Posted on 04/20/2006 4:43:09 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
A HECKLER from the Falun Gong spiritual movement, who entered White House grounds as a reporter, interrupted a formal arrival ceremony for Chinese President Hu Jintao today, prompting President George W. Bush to apologise to his guest.
After being welcomed by Mr Bush, the Chinese president was just beginning his response when a woman, who had been allowed into the press section, started shouting.
She was escorted away by a uniformed US guard.
"President Hu, your days are numbered. President Bush, make him stop persecuting Falun Gong," the woman yelled.
US officials later identified her as Wang Wenyi, 47, a reporter with The Epoch Times, an English-language publication strongly supportive of the meditation movement that is banned in China.
"This was unfortunate and I'm sorry this happened," Mr Bush told Mr Hu, according to Dennis Wilder, a senior official with the National Security Council.
The Secret Service charged Ms Wang with disorderly conduct under local statutes.
The US Attorney's office was weighing federal charges of "willing intimidation or disruption of a foreign official", said Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren.
Outside the White House, hundreds of yellow-clad Falun Gong disciples, Taiwanese nationalists, and Tibetan youth group members demonstrated against Mr Hu and his government.
The protesters denounced China's human rights record, its missile build-up near Taiwan and its 55-year-long rule over the Himalayan Buddhist region of Tibet.
"Communist Party = Tyranny + Lies", read a yellow banner, carried by one female member of Falun Gong, which China outlawed and brutally crushed in 1999.
"Taiwan is not a part of China," read a placard hoisted by one of around 300 Taiwan activists, who reject China's claim of sovereignty over the island. Tibetans, mostly US-based students, called for independence for their homeland.
A US official said Mr Hu's team was probably offended by the incident.
"The hardliners on Hu's team are going to ask, why did it take so long for us to pick her up. It is not a good thing," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Mr Zahren of the Secret Service said the woman had passed through "all appropriate levels of security", including a metal detector. She was allowed into the event under a temporary press pass.
Falun Gong, which thrives overseas despite being largely stamped out in China, alleges that government persecution of the group includes a vast system of concentration camps, where doctors harvest inmates' organs for transplants.
China has vehemently denied this, but a UN investigator is examining the allegation.
In remarks at Mr Hu's arrival ceremony, Mr Bush did not mention Falun Gong, but he said he would discuss human rights.
He urged Mr Hu to allow "the Chinese people the freedom to assemble, to speak freely and to worship".
Might lose money. We get all our cheap junk from there. :)
How long before somebody suggests that Karl Rove planned the whole thing including the apology?
Just another day in the life of Helen Thomas.
"Drag that woman out of here."
Somebody needs to put this apology to the music of "I'm so sorry, Uncle Albert."
That's disgusting.
Whoa,
President Bush appologized for the interruption. He did not ok anti religious tyrants in China. He has pressed HU on that issue to a degree.
A bit brutal on Bush, ain't we?
Rush has his classic speech translation posted
http://download.premiereradio.net/guest/rushlimb/mp3/042006_Hu_Translation.mp3
"The Secret Service charged Ms Wang with disorderly conduct under local statutes.
He could plead not guilty and demand a trial. That would be quite entertaining, particularly if his lawyer called President Bush as a witness.
An apology is appropriate in international relations. We need their help with North Korea. Everyone needs to stop being so crass.
From Drudge:
The woman began shouting from the top of a camera stand located directly in front of Hu and Bush.
'President Bush, stop him from killing'... 'Stop persecuting the Falun Gong,' she yelled... She also shouted in Chinese, 'President Hu, your days are numbered, No more time for China's ruling party.'
The incident occured right after Bush urged Hu to allow Chinese to 'speak freely'. The woman, had a temporary pass with a big 'T' on it, also unfurled a yellow 'Falun Gong' banner.
The woman was taken away by uniformed secret service officers.
Bush leaned over and whispered to Hu, 'You're okay.' Hu, who had stopped talking briefly, then resumed speaking.
On China TV: As Hu was speaking when yells of protesters became audible, the screen went black. When the feed came back the screen once again went black when woman was again heard. During CNN International's post-speech commentary, at mention of south lawn heckler, the screen also went black again. The CNN feed returned when the incident ended.
"A US official said Mr Hu's team was probably offended by the incident."
I'm sorry that the truth hurts, totalitarian ChiComs. Why didn't GWB make one of his patented remarks about free speech being a great thing, even from hecklers? That's what he said to that goofy fellow in Charlotte a few weeks ago. Why can't he be like Ronald Reagan and call Chinese communism the evil empire it is?
Can we look more feckless in the eyes of China?
This lady was in the press pool. So much for our security.
Because China has way too much economic power. :(
Why did he apologize?
Because he's a decent man and he had a guest in his house. There are places for such protests and many took place to be witnessed by the visitor. But the White House is Bush's home. If you have a guest in your home you don't treat them like that.
Persecution, torture and murder aren't crass?
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