| Exhibition
focuses on evil nature of cults (07/17/2001)
A two-week exhibit on fighting cults opened Sunday in Beijing,
providing first-hand materials for visitors to view cults around
the world.
The exhibit shows photos, letters, videos, books and other media
that explain common features of cults and how to combat this insidious
problem.
The event will span a period that includes the second anniversary
of China's ban on the evil Falun Gong cult on July 22. Before that
ban, the cults best-known to the Chinese were Japan's Aum Shinrikyo
and the Branch Davidian and the People's Temple sects in the United
States.
The exhibit is organized by the Central Committee of the Communist
Party of China, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry
of Justice.
The Falun Gong bearing every feature of a cult, has resulted in
more than 1,660 deaths in China so far.
Early in 1990s, Li Hongzhi founded his cult in Northeast China's
Jilin Province. It is also known as Falun Gong.
Li's cult grew rapidly, forming a hierarchical group using spiritual
and emotional manipulation to control practitioners. Many have gone
insane, injuring themselves and committing suicide or murder.
Gao Encheng, an employee in the Tianbai commercial and industrial
office in Southwest China's Chongqing, was a typical example. He
jumped to his death from the roof of a four-storey building. His
son, whom he held, was also injured in the 1998 incident.
In a letter to his wife written a day before his death, Gao said:
"I have achieved consummation by practicing Falun Gong and
I am now on the way to follow Master Li to the heaven."
The cult exhibition also shows how other countries fight cults.
In Uganda, the government used the army to eradicate its Restoration
of the Ten Commandments of God after more than 1,000 adherents died
in March 2000.
France and Japan have drafted laws to curb and ban cult activities.
Cults have become increasingly unpopular internationally. A scroll
at the exhibit features the signatures of more than 1 million citizens
who support China's ban on the Falun Gong.
Also on display are hundreds of red flags presented by former Falun
Gong practitioners and their families. These flags represent gratitude
for helping them out of that destructive lifestyle.
(China Daily by Duan Ruolan)
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