Peng Xu's recent letter "Chinese Exercise a Cult, not a Health Practice" labels any objections to the Chinese government's oppression of the Falun Gong as "hearsay" and "apparently ignorant to the real situation in China."

Moreover, Peng Xu states that no one should be able to criticize the Chinese government's persecution of groups unless they have been to China themselves.

This sort of logic is not only faulty and misleading, but also inherently dangerous.

Peng Xu's description of the Falun Gong as an "evil cult" is directly taken from Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa's public comment that Falun Gong "carries some characteristics of an evil cult."

Recently, there has been growing concern among Chinese Catholic bishops, such as Coadjutor Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun of Hong Kong, that Catholics loyal to John Paul II will also be labeled as an evil cult.

Buddhist and Muslim groups have also suffered for their beliefs and are subject to constant governmental persecution. It is clear that the Chinese government is not moving towards a more democratic society, but is rather attempting to silence those who do not support the communist party.

Although I have not been an eyewitness to these events, there have been numerous reports from Chinese émigrés and dissidents about the human rights violations taking place in China.

Even if I have never been to China, it is clear from news reports that the communist government's treatment of its citizens is unacceptable, undemocratic, and a clear violation of fundamental human rights.