Lawrence Chung at the South China Morning Post reports that local governments are suppressing Falun Gong protesters, a common sight at tourist spots all over Taiwan, ahead of visitors from China...[no link, behind paywall]...He vowed supporters would continue promoting Falun Gong, which they say is a spiritual movement but which is banned on the mainland as an "evil cult".It is always fun to hear a state that has the embalmed body of its mass-murdering leader on display refer to another belief system as "an evil cult."
Local governments on the island are reported to have barred Falun Gong followers from promoting their movement at scenic spots during a recent visit by representatives of 33 mainland travel agencies to survey sites ahead of visits by mainland tourists that begin next month.
Falun Gong practitioners have long set up tables and hoisted banners at tourist attractions in Taiwan to promote their movement.
Taiwan is to allow direct visits by 3,000 tourists per day, a move authorities and the industry say will create 45,000 jobs and bring in NT$60 billion (HK$15.4 billion) a year.
Local governments seeking to alleviate financial problems have widely applauded the island's opening up to direct, as opposed to group, tourism from the mainland.
Dr Chang, who is a professor of economics at National Taiwan University, said mainland authorities' stipulation that tourists be kept away from places where people promote Falun Gong or Tibetan or Taiwanese independence was "impractical, unreasonable and illegal".
He said Taiwan was known for its freedoms of expression, religion and assembly. "This is a precious culture in Taiwan, and it would be a big waste if mainland tourists are not able to see it."
More importantly, several weeks ago I argued au contraire to those who argue that Taiwan is likely to change China, that it was more likely that China would change Taiwan, and not in a positive direction....is that what we are seeing here?
[Taiwan]
12 comments:
Falun Gong folks are decidedly anti government in any form and a step in the right direction for people's rights.
Whether one is sympathetic to Falun Gong or not is irrelevant to this issue.
Freedom of speech and right to assembly are the issues, and this news should be a red flag for all Taiwanese.
If the KMT chooses to prevent Falun Gong, Tibetans and Taiwan independence supporters from exercising their right to protest, then which of you is next?
Let us not forget the lesson learned from Pr. Martin Niemoller's famous poem:
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
In Kaohsiung I noticed several tourist attractions had FaLun Gong protest posters up and other anti PRC information ready for the tourists.
Correct me if I am wrong, but later in the same article, or perhaps it was another, the Tainan city government said that, despite its desire that the FLG leave the tourists sites, it was not going to force them out.
I think most local governments will know that this is an area where they can't tread lightly. This is why, in the short term, I don't see a huge threat. All Ma's government needs is footage of FLG people being dragged away to appease China. The negative publicity would be hard to live down. And if any of us can agree with something about the FLG, it is that they know how to make a scene and have the financial resources to let whoever pushes them around have it.
This all, however, does not ignore the fact that the current masters of Taiwan are appeasers in the yuckiest sense of the word.
Sorry, I meant they can't tread lightly with the FLG. By the way, I remember that this was an issue in Hong Kong a year or two ago. But the FLG are still at the Star Ferry and in other places. I have a photo of a sign from a few months ago that says:
"Bring Jiang Zemin to Justice!" :)
The Falun Gong have been active in South Australia for a number of years. I am fairly tolerant in terms of religion and philosophies but draw the line with the lunatic fringe of J.W, Mormons, Bretheren etc. I thought, according to constant F.G publicity that they were an unfairly oppressed group by the PRC. After a performance by the F.G "Divine Arts" in Adelaide I concluded that if that is what they are portraying across the world about the PRC then they deserve a thorough pasting! The show was tacky and amateurish, quite deceptive in its advertising and full of nasty anti PRC propaganda. Many people here walked out of the performance and the applause was from a F.G clacque centre middle.
Given that the F.G seems to be a subversive money making concern for its founder then the PRC has every right to suppress it. I am tired of seeing the bloody images and reading the embarrassing and obviously trumped up stories. I hope that Taiwan can avoid the embarrassment too. Geoff
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The show was tacky and amateurish, quite deceptive in its advertising and full of nasty anti PRC propaganda.
"Tacky" and "amateurish"?!! My god, man. Off with their heads!!!
You know what I found "tacky" and "amateurish"? The PRC's olympic torch relay.
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I think as far as faith goes... it is all relative.
If FaLun wants to believe in fantasy it is no different from believing in virgins for martyrs, loaves and fishes and eternal salvation, burning bushes, dictator worship or any other fantasy. If it becomes ok to limit their freedom of expression, then where to stop? Why is Fa Lun bad when Tzu Chi is ok? Like a Catholic telling a Mormon they are full of shit...based on FAITH that one is correct.
Given that the F.G seems to be a subversive money making concern for its founder then the PRC has every right to suppress it.
When the FLG has murdered as many people as communism or even the tiny by comparison KKK, then I'll support suppressing their free speech rights as much as the free speech rights of communists Party and KKK are suppressed in the U.S.A..
And just in case you're wondering, even the Communist Party and the KKK have free speech in the U.S.A..
There is a boundary between Freedom of Expression and creating a Public Nuisance or Disturbing the Public Order. As long as FLG stays within its bounds, I will say nothing of their campaigns. But if they disturb me or other members of the public from our daily activities against our will, then they need to be controlled.
More importantly, several weeks ago I argued au contraire to those who argue that Taiwan is likely to change China, that it was more likely that China would change Taiwan, and not in a positive direction....is that what we are seeing here?
actually..global trade is changing China (& Taiwan) global trade created Taiwan as we know it today. Taiwan's size is making it a loser to China. Democracy for China will come as a result of reliance on global trade.
channing said: "As long as FLG stays within its bounds, I will say nothing of their campaigns"
Why does that comment remind me of the prudish Victorian lady who said, "I don't mind what they do, as long as they don't do it in the streets and scare the horses."
I'm no personal supporter of Falun Gong, but activism requires making a big noise. No one cares about you if you sit quietly in the corner and modestly hand out a leaflet ot two.
It may be inconvenient for some, but it's often the way to bring about meaningful change.
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