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CHINA E-LOBBY UPDATE: JULY 7, 2004
Dragon in the Dark: How and Why Communist China Helps Our Enemies in the War on Terror is now available: here, at Amazon, or call 1-888-280-7715.
TOP STORY: ZENG QINGHONG ORDERED SOUTH AFRICA FALUN GONG SHOOTING
ARRANGED ATTEMPTED HIT AS A SIGN OF LOYALTY TO CMC CHAIR JIANG ZEMIN
All things being equal, the half million protestors demanding democracy in Hong Kong would be a no-brainer, absolute lock for the Top Story. Things are not equal.
Unnamed sources �inside the Chinese Communist Party� told the Epoch Times (7/7) that Zeng Qinghong, the number two in Central Military Commission Chairman Jiang Zemin�s �Shanghai� faction, �arranged the shooting attack on Falun practitioners in South Africa . . . to demonstrate his loyalty to Jiang� who started the crackdown against Falun Gong in 1999.
The news confirms suspicions that the shooting was a Communist operation. Zeng, who was in South Africa during the shooting on a trade mission, has emerged as the lead future rival to People�s Republic President Hu Jintao, who is still blocked from the CMC Chair by Jiang. Jiang is currently trying to get his prot�g� on the CMC as Vice-Chair.
Prior to this news, Johannesburg police investigating the shooting had already classified it �as attempted murder� (Sound of Hope Radio via Epoch Times (7/1), see also last Update).
SOUTH AFRICAN SHOOTING SPARKS PROTESTS; MEETING IN CANADA
A rally was held last Saturday in Washington, D.C. to condemn the Falun Gong shooting (Epoch Times 1). Among those who spoke at the rally were John Kusumi, head of the China Support Network (and Member since 2003). Also in D.C., a group of practitioners gathered outside the South African Embassy to push for a thorough investigation (Epoch Times 2).
Practitioners in Ireland �held a peaceful appeal in front of the Chinese Consulate on June 29th and 30th, followed by a public rally in the afternoon of the 30th� (Epoch Times 3). That same day (the 30th), at a rally in San Diego for the victims, Louie Natividad, Councilman from National City, called the shooting �an act of terrorism� (Epoch Times 4)
Representatives from Canadian Falun Dafa Association met with South Africa�s Ambassador to Canada last week to present another call for a full investigation (Epoch Times 5).
OVER 500,000 TAKE PART IN PRO-DEMOCRACY PROTEST
One year after 500,000 citizens of Hong Kong protested a proposed �anti-subversion� law by the Communist-appointed local regime (see 7/2/03, 7/9/03, and 7/16/03 Updates), another 530,000 returned to the streets to demand full democracy for the city (Central News Agency, Taiwan, via Epoch Times).
They came despite at least one attempt by internet hijackers to falsely announce a postponement (BBC 7/1). In what is certain to frighten the Communists even more, a number of visitors from the mainland saw and supported the protest (Epoch Times).
It took the People�s Republic less than a day to respond: the people�s demand for a freely elected legislature and executive (only half the legislature is up for a vote this September) was called �unwise� (CNN) and �against the current atmosphere of dialogue and communication in the society.�
The next day, the PRC�s appointed lackey � Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa � echoed the Communist rejection. Tung even refused a request by local pro-democracy activists to �write a report to the standing committee of China's parliament, updating them on the situation in Hong Kong following the march� (BBC 7/7).
MORE ON THE VELVET CRACKDOWN
NEW HOBBY IN HONG KONG: STEPPING ON JIANG ZEMIN�S FACE
Meanwhile, many in Hong Kong have found a new avenue for the frustrations at the Communist regime: �Stepping on Jiang,� i.e., planting your foot on a picture of Central Military Commission Chair Jiang Zemin. Report: Epoch Times
HEALTH SECRETARY QUITS AFTER REPORT ON SARS
Health Secretary Yeoh Eng-kiong is now former Health Secretary Yeoh Eng-kiong after resigning to take blame for the city�s slow response to SARS last year (Voice of America via Epoch Times, BBC). Unmentioned was the PRC�s own SARS coverup, which certainly made Yeoh�s job harder (see 3/19/03, 3/26/03, 4/2/03, 4/9/03, 4/16/03, and 4/23/03 Updates).
MORE NEWS ON THE FALUN GONG WAR
COMMUNISTS SELLING ORGANS OF DEAD PRACTITIONERS
Reports of Communist China selling the organs of executed prisoners are nothing new to this quarter (see 7/3/01 and 1/28 Updates). Now the persecution of Falun Gong has been tied to the organ trade. Report: World Net Daily
PRO-COMMUNISTS IN �BATTLE OF PALACE 88� SUED
Six individuals with ties to leading pro-PRC organizations in New York are being sued for their role in last year�s assault on practitioners in Manhattan outside the Palace 88 Restaurant (see 7/2/03 Update). The two organizations, the Unified Federation of Chinese Associations and the Lin Ze Xu Foundation, are also defendants. Report: Epoch Times
OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS NEWS
WOMAN BEATEN TO DEATH FOR DISTRIBUTING BIBLES
Communist police in Guizhou Province arrested Jiang Zongxiu for �spreading rumours and inciting to disturb social order� (Agence France Presse), i.e., handing out Bibles. The police �kicked Jiang repeatedly during interrogation,� and then �later informed Jiang's family she had died of a sudden illness.� Sure she did.
PRC�S ATTEMPTS TO �BRAINWASH� DR. JIANG YANYONG NOT WORKING
The PRC is putting Dr. Jiang Yanyong through �reeducation� due to his call for the Party to admit its error in the Tiananmen Square massacre. Jiang, who exposed the spread of SARS in Beijing (see 4/9/03, 3/10, 3/24, 4/7, 6/10 and 6/23 Updates), will remain imprisoned �until he changes his mind about the Tiananmen crackdown� (VOA via Epoch Times).
The good doctor has, at last report, refused to back down, saying he would �face the problems confronting me with the principle of seeking truth from facts� (BBC).
FREE CHINA MOVEMENT DEMANDS AMERICA STAND UP FOR WANG BINGZHANG
The leaders of the Free China movement are �greatly concerned, angry, and fearful for the life, health and safety of Dr. Wang Bingzhang� (China Support Network 1) amid reports that the longtime dissident �has endured health setbacks under abusive prison conditions� ever since his arrest in 2002 (see 7/31/02, 12/26/02, and 2/12/03 Updates).
FCM did manage to get a meeting with the State Department on Wang�s fate, but the �very nice� (CSN 2) meeting contained �little specificity in next steps.�
COMMUNIST CHINA TO CENSOR MOBILE PHONE TEXT MESSAGES
Communist China is touting new technology to �to allow mobile phone service providers to police and filter messages for pornographic or fraudulent content� (BBC). Lest anyone think this is the real reason for the text massage �filter,� one firm let it slip out that it is watching for �false political rumors� and �reactionary remarks�" (Radio Free Asia via Epoch Times).
CORRUPTION NEWS
NATIONAL POWER COMPANY HAD $100 MILLION STOLEN BY CADRES
As provinces and cities throughout Communist China deal with crippling power shortages (see 12/10/03, 12/17/03, 3/31, 6/10 and 6/23 Updates), the PRC�s lead auditor discovered �economic crimes� (CNA via Epoch Times) at the Communist-run National Power Company that totaled $100 million. Over $500 million was lost due to �other regulatory violations.�
EPIDEMIC NEWS
CADRE IN CHARGE OF PRC CDC QUITS IN FALLOUT FROM SARS RETURN
The breakout of SARS last spring (see 5/19 Update) has led to the resignation of Li Liming, director of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (BBC). The first SARS outbreak hit the PRC in late 2002, but a Communist coverup allowed it to spread for months unchecked (see 3/19/03, 3/26/03, 4/2/03, 4/9/03, 4/16/03, and 4/23/03 Updates).
OTHER MAINLAND NEWS
JAILS IN COMMUNIST CHINA OVERPOPULATED
Without a trace of irony, Communist China � jailer of so many dissidents � has admitted that its jails �contain far more prisoners than they were designed to hold� (Dongxiang via Epoch Times). The Communists responded, of course, with �over 8,000 armed para-military police to help construct more prisons.�
COMMUNIST CHINA WANTS TO SEND SHIPS TO THE MOON, BUILD SPACE STATION
Communist China�s top space official told the BBC that the PRC �aims to send a spacecraft to the Moon in three years' time� (BBC). The Communists also hope to build �an orbiting space station and laboratory,� in their bid �to become the next space superpower.�
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OTHER AMERICAN-RELATED NEWS
Sign the petition for an American boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
SEVEN PEOPLE HELD ON CHARGES OF SELLING WEAPONS TO COMMUNIST CHINA
Seven unnamed people are in jail for �exporting millions of dollars' worth of sensitive military technology and components to China� (Washington Post). The items exported included �radar, smart bombs, electronic warfare and communications equipment,� all going �to the military or to research labs connected to China's defense establishment.�
GOLDMAN SACHS FINED FOR ILLEGALLY PROMOTING PETROCHINA IPO
The Securities and Exchange Commission fined Goldman Sachs & Company $2 million. The firm �illegally and selectively promoted the stock of four Asian companies on the brink of going public� (Washington Post). Among the companies illegally pushed by Goldman was none other than the PRC-owned PetroChina (see 4/5/00 and 4/12/00 Updates).
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
CMC DEPUTY CHAIR IN MOSCOW
Moscow is hosting Guo Boxiong, Central Military Commission Deputy Chairman, for talks on �military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing� (AFP via SpaceWar). Communist China is already Russia� largest arms customer, buying more weapons from Russia in 2002 than the rest of the world combined. Link Courtesy Ron Vogel: Member since 2000
REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) NEWS
GREEN INVESTORS SUFFER COMMUNIST CRACKDOWN
The PRC�s open door Taiwanese investors is now slamming shut for supporters of President Chen Shui-bian and his political allies (known as the pan-greens or greens). Now, pan-green investors face imprisonment for tax evasion, business disruption, and betrayal by their own employees from the mainland (Liberty Times, Taiwan via Epoch Times).
FORMER PRESIDENT LEE TENG-HUI WARNS AGAINST INVESTING IN MAINLAND
Meanwhile, former President Lee Teng-hui, the man who made Taiwan a democracy and is now w the most high-profile Green politician outside of President Chen, lamented the growing Taiwanese investment in the PRC, �which is causing public investments in Taiwan to come up short� (Liberty Times via Epoch Times).
COMMUNIST CHINA EXCLUDES TAIWAN ALLIES FROM INTERNATIONAL AID PACKAGE
Communist China announced �a program of assistance to developing countries� (United Press International via Washington Times) with a clear emphasis on a certain geopolitical development: �Only those countries which have established diplomatic relations with China can participate in the project,� i.e., nations the recognize Taiwan need not apply.
TIBET NEWS
DALAI LAMA TURNS 69
The Dalai Lama, Tibet�s spiritual leader, turned 69 yesterday. The China Support Network used the occasion to call for an end to the Communist persecution in Tibet.
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