Open Letter to Media Regarding the "Tiananmen Self-Immolation Incident"

We are deeply disturbed and it is regrettable that some Western media are repeating slanderous lies from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), when the world is well aware of China's persecution of a peaceful group - Falun Gong and the fact that thousands of Falun Gong practitioners were murdered by the CCP; and when numerous lies aimed at defaming Falun Gong, including the "Self-immolation Incident," have been exposed one by one.

As an international human rights organization, we have devoted tremendous attention and effort to one of the greatest, ongoing human rights persecutions of this century - the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. During the systematic investigation of this persecution against 100 million people, we discovered that the Chinese media, controlled by the CCP, have played critical roles in driving the persecution forward. From creating propaganda to deceiving the public before the persecution, to framing and inciting hatred during the persecution, the CCP media are not only accomplices in this persecution, they are also the fundamental reason why this persecution has lasted and escalated. When faced with condemnation from the international community, the CCP media try their best to cover up and whitewash the persecution as well as disparage and demonize the victims, in order to deceive the world media and proliferate hatred and persecution of Falun Gong abroad.

The media per se does not exist in China, a country under totalitarian rule. All media are directed by the Communist leadership and have long since morphed into the CCP's tool for influencing the public and praising the Party. This is not only commonly acknowledged in the western world but also publicly advocated by the CCP. Unfortunately, on the issue of Falun Gong, some Western media have quoted the CCP media's vicious attacking propaganda unquestioningly, and without questioning sources or the reliability of these statements. We believe this not only shows a lack of basic understanding regarding the nature of the CCP mouthpiece media, but also a lack of humanity and justice for Falun Gong practitioners who are still being tortured and killed at the hands of police and officials that are acting under the influence of this very same propaganda.

Journalism done with integrity and insight can be a powerful and noble force.

We praise the professionalism of Mr. Philip Pan from the Washington Post. After the "Self-immolation" incident took place, he, to our knowledge, is the only journalist who actively investigated the backgrounds of individuals involved in the incident. Pan went to Kaifeng, Henan Province, hometown to one of the "Self-immolators," and conducted interviews and investigations. He discovered that the "Self-immolator" did not practice Falun Gong, which makes the "Self-immolation Incident" very likely a government-directed hoax. We admire the conscience and courage of the Wall Street Journal's Mr. Ian Johnson, who,for his series of reports on the abuse, torture and killings of Falun Gong practitioners, won the Pulitzer Prize for International reporting. Johnson's reports allowed Western society "for the first time" to gain an understanding of what was happening to Falun Gong behind the closed doors of police detention centers and labor camps, and furthermore, provided insight into tyranny's mechanism at work.

Attached is a report which includes the results of investigations conducted by the WOIPFG. The evidence presented herein demonstrates the comprehensive nature of this human rights tragedy that has lasted for five years and continues. In particular, we believe the "Report on the Chinese Media's Involvement in Persecuting Falun Gong" and "The Highlights of Investigation of the Alleged Self-Immolation in Tiananmen Square" will help you see the CCP media's role in this persecution, which will provide you with the necessary tools for dissecting information from CCP media, and thereby enable your organization to ensure you will not be unwitting used as a mouthpiece for CCP propaganda.

Sincerely yours,

World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG)

World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong

Tel：1-347-448-5790；Fax：1-347-402-1444；
Mailing Address：P.O. Box 84， New york, NY 10116
Website： http://www.upholdjustice.org/, http://www.zhuichaguoji.org/