Many are now condemning the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) violence against Falun Gong practitioners on the streets of Flushing, New York City since May 17. Many mainland Chinese experts and Chinese citizens who have broken through the CCP's Internet blockade are closely observing how this ongoing incident is panning out.
Bao Tong, once the secretary for Zhao Ziyang, former CCP general secretary, told The Epoch Times in a phone interview on June 10 that the Chinese consulate's act of secretly organizing this violence has damaged the world's image of the Chinese people. Mr. Bao expressed that the consulate is "not worthy" to represent China.
Heavy static during Bao's phone interview made communication difficult. At one point a phone connection could no longer be maintained.
Bao is very familiar with CCP tactics. He was once appointed as the secretary of the politburo standing committee of the CCP, a former member of the central committee, and former director of the Office of Political Reform of the CCP. After the June 4th Tiananmen Massacre in 1989, Bao was sentenced to seven years. After his release, authorities put him under house arrest for a prolonged period.
Bao deemed the ongoing violence in Flushing to be "inconceivable", "shocking", "lawless," and "simply absurd."
"Violent administrative acts of this type are very unusual," said Bao. "It would be understandable if a gang hired thugs to beat people, since that is the essence of organized crime. However, how can a consulate agency of the Chinese authorities hire local individuals to carry out a campaign of violence?"
"Even if only one person was beaten, there should be condemnation, and even if just one campaign of violence was organized, the consulate no longer has any qualifications to represent China," Bao added.
"The diplomats and consulates must be clear about their status," said Bao. "They should observe the International Covenant on Human Rights, the laws of foreign countries and the common morality of humanity. This is the minimum that diplomats and consulates must observe. According to Bao, what sets the Flushing incident apart from individual cases of violence is that the Chinese consulate is the secret engineer behind it. "The consulate organizing this mob is not a matter of personal behavior, but the governmental act," explained Bao, "and this can't be allowed in international society."
"It is not allowed [for authorities] to organize violent attacks on citizens in indigenous territory, doing so in a foreign country is even prohibited," said Bao. "This must receive international condemnation. Overseas Chinese people should condemn this as well, because it has harmed the prestige and image of overseas Chinese."
Bao believes that this issue needs to be met with legal action and be subject to local judicial process.
"The most serious issue is that the diplomats and consulates hire thugs to attack Chinese people—this is very strange. It is wrong to hire thugs to beat up anyone."
"Chinese people should observe local legislation and public norms wherever they are," Bao said, addressing overseas Chinese. "This is very important because it allows for integration into local society and is the only way to live a dignified existence."
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