Falungong, the Olympics, and President Bush in China

In 1999, the Chinese government banned Falungong, a variant of an ancient exercise and meditation system. The government labeled Falungong an "evil cult" and began an aggressive and often violent campaign against its practitioners which continues unchecked. The crackdown is symptomatic of the government's campaign to eliminate all social and religious organizations viewed as threatening to Communist Party power and to bring all others under strict bureaucratic control. The report, "Dangerous Meditation: China's Campaign Against Falungong," provides a comprehensive account of the emergence of Falungong in China and the government's response.