Subcultural engagement for the 21st Century...
Barbelith is a new kind of community (find out more)...
You can login or register.

Underground > Switchboard >

We now interrupt this program to bring you--"The (Falun) Gong Show!!"

00:08 / 09.03.02

"Sect interrupts TV in daring Chinese stunt"

"BEIJING - The banned Falun Gong spiritual movement staged a takeover of state television in the Chinese city where its founder was born, interrupting shows on several channels and transmitting a film protesting the government crackdown on the group, state-run media reported today."

Who sez the revolution won't be televised?

00:08 / 09.03.02

crikey.

15:14 / 11.03.02

How odd - sigilized once for something like this to happen last year, but there was a time limit on it.

All I can say is: fuckin' a, falun gong. You go!

20:57 / 10.05.02

Update:

Falun Gong hijacks airwaves/ cable another 2 times

"BEIJING (Reuters) - Defiant members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual group hijacked the airwaves of a second northeastern Chinese city in April to show footage protesting against a government crackdown on their faith, witnesses said on Friday.

Images touting the virtues of Falun Gong were broadcast on thousands of television sets in a district of the industrial hub of Harbin on the night of April 21, a TV repairman told Reuters.

"I heard it went on for about five minutes," said the worker in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province which borders Russia. "Other sub-districts in the city were not affected."

A local broadcast bureau official confirmed the incident had taken place but would give no details. Police and government officials declined comment.

The move was the latest in a string of high profile attempts by Falun Gong to try and convince the public that adherents suffer wrongful persecution by a Communist government which is trying to crush it.

Falun Gong hacked into a cable television broadcast in the northeastern city of Changchun on March 5 to show a similar film. "

Some of the member could be put in jail for 15 years for these stunts. Which begs the question: Is it really punishment to throw people in jail when all they want to do is meditate anyways?

19:13 / 12.05.02

Chinese government is terrified of these people, its a bunch of pensioners who are into meditation and religion. Not much trouble you might think until you realise that chinese society is very respectful of the elderly, and now they're having to lock em up for 15 years. Dangerous types those pensioners.
Also they kind of remember the couple of revolutions that were religiously inspired in China's history. The Boxer Rebellion is the only one that comes to mind, started I think by a group that could be compared to Falun Gong.
At least thats what I hear, anyone study chinese history round here?

14:56 / 13.05.02

Yeah, that's the standard comparison.

Aum Shinri Kyo in Japan also came out of a similar movement, although one that's apparently a bit more extreme in its religious views.

unheimlich manoeuvre

23:39 / 10.01.05

as invisible al said back in 2002, the Chinese authorities are really coming down hard on the Falun Gong.

Reporters Without Borders. 29 December 2004
11 Falun Gong members arrested for posting torture photos on Internet
"Through the People's Daily, the Chinese authorities described the offending photos as "pure invention." They also reiterated the position that the Falun Gong is a sect that needs to be "eradicated" because it fosters "lying and conspiracy in order to disturb the construction of a well off society."

The actions of the Chinese government seem to be counter - productive? The leader of the Li Hongzhi now lives in New York. (Cue allegations of corruption and embezzlement)