Saturday, Jan 21, 2006
A Democratic Progressive Party legislator yesterday made an appeal to local
entertainers to boycott Chinese government-sponsored performances, which he said
were part of Beijing's scheme to promote a song brainwashing its dissidents.
"When the Chinese government persecutes those who do not conform to its
ideas, such as Falun Gong practitioners, it always plays the the song called
'The Same Song'," said Legislator Lee Chen-nan.
"The Same Song," a well-known pop song in China, is the theme song
and name of a popular musical variety TV show that first aired on the state-run
China Central TV (CCTV) in 2000. It is also the name of a musical show that CCTV
will stage in several North American cities around the time of the Lunar New
Year this year.
Several Falun Gong adherents who were sent into forced labor camps in China
have claimed that they were forced to repeatedly listen to and sing "The
Same Song" as part of their indoctrination by Chinese officials.
Lee said that singers who participate in Beijing-sponsored musical shows
might become the Chinese government's accomplices in the future, as their
performances might be broadcast in the jails where its political opponents are
held.
CCTV has begun to hold vocal performances in some North American cities to
advertise the musical show, including one in Toronto on Jan. 15 and another in
New York on Jan. 23.
"We have learned that some famous singers in Taiwan, such as Chang
Hui-mei, Wang Lee-hom and Chi Chin, among others, are going to attend the show
in New York, and we urge them to cancel their plans," Lee said at a press
conference held to address the issue.
Falun Gong practitioners view the song as an odious symbol of hatred and
persecution, as it reminds them of the cruel oppression they have experienced,
said Chang Ching-hsi, the leader of Falun Gong's Taiwan branch.
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