A Chinese political dissident who once served in China's security services yesterday said that the "610 office" does exist -- despite the denial of Beijing authorities -- and is the secret agency that implements repressive measures to eliminate dissidents.
Hao Fengjun (郝鳳軍), who was once in charge of monitoring China-based Taiwanese businesspeople, religious groups and Falun Gong members, made the remarks at a press conference in Taipei.
"While I yearned when I was young to become a police officer to serve the country by maintaining public security, it turned out that the role of a policeman in the country is to cruelly oppress people who do not conform to the government's ideas," Hao said.
Unable to endure his work any longer, Hao escaped from China in February, seeking political asylum in Australia, where he obtained a permanent protection visa in July.
The 610 office is an agency specifically created to persecute political dissidents, with absolute power over each level of administration in the Chinese Communist Party and all other political and judiciary systems, Hao said.
"The office, established on June 10, 1999 under the instruction of (former president) Chiang Zemin (江澤民), is an agency similar to the Gestapo, even though the government hasn't admitted the agency exists," Hao said.
He said that about 14 associations set up to practice breathing techniques (qigong) and 14 religious organizations are under the control of the secret agency.
Hao also worked in the Tianjin branch of the "610 office," where his job was to collect and analyze information reported by citizens about Falun Gong practitioners.
"The 610 office where I worked had authority over other local government bodies to direct them to persecute Falun Gong," Hao said.
"I couldn't stand seeing people who have no intention of overturning the government being persecuted," the defector said.
He said that Taiwanese people in China who have specific religious beliefs are also being monitored by the Chinese government.
"The 610 office often monitored their whereabouts or threatened them with tax inspections," he said.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Winston Dang (
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