•
Quotes from a World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong report: “On June 10, 1999, bypassing procedures required by the Chinese constitution among other codes of law, and under direct orders from the then leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Jiang Zemin, the CCP Central Committee formed the “610 Office,” an organization with the sole mission of cracking down on Falun Gong. […] Besides its central office in Beijing, the “610 Office” has branches in all the Chinese cities, villages, governmental agencies, institutions, and schools. In terms of its establishment, structure, reporting mechanism, and operation and founding mechanism, it is an organization that is allowed to exist outside the established framework of the CCP and the Chinese government. The power it has far exceeds that which is officially authorized under the Chinese constitution and other laws, furthermore, it is free from budgetary constraints. The “610 Office” has full control over any issue that has to do with Falun Gong, and has become an organization that Jiang Zemin uses, personally and privately, to persecute Falun Gong. This organization does not have any legal basis. It is an organization that is very similar to Nazi Germany’s Gestapo and the “Central Committee of the Cultural Revolution” during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. […] The official crackdown on Falun Gong was marked on several documents released around July 20, 1999. These documents are: "The announcement of the CCP 65 central committee on July 19, 1999" , "The announcement of the Chinese Ministry 66 of Civil Affairs" , "The announcement of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security on 67 July 22" , "The announcement of General Administration of Press and Publication [reiterating the processing opinion about the publication of Falun Gong literature] on 68 69 July 22" , and others.”
•
Quote from The Washington Post, November 1999:
“Communist Party sources said that the standing committee of the Politburo did not unanimously endorse the crackdown and that President Jiang Zemin alone decided that Falun Gong must be eliminated. […] It was Jiang who ordered that Falun Gong 65
On July 19, 1999, the Central Committee issued a notice stating Party members are not allowed to practice Falun Gong <http://www.zhengqing.net.cn/2001-12/03/content_262406.htm> 66 The Ministry of Civil Affairs’ Decision to Ban Falun Dafa Research Association (July, 22 1999) <http://past.people.com.cn/GB/other6902/2834/> 67 On July 30, 1999, the Ministry of Public Security issued an arrest warrant (Warrant No. 19990102) on Falun Gong founder Mr. Li Hongzhi. <http://www.pladaily.com.cn/item/flg/wjgd/13.htm> 68 On July 22, 1999, the Ministry of Public Security stated that hanging, posting banners, posters, badges or other logos that advocate Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) was prohibited <http://www.people.com.cn/GB/channel1/10/20000706/132280.html> 69 “Investigation Report on the ‘610 Office’” World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong <http://www.upholdjustice.org/English.2/investigation_of_610.htm >
- 86 -