A US religious rights group has published what it says are top secret Chinese government documents detailing a crackdown on illegal religious groups including the underground Christian church and Falun Gong.
The seven documents describe tactics used by security forces against such groups including interrogation, surveillance and infiltration by secret agents, said a statement on the Web site of the Washington-based human rights group Freedom House.
If genuine, the papers illustrate in rare detail the Chinese leadership's determination to crush all religious activity outside state-sanctioned bodies following persistent protests by members of the banned spiritual movement Falun Gong.
They also throw the spotlight again on religious freedom in China a week before a visit by US President George W. Bush.
Only five days ago, Beijing released a man sentenced to two years in jail for smuggling bibles to a banned Christian group.
The documents, available on the Web site at http://www.religiousfreedomforchina.org/English/docs/Final%20Report.htm, described a systematic campaign against a variety of unofficial religious groups, including underground Catholics and Protestants and 14 groups labelled as "evil cults."
One of the most revealing papers is a transcript of a speech by Sun Jianxin, vice director of public security in the eastern province of Anhui, in which he warns that foreign powers have infiltrated many of these groups.
"Hostile organizations both in our country and abroad have shifted their focus to the inside of our country and have hastened their infiltration through various methods, such as via foundations or academic delegations, and all kinds of media," he said.
Meanwhile, the Vatican's missionary news agency said Wednesday that China has detained dozens of bishops and priests loyal to Pope John Paul II and is closely watching many more as part of its efforts to weaken the underground Roman Catholic Church.
RSS