles that he had written during the riots in July.

Wang recalled that the Internet connection in Xinjiang was cut off in the early morning of July 6 amid panic. He noted feeling at the time as though the world had abandoned Xinjiang. When the riots began, people were worried about the number of casualties. Later, they became concerned about the delay in the restoration of the Internet connection.

Wang said that many people had asked him when the Internet would work again. He responded, "Never." He stated that he did not think the regime would restore a monitored connection in the region now that it had a taste of banning the Internet in Xinjiang.

"After Oct. 1 (Chinese National Day), there is the New Year's Day. After that, there is the Chinese New Year, then Labor Day, then the Communist Party Day, and so on. Since these holidays come around every year, there will always be an excuse [for the Chinese regime] to delay the restoration of the Internet connection," Wang said.

Some Internet users in China commented that the regime's decision to keep the Internet connection in Xinjiang cut off months after the riots was quite revealing. If the regime believes its policies are correct, why would it try to hide what is happening?

Wang noted that some Chinese officials believe that social stability trumps all other factors, and that everything should be sacrificed for it.

He said that in some areas of China, authorities close the roads with the excuse of traffic control whenever there is any suspicion of public dissent. As a result, urban traffic gets disrupted, the economy suffers, and social order is disturbed.

Although the effort appears to stabilize society on the surface, it actually creates more chaos, with the damage believed to be much worse than that allegedly caused by separatists.

The Chinese regime's official media reported that 197 people died and 1,700 people were injured during the riots in Urumuqi on July 5.

Recently, nine alleged riot participants were sentenced to death. Dilshat Reshit, a spokesperson for the World Uyghur Congress, said that the sentencing was politically motivated and abusive of the law, since the defense attorney was afraid to argue on behalf of the Uyghur defendants. Such sentences may not help to ease the local tension. Instead, they may heighten it.

A recent article by the Human Rights Watch noted that a large number of Uyghur men have disappeared in police custody, and the Public Security Ministry refused to disclose their whereabouts to the concerned family members. Ma Zhaoxu, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, denied the allegation.

 

By Cindy Chan
Epoch Times Staff Oct 27, 2009

OTTAWA—An all-party group of senators and members of Parliament concerned about adversities facing followers of the Falun Gong spiritual discipline have founded a Parliamentary friendship organization to address those issues.

Parliamentary Friends of Falun Gong (PFOFG) is the first such group of Parliamentarians in the world lending focused support to the practitioners of the system of meditation and moral teachings, also called Falun Dafa, that has suffered a decade of persecution in communist China.

“Our first goal is to make sure Parliamentarians are better informed about issues related to Falun Gong,” said PFOFG chair Bill Siksay.

“One of the key purposes of [PFOFG] is to encourage respect for fundamental human rights in China.”

Reports from the United Nations, government bodies, human rights groups, and independent investigators worldwide include graphic accounts of torture and corroborating studies detailing evidence of state-orchestrated organ harvesting from imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners to supply an illicit organ trade.

Introduced in China in 1992, the practice based on the principles of “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance” rapidly flourished due to its benefits to physical and mental health. By 1999, it had 70 to 100 million followers, according to government estimates, just before the totalitarian state launched a massive campaign to “eradicate” it.

Mr. Siksay said the group’s first step is to meet with the Falun Dafa Association of Canada (FDAC).

Future activities may include sponsoring programs and events with FDAC on Parliament Hill such as the May 27 China human rights forum hosted by MP Scott Reid, a PFOFG director.

“We are extremely delighted to learn that this group has been formed,” said FDAC president Li Xun. “The concern by Parliamentarians sends a strong indication of the significance of the matter. It will send an encouraging message to the practitioners in China.”

 

Canada First to Condemn Persecution

Ten years ago, Canada also took a lead as the first country to publicly condemn the persecution. Canada filed an official protest with the Chinese foreign ministry shortly after mass arrests and detentions of practitioners began on July 20, 1999, as reported by The Globe and Mail.

At a Canada-China human rights meeting that November, then-Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan said his delegation would raise “specific issues related to religious freedoms and basic rights and reports of ill-treatment of Falun Gong adherents.”

The Canadian Press reported that Falun Gong was the third most frequent subject of correspondence to the Prime Minister’s Office in 2005.

A U.S. State Department 2008 report said foreign observers estimated that at least half of China’s 250,000 labour camp prisoners were Falun Gong practitioners.

Parliamentarians’ efforts and Canadians’ concerns over the years have led to the release of practitioners in China and compelled former prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin to raise the issue of the persecution with Chinese leaders.

Support has continued despite ongoing attempts by the Chinese embassy and consulates to vilify Falun Gong, including displaying hate materials in their visa offices, controlling Chinese-language media to turn public opinion against the practice, and pressuring Canadian officials not to support practitioners.

But the impact of such actions cannot be ignored.

“It’s always been apparent to me that there is significant misunderstanding about the practice of Falun Gong,” said Mr. Siksay.

He said if his colleagues have good information and are aware of the important issues concerning the practice, “I can’t see how it wouldn’t have an effect on government policy.”

All-Party Membership

The founding PFOFG membership comprises two senators and 18 MPs from all parties represented in Parliament.

Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj and Conservative Stephen Woodworth are vice-presidents. The executive also includes New Democrats Peter Julian and Don Davies; Conservatives Scott Reid, Rob Anders, and Senator Consiglio Di Nino; and Diane Bourgeois from the Bloc Québécois. Mr. Siksay is an NDP member.

Mr. Di Nino initiated the idea of the PFOFG six months ago.

Mr. Wrzesnewskyj has introduced a private member’s bill to fight the international underground trade in human organs and other body parts. He drafted the bill partly due to a 2006−2007 Canadian report documenting evidence that the Chinese regime has killed tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners to extract organs for lucrative transplant surgeries.

“Bloody Harvest” was co-authored by Winnipeg-based international human rights lawyer David Matas and former Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) David Kilgour.

Mr. Reid, Conservative Party Deputy Government House Leader, in 2002 introduced a motion that passed unanimously in the House urging Mr. Chrétien to request then-Chinese leader Jiang Zemin to free 13 imprisoned practitioners with Canadian family ties.

M-236, co-sponsored by current International Trade Minister Stockwell Day, resulted in the release of eight practitioners within a year.

Irwin Cotler, another PFOFG member, is the Liberal Party’s Special Counsel on Human Rights and International Justice. As voluntary legal counsel, he helped rescue two Falun Gong practitioners with status in Canada who were imprisoned in China for their beliefs. Zhang Kunlun and Lin Shenli both returned to Canada after being freed.

Mr. Li believes the PFOFG “will play a significant role in the Parliament” as it reflects the wish of Canadians as well as advances Canada’s leadership role taken as early as 1999 when the persecution began.

“Canadians who practice Falun Gong have asked for our help,” said Mr. Woodworth in a news release. “The very least Parliamentarians can do is stand up for human rights whenever they are called upon to do so.”

Last Updated
Oct 27, 2009

25/10/2009 23:41:00 KanZhongGuo

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On October 18th, 2009, a unique robbery took place at a company’s living quarters in the city of Dongguan, Guangdong Province. While the thieves stole all the money and valuables they found on site, this robbery had an unusual twist: the robbers came back to return all the personal identity documents. This event triggered a barrage of responses over the Internet.

Video surveillance footage showed two thieves arriving at the scene of the crime in a blue car on the morning of October 18th, at about 6:12 am. In less than two minutes, they had opened the  front door. After removing some valuables, they drove away.

A few minutes later, by 6:20 am, the two thieves had driven  back to the scene, only to return the  personal identity documents they had taken, and then drove away for the last time. Mr. Gan, a victim of the crime, said that he was missing two cellphones and 3000 yuan from his wallet. However, his government issued ID, driver’s license and phone cards had all been returned.

Ruterned goods circled in the photo. (screenshot)

Over the Internet, amidst the steady stream of high marks for the robbers, blogs included comments describing the culprits as “tops among thieves”  and “thieves with work ethics”. One blogger hypothesized about the creation of an annual “model thief award.”

Bloggers mostly seemed to downplay the fact that a crime was committed, in light of the courteous return of the identity documents. One blogger portrayed the crime as relative, exclaiming, “the thieves have much higher integrity than police.... at least they understand how important the government IDs are, and how hard it is to get a new one!!”

That having been said, the general attention of the bloggers shifted toward city enforcement squads and  their officials. One blogger applauded the concept of the “model thief” award, concluding that the robbers were “much better than the public servants who bully us!”

Instances of law enforcement 'bullying' cited in the media

Such instances of bullying citizens is widespread, frequently cited in reports from media not condoned by the Chinese regime.

MinghuiNet recently disclosed that early on the morning of September 24th, police officers stormed into the home of Xu Shuliang, a Falun Gong practitioner, and stole 600 yuan she had in her home. One policeman at the scene reportedly made the comment, “even rat holes need to be searched three times.” After the incident, Xu's family went to the police station, demanding that the police officers give back what was rightfully hers. The officers denied any wrongdoing.

According to an NTDTV 'Forbidden News' China report, earlier this year, Yang Yufang, a disabled person, went to Bejing to petition for her rights. Law enforcement officials took 1000 yuan and her cell phone from her. On August 9th, accompanied by human rights activists, she went to the General Management Office for the district of Xicheng , to retrieve her belongings.  Instead of returning them, the officers beat her up and sent her on her way.

With regard to the thoughtful thieves, some bloggers concluded that "precautions can be taken to guard against thieves, but there is nothing to protect against these 'public servants'."

'Thieves with Dao' is a familiar expression in China. It is used in instances where a crime has been committed, but the criminal’s actions and the consequences seem to indicate that the offender, in the midst of criminal activity, still had some degree of moral conscience.

Editor’s Note: City enforcement squads (chengguan) in China are well-known for their use of excessive force with citizens. Charged with the tasks of checking permits and preventing street vendors from setting up unlicensed stalls, they often abuse their powers for personal gain, frequently employing violence. There are many reported instances of citizens being badly beaten and even killed.

http://en.secretchina.com/realchina/3474.html

 

By Charlotte Cuthbertson
Epoch Times Staff Oct 26, 2009

Democracy advocate and high-profile Chinese defector Jia Jia flew into Beijing on Oct. 22, only to be immediately detained.

“We spoke to him just after he was detained at the airport and Jia Jia asked us to keep calling him, but since then there has been no response from his cell phone,” New Zealand human rights lawyer Kerry Gore said. “No one knows where he is at the moment.”

Jia Jia, the former general secretary of the Shanxi Provincial Association of Scientists and Technology Experts, is a United Nations refugee with New Zealand permanent residency. He publicly split from the Chinese Communist Party in 2006 while on a trip to Taiwan.

His son, Jia Kuo, remains in New Zealand. Jia Kuo said that at the airport he felt like convincing his father to stay, knowing he would likely be subject to danger. But, he said he thought of his father’s will, and of the people of mainland China, and decided to support his father unconditionally.

“He is full of confidence in being successful against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), he is full of confidence that justice will triumph over evil,” Jia Kuo said. “He is full of confidence that democracy will defeat dictatorship, that’s why he did it this way.”

Jia Jia’s flight back to China was scheduled three years after leaving. In the past three years he has been a fierce advocate for freedom for the Chinese people. After publicly declaring his renunciation from the CCP in Taiwan, Jia Jia has actively supported Chinese people doing the same. Jia Jia is the vice president of the China Interim Government, which was formed in the beginning of 2008.

In a letter he left behind in New Zealand, Jia Jia states: “In the past three years, I have been at many occasions in many countries calling publicly for all the party members to quit the CCP and establish new parties, and to establish a united democratic states of China. … The root cause of all the problems in China is the Central Committee of the CCP. The only obstacle that keeps China from being a democracy is the Central Committee of the CCP.”

Jia Kuo said his father dared to make the decision to return to China not fearing danger or persecution, "because he loves his mother country, loves his home town, and only for the democratization of the motherland would he shoulder such danger and difficulties."

Meanwhile, Gore said he has contacted the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing, who has, in turn, contacted the Chinese regime—no response has been received thus far.

"As a human rights lawyer I am familiar with the Chinese Communist Party's very poor human rights record and its treatment of those who advocate democracy in China,” Gore said. “I am therefore very concerned for Jia Jia's personal safety.”

 

Last Updated
Oct 26, 2009

 

Taizong, el alma de la dinastía Tang

La dinastía Tang (618-907 d.C.) fue fundada por el Emperador Taizong, quien pasó a la historia como uno de los mejores emperadores de la historia china. Durante su reinado, China floreció en todos los aspectos, incluidos el comercio, la sociedad, la literatura y las artes. Se dice que en ese tiempo, no había necesidad de que la gente cerrara sus puertas con llave, y que si alguien dejaba algo olvidado en algún lado, siempre podía volver y encontrarlo. La prosperidad de la época y el liderazgo del emperador y sus funcionarios personifican la cima de esta dinastía que las generaciones posteriores siempre quisieron imitar.

Taizong se preocupaba por el bienestar de su pueblo, tanto en el presente como en el futuro, así que puso especial énfasis en educar a su sucesor. En chino, Taizi (el príncipe de la corona) es también llamado Chujun (rey en espera). El príncipe Li Zhi era una persona recta y amable, pero le faltaba coraje y determinación.

El emperador Taizong educó a Li Zhi para que este pudiera mantener su amable carácter y mejorara sus debilidades. Le ordenó mudarse al palacio junto al suyo, para que padre e hijo pudieran estar juntos de la noche a la mañana y que Taizong pudiera supervisar y guiar a su hijo a todo momento. Taizong también utilizó un método poco ortodoxo para educar a su hijo; él abandonó la política de enseñarle con libros, y en cambio, prefirió enseñarle reflexionando sobre las cosas que encontraban en la vida diaria.

Cuando veía al príncipe comiendo, Taizong le decía, “Recién después de un año de duro trabajo y el esfuerzo de los campesinos por arar, sembrar y cosechar, es que tenemos comida para consumir. Cuando comes, debes pensar en las dificultades que soportaron los campesinos para cosechar sus granos. La comida que estás consumiendo no se produjo fácilmente. Haz que tu corazón sienta empatía hacia los campesinos y restringe tus deseos. En ese caso, el Cielo ciertamente verá que tienes la sabiduría de ser agradecido por tu buena fortuna, y te otorgará aun más buena fortuna, permitiéndote que siempre tengas comida”.

Cuando veía al príncipe montando a caballo, Taizong le enseñaba, “Aunque el caballo es un animal doméstico, también tiene sentimientos. Debes apreciarlo. Cuando lo montas, debes pensar en la labor y el trabajo duro que este caballo está haciendo, y restringirte para no hacerlo correr mucho. No puedes agotar toda la fuerza del caballo. El Cielo verá que tienes la humanidad de tratar a las cosas con amor, y te hará rico y honorable, permitiéndote que siempre tengas caballos para montar”.

Cuando veía al príncipe navegando en un bote, le explicaba, “El agua puede impulsar un bote, pero también puede volcarlo. El pueblo es como el agua, y el monarca es como el bote. Si el monarca trata al pueblo con actos buenos y virtuosos, el pueblo amará al monarca. Si el monarca es un tirano y no muestra interés por las necesidades de su pueblo, la gente lo considerará un enemigo y lo traicionará. Tal como el agua, aunque puede impulsar un bote, también puede volcarlo. No puedes dejar de ser prudente en este asunto”.

Cuando veía al príncipe disfrutando de la brisa bajo la sombra de un árbol, Taizong decía, “Cuando un árbol crece, generalmente no crece perfectamente derecho. Un carpintero puede utilizar herramientas para convertirlo en un tronco lo suficientemente largo y fuerte como para servir de material para construir un palacio. Un monarca que crece en un palacio no puede saberlo todo, y ciertamente cometerá errores. Solo al escuchar con modestia los consejos de los ministros, el monarca puede corregirse y convertirse en un emperador digno”.

Bajo la atenta guía de Taizong, el príncipe heredero no decepcionó a su padre y se convirtió en un gran monarca. Siguiendo sus enseñanzas, estaba atento a las necesidades del pueblo y gobernaba con modestia. En muchas áreas, como política, economía, cultura y otras, construyó sobre los logros de su padre y consiguió éxitos aun mayores. Sus logros confirmaron que el emperador Taizong había elegido y educado a un merecido sucesor, siendo la última manifestación de su gran capacidad para entrenar, enseñar y trabajar con personas virtuosas.

Enseñando con su propio ejemplo

Los antiguos chinos creían en la unidad del Cielo con el hombre, y que el progreso y la decadencia del hombre reflejan los cambios en el cosmos. En las antiguas dinastías, los historiadores siempre reservaban un capítulo en sus libros de historia para describir cómo los cambios del cosmos se corresponden con el desarrollo y la caída de las dinastías. Hicieron esto para alertar a la gente e instar a reyes y emperadores a respetar al Cielo, lo que traería beneficios al pueblo.

Según la misma creencia,  los desastres naturales se originan de calamidades causadas por el hombre. Los monarcas virtuosos de la antigüedad generalmente consideraban a los desastres naturales como advertencias de los dioses. Entonces hacían una autocrítica para encontrar las faltas en sí mismos, dejando en claro que ellos eran los responsables. Así gobernaba Taizong.

Hay una historia bastante conocida que cuenta que en el 628 d.C. hubo una gran sequía en Chang-an, la capital de la dinastía Tang, y en sus regiones vecinas. Las langostas plagaban la zona y se devoraban los cultivos. Se las podía ver incluso en los jardines de la realeza. Un día, el emperador Taizong tomó una langosta del jardín. Con gran seriedad, dijo, “El pueblo vive de los granos, pero ustedes se los están comiendo. ¡Ustedes están dañando a mi pueblo! Incluso si la culpa es del pueblo y los dioses las envían a ustedes para castigarlos, en realidad no es su culpa sino mía, ya que, como emperador, no cumplí bien con mi deber. Si son realmente espirituales, deberían dirigir la calamidad hacia mí, en vez de sobre el pueblo”. Dicho esto, el emperador Taizong estaba a punto de tragarse la langosta para mostrar su determinación en acabar con la plaga. Preocupado por que el emperador se enfermara, su paje intentó detenerlo. Pero Taizong respondió, “Solo espero que los dioses dirijan el desastre hacia mí en vez de hacia el pueblo. ¿Cómo podría terminar con la calamidad si tengo miedo de enfermarme?” Luego se tragó rápidamente el insecto. La determinación del emperador Taizong de sufrir por su pueblo conmovió a los dioses. Poco después, las langostas gradualmente desaparecieron. Durante las décadas que duró su reinado, las langostas no volvieron a plagar el país.

http://www.lagranepoca.com/articles/2009/10/24/3753.html

 

Neděle, 25. říjen 2009, dnes slaví Beáta

Příběhy ze starověké Číny: Snášenlivost vyvolává v ostatních soucit
Epoch Times | 31.08.09

Súvisiace témy: příběhy z Číny   Nezapomínejme na mocnou sílu, ukrytou v soucitu a toleranci. (wikimedia.org) Nezapomínejme na mocnou sílu, ukrytou v soucitu a toleranci. (wikimedia.org) V období dynastie Ming (1368-1644) žil muž jménem Zhang Jin. Tento muž se oženil se ženou jménem Liu, pocházející z jedné bohaté rodiny. Zhang Jinova matka byla ve svém okolí všeobecně považována za mimořádně závistivou a panovačnou. Již tři z jejích dalších snach opustily rodinu, protože nemohly unést matčino chování. Liu byla čtvrtou snachou. Jakmile se připojila k rodině, všichni se divili, že je k ní tchýně velmi laskavá. Ptali se paní Liu, jak je možné, že je k ní tchýně tak laskavá. „To kvůli mé poslušnosti!“ odpověděla. „Následuji její pokyny a ignoruji její provokace. Nevyhýbám se ani situacím, které jsou mimo oblast etikety nebo jsou pro dámu nevhodné. V takovém případě vyčkám na správný okamžik, abych jí klidně vysvětlila, zda byla její očekávání správná. Má tchýně tak většinou vyslechne moje vysvětlení.“ Za tři roky, kdy paní Liu věrně sloužila své tchyni, se tchyně stala soucitnou a už nikdy nezacházela se svou snachou špatně. V mezilidských vztazích se často stává, že raněný má postoj: „Ty jsi mi ublížil, tak já ti ublížím ještě víc.“ Ale to vede jen k vystupňování sporu, protože špatnost je opětovaná ještě větší špatností – něčím, co nemůže v základě problém vyřešit. Jestliže reagujeme na konflikt s tolerancí, ať už je na vině kdokoli, můžeme udělat krok zpět a všechno klidně vysvětlit přátelským způsobem. Někdo řekl, že dokonce i ten nejpanovačnější člověk se bude váhat uchýlit k hněvu, když se setká se soucitným jednáním a soucitnými slovy. Takto mohou být vyřešeny i ty nejsložitější spory. Nezapomínejme na mocnou sílu, ukrytou v soucitu a toleranci.