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".
Yeah, probably not. But, they could have just ejected her without looking to see what charges they could bring.
I wish I could chalk it up to ignorance.
I've been trying to pay pretty close attention for a few weeks...and I am pretty sure it's not ignorance.
So much for free speech............while hundreds of thousands illegals demonstrate, intimidate and threaten without even an official reprimand.
We are standing by while our country is going to hell in a hand basket!!!
If Jeffrey Dammer is in your house as a guest, you usually have some explaining to do.
Now THAT just plain TOTALLY offends me.
The White House is "The People's House", NOT GWB's. If free speech & political expression is "condoned" anywhere, THAT is THE place, along with the Capitol steps.
Sheesh!
Apparently, the protestor wasn't in a "Free Speech Zone."
I happen to agree with you. Under Clinton, she would be audited by the IRS. Under Bush, she becomes a criminal?
I think we do have a certain amount of power, although I wish it were more obviously. We have a very symbiotic relationship with them at this point which is better than nothing. They need us to keep their economy healthy.
In any case, we certainly can not afford to tick them off right this moment, so it's not a bad idea to keep talking, even if it is a somewhat standoffish relationship. When you think strategically, I believe we have to take care of the most aggressive and dangerous threats in the ME first.
Just wait til Hu gets back to Red China. I bet the Falun Gong are gonna get hell for this!
I understand where you would think as a Christian, George Bush would be protecting Christians all over the world but I also understand his response. Bush gets all kinds of similar attacks throughout the world when he visits other countries. This person is our guest and like it or not, China has a mutual relationship with the US.
I don't think this was the time or place to protest.
President Bush has CLASS. It's simple as that!
Why did he apologize?
My opinion, he apologized by saying he was sorry it happened. Meaning, he was sorry that this Security Personnel did such a poor job of keeping out someone who would interrupt the occasion.
But, whoa, what's this about she was inside of the Press Corps?
Perhaps he could have added: I will personally make sure that the Press doesn't smuggle a disruptor into a news conference in the future. And then come down on the Press Corps with tighter security.
Don't think that the terrorists didn't take note of this disruption. They may see how easy it was, and may try to smuggle a suicide bomber in with the Press next time.
Think about it!
Right along with Mexico, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Pakistan...
As a pastor, how do you feel this comes in lne with Biblical prophecy? According to scholars in that discipline, the last Roman Empire will be the EU (book of Daniel) and China will march over the Euphrates to join Iraq and Iran. Apparently this pope we have was prophesied to be the last pope way back in 10 something by Malachai. Do you have any thoughts on this?
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.