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".
I bet you are a Reagan fan, aren't you?
Well, I think he (Jeffrey) is dead, but the Chinese premier has presided over far worse. I know they have to play like they are our friends(since they own our paper debt), but we can still tell the truth once in awhile on Freerepublic. Perhaps someday our official state position will recognize what the Chicoms are all about, but I doubt it.
Yeah. Ole bin Laden and Bush are bosom buddies.
You're in the running for the "Dumbest Poster of the Day."
Yet he was cowed in the face of terrorism, the murder of 240 Marines in Lebanon.
Bush has faced down terrorists in two countries.
Yeah. So are the Russians. So are the French.
Sometimes you have to deal with thugs.
Great response.
Some of these people wouldn't be happy with anything less than a nuclear war.
The Chinese want to destroy their largest customer?
I've never believed that.
IF I were Bush, I'd be a little concerned that the security folks aren't doing a good job. That nut case who jumped over the fence at the White House, and now this.
IF China were not ALREADY an enemy, I would agree with you.
P***on China 1,000 megatons worth; it SHOULD have been our FRIENDS, Taiwan, at the White House.
Quote
"I hate them too
But we cannot condone this on the white house lawn."
Oh please...this is America. We can handle a woman calling out a tyrant.
America has failed. Your comments are proof evidence.
That's Mr. Francis to you ;-)
No he's not.
Ronald Maxi-Maximus Reagan was the first president to visit China after full normalization of ties in 1984.
If a murdering tyrant can't be called what he is in the White House, the international HQ of FREEDOM, something is dreadfully wrong!
Absolutely despicable.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.