(October 25, 1999) CHINESE President Jiang Zemin said that Falun Gong in China, like the cults the United States, Japan and Europe, is harmful to the society and people and should not be allowed to go unchecked.

In a written interview with the French newspaper La Figaro on October 25, 1999, Jiang said that according to incomplete statistics, Falun Gong has claimed the lives of more than 1,400 practitioners, with many others becoming insane and families ruined.

Jiang said that most people began practicing Falun Gong for health reasons and were unaware of the illegal activities of the schemers, organizers and core members of Falun Gong. Once they knew the truth of the anti-social, anti-scientific and anti-human nature of Falun Gong, he said, they made a clear break with the cult.

He noted that despite scientific and cultural advance in today's world, some cult organizations such as the Branch Davidian Cult in the United States, the Aum Shinrikyo in Japan and the Order of the Solar Temple in Europe still emerged to harm the physical and mental health of the general public and jeopardize the normal social order.

He noted that this phenomenon is of global implications and no responsible government should let such cult activities go unchecked.

Jiang said that China is making efforts to overcome the influence of such feudal superstitions and decadent ideas and to develop a modern socialist culture.