I am an ordinary Chinese now living overseas. I was born in Shanghai in 1942. Since 1990 I have lived and worked in Budapest, Hungary. Recently I was shocked to learn from media that Li Hongzhi, founder of the Falun Gong cult in China, is on the candidate list for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 and the Nobel Committee will convene on February 23 to discuss the list.

As we all know clearly that Alfred Nobel was a great man who had made great contributions to development of the mankind. The Nobel Prize was established in 1900 to award those who have dedicated to mankind and the Nobel Peace Prize is reserved for those who have devoted themselves for the cause of world peace. According to my interpretation, therefore, it is improper to include Li Hongzhi and his cult on the prize list. It is a universally known fact that Li Hongzhi and his cult fabricate sophistries and heresies, trumpet suicide for the so-called “Completion,” and brainwashed his practitioners, who set themselves ablaze, slaughter innocent people and left behind many family tragedies. The Falun Gong practitioners’ self-burning at Tian’anmen Square and some other places in Beijing recently are part of the dreadful consequences of the evil nature of Falun Gong cult. The cult has destroyed people’s lives, trampled on human rights, and jeopardized social order.

Dear Sir, you are highly respected for your good moral standing and undisputed reputation. I suggest justice be upheld to safeguard the high prestige and purity of the Nobel Peace Prize when you and your colleagues examine and discuss the candidate list. Any absurd and foolish behavior shouldn’t be allowed. To list an evil person who organizes and propagandizes cult, for the peace prize obviously runs counter against the will of Mr. Nobel, profanes the Nobel Peace Prize and dupes all those in pursuit of justice and peace.

After over 20 years of reform and opening-up, great change has taken place in China. The Chinese people are no longer what they used to be. Ever since President Jiang Zemin takes up the leadership, China has accelerated its pace, widened its scope, and adopted bolder vision in the reform and opening-up movement. As a result, great improvements have been achieved in state capacity, people’s living standards and legal construction. The Chinese people are now enjoying great freedom of speech, association, and religion. Yet, China is a relatively poor developing country with vast territory and a big population of 1.3 billion. The country still has a long way to go to realize modernization. We the Chinese are proud of our motherland’s achievements. It follows the wishes of the people that the Chinese government with Jiang Zemin at the core cracks down on the Falun Gong cult to maintain stability and unity of the country

Dear Sir, what always confuse me is why some people are blind to the great achievements that China have made in the recent two decades. On contrary, they capitalize the shortcomings of China and its government and use them as a handle against it. They take it for granted that the United States, Japan, Switzerland and Australia crack down on cults in their countries to safeguard people’s lives and keep social order. In the mean time they are very critical about China for cracking down the Falun Gong cult, saying China is trampling on human rights. Even more ridiculous, “Master Li Hongzhi” is praised by certain countries, which even plot to crown Li with the Nobel Peace Prize through you. I have lived in Europe for 12 years and I know the difference in history and culture may lead to the difference in thinking between the East and West. Although disparity may occur in concepts on one thing, we should strengthen exchange and communication to reach understanding and reduce disparity. Denouncement, calumny, and slanders can’t do.

I suggest that you find a convenient time to visit China by yourself, seeing what is happening in the country and to the people. I am sure that by talking with the ordinary Chinese people you may know the country better and eventually find the right solution for the question that why the Falun Gong cult should be cracked down according to law and why the Chinese people value the social order and stability so much.

Best regards!

Yours sincerely,

Zhou Jinrong

(CIIC 02/23/2001)