Extracts. China Lashes Out Against U.S. Religious Report Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao Wednesday criticized a U.S. report on international religious affairs, describing it as an attempt to defame China, interfering in China's internal affairs and harm Sino-U.S. relations. Answering a journalist's question, Zhu said the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom released on May 1 its 2001 annual report which makes improper comments on and unwarranted charges against the religious situations in some countries, including China. In the China-related contents of the report, the commission distorted the facts and wantonly attacked China's religious policy and the Chinese government's ban on the Falun Gong cult according to law, Zhu said. The report even openly asked the U.S. government to set barriers for Beijing's bid for the 2008 Olympic Games and to continue to table an anti-China motion in future sessions of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. By doing so, Zhu said, the U.S. commission has trampled the basic norms of international relations and grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, and the Chinese government and people expressed strong indignation against and opposition to such a report. Zhu pointed out that the Chinese government protects the freedom of religious belief for its citizens in accordance with the law and Chinese citizens do enjoy such freedom according to law. At the same time, the Chinese government prohibits, according to law, any organization or individual to run criminal activities in the name of religion. The spokesman said Falun Gong is an evil cult with anti-human, anti-scientific and anti-social features, which adopts a hostile attitude towards religions, harms the public interest and is a tumor of society. China's ban on the evil cult protects the basic human rights and freedom of the vast majority of the people and the move has won firm support from the people, including religious figures, he said. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom attempted to use the said report to defame China, interfere in China's internal affairs and sabotage China-U.S. relations, the spokesman said, adding that such a vicious intention will be proved futile. He said the Chinese side demands the U.S. government respect the facts, oppose the said report, take practical measures to wipe out its adverse impact, stop interfering in China's internal affairs with religious issues as a pretext, so as to avoid new damage done to Sino-U.S. relations. **** International Labor Day Marked Nationwide Chinese people nationwide participated in a variety of activities Tuesday to celebrate the first International Labor Day of the new century. In Beijing <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/beijing.html> , thousands of people gathered in Tian'anmen square, the "heart" of the country, for the flag-raising ceremony at early morning. Fifty five year old Pan Liren, together with several other model workers from Shenzhen, a showcase of China's reform and opening up achievements in south China's Guangdong <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/guangdong.html> Province, were among the crowd. "I deeply feel the greatness of our country at this special moment," said Pan. "We are masters of our country and will contribute more to the country's prosperity," said his companion. Shanghai <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/Shanghai.html> , the country's largest industrial and trade center, was filled with colorful flags and balloons. People, young and old, enjoyed themselves by singing and dancing. A total of 360 performances will be staged during the seven-day holiday. In Lhasa, capital of the Tibet <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/tibet.html> Autonomous Region, a rare meteorological spectacle - a double aureole around the sun appeared in the sky in the morning and was believed by pilgrims to be a good omen. In the square in front of the Potala Palace, a grand award ceremony was held to honor ten local model workers and three advanced units. In Kunming, capital of south-west China's Yunnan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/yunnan.html> Province, young people representing all 26 ethnic groups of the province gathered at the Ethnic Groups Village for a joint celebration. Besides Kunming, more than 240 celebrating activities will also be hosted in 15 local cities during the festival period. In Chengdu, capital of west China's Sichuan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/sichuan.html> Province, thousands of people thronged at the city's central park - the People's Park - to enjoy themselves with singing, dancing and a variety of entertainment. In Hohhot, capital of north China's Inner Mongolia <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/mongolia.html> Autonomous Region, sightseeing resorts with local color have opened to entertain thousands of tourists from home and abroad. Thousands upon thousands visitors went to the newly-discovered "Great Wall" in south China's Hunan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/hunan.html> Province which opened to visitors on the first day of China's week-long Labor Day holiday. The main part of the 190 km "Southern China Great Wall" is located in Fenghuang County in western Hunan. Built during the Ming Dynasty (1368--1644) by the local Miao minority ethnic group, the "Southern China Great Wall" is 2.3 m high and 1.7 m wide. In Guangzhou City, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, at least 400,000 residents spent the first day of the seven-day Labor Day holiday by touring apartment buildings in over 100 newly built residential quarters in the city. Touring and purchasing new apartments has become a new fashion of observing holidays and various real estate companies provide shuttle buses for their potential buyers. The Guangzhou Civil Affairs Bureau arranged for tour groups to visit new-style apartments for the elderly. **** UK, US Leaders Discuss Missile Defense Plans US President George W. Bush on Monday called British Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss America 's controversial plans for a missile defense system, British officials said. A Downing Street press officer told Xinhua that the conversation took place on Monday afternoon and lasted 10 minutes. He said Bush called Blair before the U.S. president was to make a speech on the defense issue. But he declined to give any further details. Reports from U.S. said last week that Bush would consult Washington's allies on plans for a missile shield, which is widely criticized by both U.S. allies and countries like Russia <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/russia.html> and China. The plans are expected to trigger a new arms race. Bush is expected to make a key speech on the plan on Tuesday. It was predicted that Bush would use the speech to link deployment of a defense shield for the United States <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/usa.html> and its allies with reductions in the U.S. nuclear arsenal. The new missile plan, nick-named "new Star War," would need Britain's permission for upgrading U.S. radar facilities in northern England. Blair has declined to say whether he would approve such a request, saying he has not yet been formally asked to do so. **** Castro Raps US Over FTAA Cuban President Fidel Castro said on Tuesday that the United States <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/usa.html> will annex Latin America's economies with the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), whose inauguration is planned for 2005. In a 40-minute speech on the occasion of the International Labor Day, Castro warned that it is suicidal for Latin American countries to take part in FTAA, which was described by the Cuban leader as being compelled by the United States. "Let's stop annexation, demand that no government may sell a nation behind a nation's back," said Castro, who proposed to carry out plebiscites in nations that are negotiating to join FTAA. "Today we'll make the first Latin American protest march against FTAA with the slogans 'annexation no, plebiscite yes'." Castro, dressed in his habitual olive green uniform and wearing sports boots, then joined thousands of people in marching from the Revolutionary Square to the interests office of the United States in Havana. Cuba <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/cuba.html> is excluded from FTAA due to its political differences with the United States. Other political leaders in Cuba also affirmed that with FTAA, the United States is imposing its hegemony in the area. **** Arafat Arrives in S. Africa for Talks on Middle East Conflicts Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat arrived in South Africa on Wednesday for talks with South African President Thabo Mbeki on the Palestine issue and Middle East conflicts. Arafat will also attend a meeting of the Committee on Palestine of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on Thursday. The meeting will deliberate on how best the NAM could contribute to the cessation of the violence in the Middle East. Upon arrival in Pretoria, Arafat said that South Africa, currently chairing the NAM, has "a very important role" to play in peace efforts in the Middle East. Defusing the current impasse between the Israelis and Palestinians would "not be easy, but we are trying our best", he said, while accusing Israel of being bent on escalating its military activities. He said he is hopeful that Mbeki could contribute to bringing an end to the conflict. Asked if he would ask former President Nelson Mandela to assist, Arafat said: "I am going to visit him to discuss the detail and this point." Arafat is to meet Mbeki at the Union Buildings in Pretoria later on Wednesday. The NAM Committee on Palestine, set up in 1983, comprises representatives of Algeria, Bangladesh, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Palestine, Senegal Zambia, and Zimbabwe. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
