Falun Gong founder Li Hongzhi (李洪志) attacked China's crackdown on the meditation group and claimed in a rare televised appearance Wednesday that it was prompted by Beijing's "jealousy" over his group's mass following.
Taking aim at former Chinese president Jiang Zemin (江澤民), Li said the campaign against Falun Gong was ordered by "the most evil person in China," although he did not mention Jiang by name.
"People who care about power don't care about people suffering," Li said in an interview with a New York-based TV outlet that appears to have close ties to Falun Gong. "The Chinese leaders couldn't tolerate so many people practicing Falun Gong. It's a form of jealousy. This jealousy led to the oppression."
Beijing responded by calling Li a dangerous criminal whose Falun Gong "cult" must be stopped.
Falun Gong claims hundreds of its mainland followers have been killed in police custody, but China denies abusing any of them.
The 52-year-old Li, a former grain bureau clerk who now lives in the US, rarely makes public appearances.
Clean-shaven and neatly combed, Li wore a dark suit and striped tie, and spoke eloquently and calmly. Many Falun Gong followers have never seen Li in person, and some here who watched him yesterday said it was inspirational.
"I'm very happy to see my teacher. He looks very benevolent," said housewife Yeung Sau-ling, who is in her 40s and has practiced Falun Gong for more than four years.
"Our teacher has spoken out for all of us. We shouldn't be oppressed," said a tearful practitioner who identified herself only by her surname, Liu.
Li appeared on the New Tang Dynasty Television station and was monitored in Hong Kong via satellite by a small group of Falun Gong followers.
Hong Kong-based Falun Gong spokesman Kan Hung-cheung said the TV station is independent. But some Falun Gong followers are affiliated, and a message on the station's Web site says "the issue of Falun Gong will help to unite the Chinese people all over the world with a bond of peace and freedom."
Li said he spoke to the station because "many media outlets are afraid of telling the truth" about Falun Gong.
Beijing responded by reiterating its attack on Falun Gong.
"Falun Gong is a cult," China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Li Hongzhi is the head of the cult, and he is a criminal who is wanted by Chinese public security. The evil theories that Li Hongzhi is disseminating lead to self-damage and suicide."
Beijing accused Falun Gong of causing "serious damage to Chinese society" and said the government's "legal ban on Falun Gong is intended to protect the basic human rights and freedom of the Chinese system and to uphold its constitution and laws."
Although Chinese authorities are working to eradicate Falun Gong, the group remains legal in Hong Kong. Falun Gong stages frequent demonstrations there.
China outlawed Falun Gong as a threat to Communist rule in 1999, after the group attracted millions of practitioners with a mix of slow-motion exercises and teachings drawn from Buddhism, Taoism and Li's doctrines.
Li said Falun Gong was not a threat to China's political system.
"We take power very lightly," Li said. "We never wanted to seize power from the Communist government. We just want to keep practicing according to our spiritual beliefs."
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