-Caveat Lector- China says Seattle scraps Falun Gong endorsement By Matt Pottinger BEIJING, Dec 2 (Reuters) - The mayor of Seattle has scrapped plans to honour the leader of the Falun Gong spiritual movement under pressure from China, Chinese state media said on Thursday. U.S. followers of Falun Gong said on Monday Seattle Mayor Paul Schell had agreed to designate days honouring Falun Gong and its Chinese founder, Li Hongzhi, the China Daily said. But Chinese Ambassador to the United States Li Zhaoxing, attending World Trade Organisation talks in Seattle, met Schell and persuaded him to revoke his endorsement, the newspaper said. Schell told the ambassador he was ``embarrassed by making such a careless proclamation,'' the newspaper said in an article titled ``Falun Gong Muffled in U.S. City.'' He later told the ambassador in a telephone call the endorsement had been cancelled, the newspaper said. Schell also offered to send a formal letter of apology to the Chinese government, it added. Seattle city officials were not immediately available for comment. China outlawed the popular movement in July after practitioners demanded government recognition of their faith in a series of bold protests, including a gathering of 10,000 followers at the central leadership compound in Beijing in April. CHINA SEES GRAVE THREAT China has said the group poses a grave threat to Communist Party rule and foments social instability by spreading superstitious beliefs. It has mounted a sweeping campaign against the group and arrested at least 150 of its leaders. Several members have already been jailed for up to 12 years and an unknown number sent without trial to labour camps. Li Hongzhi founded Falun Gong in China in 1991, but moved to New York six years ago. He is now China's most wanted man. Falun Gong mixes elements of Buddhism and Daoism with Chinese physical and breathing exercises. Li Hongzhi says adherents can cure diseases and acquire supernatural powers by harnessing the force of an invisible revolving wheel he places in the abdomens of followers. He has railed against a world he sees as corrupted by science and immorality and near the brink of catastrophe. U.S. mayors are routinely swamped with requests by groups for honour proclamations and other forms of official recognition. Mayor Schell told the Chinese ambassador he knew nothing about Falun Gong when he signed the order proclaiming ``Falun Dafa and Li Hongzhi days,'' the China Daily said. Falun Dafa is another name for Falun Gong. In July, San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown also cancelled a proclamation honouring Li Hongzhi just days after China banned the group, citing fears the proclamation ``would be misinterpreted.'' DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
