[Tallguy]

I'm not suggesting that the rural chinese are opposed to the current regime in China, quite the opposite. It was not Beijing-based army units that put down the Tienanmen Square demonstration. The Chinese politburo has got to ride that particular Tiger (the unemployed rural migrants) or they will be adopted by a rival political movement. I think that this is the reason for the crackdown on the Faulong Gong movement.

[weikel]

The paranoia about the Falun Gong( I heard they're real whackjobs from a friend from China its not your typical Eastern sect, and im a fan of Buddhism/Taoism myself) has to do with other cults in Chinese history which gained a following and either overthrew the government( Ming Dynasty came about by a guy who rid a cult to power) or were only put down after a long and bloody civil war( Yellow Turban Rebellion, Taiping Rebellion, lesser extent the Boxer Rebellion). The persecution of Christians from what I hear is largely confined to the Catholic church or any other churches the gov thinks are ecumenial and aligned with Rome indirectly, don't blame them for not trusting the RCC but I won't elaborate on my views there for fear of banning.