The Epoch Time’s publication of “The Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party” editorial series at the end of 2004 was a sudden success. Since then, sympathy for public figures once tortured by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been on the rise in mainland China. Overseas media that reported on the “Nine Commentaries” in detail, such as The Epoch Times and New Tang Dynasty TV, have been harassed by the CCP. Around the New Year, the Chinese State Security threatened, coerced, and sent “greetings” to the relatives of these media personnel in China.

While Programs Are Developed Overseas, State Security Sends “Greetings” to Relatives in Mainland China

On February 8, New Tang Dynasty TV vice-president Ma Annan received a New Years greeting call from relatives back home, and was told that Beijing’s National Security Bureau had called the Ma family multiple times to send “greetings.” -Ma understood that the many so called greetings had given the Ma family quite a scare.

People wonder what kind of a TV program would so alarm the CCP that they would feel the need to send such “greetings.” According to Ma Annan, New Tang Dynasty TV’s broadcast of the “Nine Commentaries” provided a massive amount of historical background, film, materials, and witnesses as evidence of the crimes committed by the CCP. These proofs differ from the CCP’s propaganda, and allowed many people who grew up under the CCP to understand its true historical effect.

Urging “Safety” Is Very Important

Ma Annan’s brother said, “Listen, let’s not discuss these matters over the phone. Whatever you did at the TV station, they told the whole family that they know all of your phone numbers in New York, including your cell and home phone. State Security wants to see you; the place can be either Hong Kong or Macao.”

Ma Annan said that through his family, State Security made it clear that they have had him under surveillance and are aware of all of his actions. Ma Annan has also received anonymous phone calls in the United States that threaten his child and the safety of his family. Ma has reported these incidents of harassment to the police. Ma’s brother in China, who is being harassed by “State Security,” does not have the option of reporting such incidents to the police and can only tremble with fear and become heavy-hearted.

According to Ma Annan, the CCP has currently intensified harassment of New Tang Dynasty TV stations overseas.

The Search for the Author of “Nine Commentaries”

When vice-president of Sound of Hope international broadcasting station, Lin Xiaoxu, contacted his family two days ago, Chinese State Security officials sent a “special greeting” to his family.

Lin Xiaoxu said, “The State Security ministry contacted my mother and uncle and told them, in a threatening manner, that they know what I am doing overseas. They asked if I am the author of the ‘Nine Commentaries.’ They wanted my family members to relay to me that China welcomes me home, and that my safety is guaranteed. They even suggested that we could meet in a third country if that made me feel more comfortable.”

Lin said that the State Security Ministry knows his situation from “A to Z,” and knows that he has good relations with his grandmother. Therefore, they attempted to use his grandmother by giving her the impression that she would be doing a good thing by helping them. They told her that only the CCP is able to save China and nurture the Chinese people, and that her grandson’s work overseas is damaging their ability to accomplish these ends.

Lin agrees that the land of China will always be able to nurture its people. It is not the land of China that he has difficulties with. He objects to the cruel and unreasonable course of action taken by the CCP that has effectively rendered China a land incapable of nurturing or supporting its people - in fact the CCP has turned China into a place from which many of its natives must flee to protect their lives. He added that the history of forced land reform in China has caused many to become unable to support themselves or lead a normal life.

Relatives of The Epoch Times editors and reporters as well as public figures in China have received abundant harassment and coercion from State Security officials. According to an internal news source, the CCP’s high-level officials have ordered “severe beatings and an abundance of arrests” in a retaliatory measure aimed at public figures related to The Epoch Times.