DATE=9/9/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA/RELIGION (L-O)
NUMBER=2-253647
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  The Chinese government has criticized a report 
by the State Department alleging religious persecution 
in China.  V-O-A's Stephanie Ho reports from Beijing a 
Chinese spokesman maintains no one is detained in 
China because of his or her religious beliefs.

TEXT:  The State Department report is the first of an 
annual series on religious freedom in nearly 200-
countries and territories around the world.

In China, the report says citizens can face harassment 
or long detention in labor camps if they practice 
religion outside officially-sanctioned churches.  The 
report also details incidents of abuse of Buddhist 
monks and nuns in China, including in Tibet.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi criticized 
the State Department report before it was released 
(Thursday) in Washington.

At a regular briefing in Beijing, Mr. Sun maintained 
the U-S accusations of religious persecution interfere 
in China's internal affairs.  He said recent charges 
that Chinese Christians have been persecuted are 
groundless.

The Chinese spokesman added China's constitution says 
it protects religious freedom, but he said religion is 
not a legal shield for Chinese citizens.  He said 
people are not arrested for their religious beliefs, 
but because the government considers them criminals.

In July, China carried out a highly-publicized 
nationwide crackdown on a spiritual group known as 
Falun Gong -- an organization that mixes traditional 
breathing exercises with elements from several 
different religions.

Mr. Sun -- speaking through an interpreter -- labeled 
Falun Gong a cult.  He said the government declared 
the group illegal to protect, what he called -- normal 
religious activity.

            /// SUN INTERPRETER ACT ///

      Falun Gong is not a religious organization.  It 
      only used some special terms and stock phrases 
      of Taoism, Buddhism, and Christianity.

            /// END ACT ///


The official "Beijing Daily" newspaper reported 
(Thursday) authorities detained 19 Falun Gong members 
for organizing illegal gatherings.  The paper said 
five of the detainees are still in custody, while 
police set the rest free after they showed signs of 
repentance.   (SIGNED)

NEB/HO/RAE



09-Sep-1999 14:59 PM LOC (09-Sep-1999 1859 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.