Post by AuntieSocial on Nov 20, 2003 20:05:50 GMT -5
Mary Kay Denies Taking Part in Religious Persecution of Falun Gong
Click here to read article on the original site
By Melanie Hunter CNSNews.com Deputy Managing Editor
Published: November 20, 2003
Publishing Website: CNSNews.com
(CNSNews.com) - An American cosmetics company denies any of its Chinese sales force were fired for refusing to sign a pledge not to practice or advocate for Falun Gong, a Chinese spiritual discipline involving exercise and meditation that has been outlawed by the Chinese government.
Three U.S. congressmen, members of the International Relations Committee, wrote a letter to Richard Rogers, chairman and CEO of Mary Kay, Inc., accusing the company of playing "an active role in enforcing China's repressive laws related to the participation of Chinese citizens in religious and spiritual organizations."
But Randall Oxford, vice president of corporate communications for Mary Kay, Inc., told CNSNews.com that "no one has been terminated because of refusing to sign the pledge, and the [original] pledge is no longer being used."
Oxford called the congressmen's letter "inaccurate."
"The letter is inaccurate because the pledge that Mary Kay China sales force members were asked to sign simply stated that they would conduct their Mary Kay business in accordance with all local laws and that they will not be a member of or participate in any organization or activity determined to be illegal by the Chinese government," Oxford said.
Vice Chairman Chris Smith (R-N.J.), Ranking Democratic Member Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Middle East and Central Asia Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) wrote the letter.
The congressmen called on Mary Kay, Inc., to "immediately revoke the requirement imposed by Mary Kay China on its sales associates that they sign 'behavior standard statements' which specifically mention Falun Gong or any other religious, spiritual or political movement."
"The only mention [in the statement] of Falun Gong was that it was used as an example of an organization determined to be illegal by the Chinese government. We did not specifically cite Falun Gong, as the [congressmen's] letter indicates," Oxford said. The letter was issued in early September and pulled by the end of October, he said.
Oxford explained that when Mary Kay, Inc., received the pledge, reviewed it and saw that Falun Gong was mentioned as an example, "we knew that was inconsistent with what we do in our other international markets."
The company "opted not to move forward with the pledge," Oxford said.
Instead, they revised their normal sales force agreement, Oxford said, "to make sure that our Chinese businesspeople understood that they have to conduct their business in accordance with Chinese law." The new agreement did not "cite any specific group or organization, which is the same thing that we do in all 32 of our international markets."
The congressmen detailed the persecution religious groups like Falun Gong face in China.
"According to the U.S. Department of State, several hundred Falun Gong adherents have died in detention due to torture, abuse and neglect, with their bodies immediately cremated to prevent their families from seeing the abuse inflicted upon their relatives," the congressmen wrote.
"Those Falun Gong adherents lucky enough to avoid imprisonment by the Chinese government have been subjected to a high-pressure government indoctrination campaign to force practitioners to renounce Falun Gong," the congressmen added.
Oxford said Mary Kay, Inc., creates a "tremendous business opportunity for more than 120,000 women in a country where there are extremely limited business opportunities for women."
"Our sales force members are able to achieve a level of personal and financial success for themselves and for their families that otherwise would simply not be available," Oxford added.
Mary Kay, Inc., according to its website, operates in 32 international markets, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Uruguay.
Oxford said in all markets, saleswomen are required to conduct their businesses in accordance with all local laws.
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Click here to read article on the original site
By Melanie Hunter CNSNews.com Deputy Managing Editor
Published: November 20, 2003
Publishing Website: CNSNews.com
(CNSNews.com) - An American cosmetics company denies any of its Chinese sales force were fired for refusing to sign a pledge not to practice or advocate for Falun Gong, a Chinese spiritual discipline involving exercise and meditation that has been outlawed by the Chinese government.
Three U.S. congressmen, members of the International Relations Committee, wrote a letter to Richard Rogers, chairman and CEO of Mary Kay, Inc., accusing the company of playing "an active role in enforcing China's repressive laws related to the participation of Chinese citizens in religious and spiritual organizations."
But Randall Oxford, vice president of corporate communications for Mary Kay, Inc., told CNSNews.com that "no one has been terminated because of refusing to sign the pledge, and the [original] pledge is no longer being used."
Oxford called the congressmen's letter "inaccurate."
"The letter is inaccurate because the pledge that Mary Kay China sales force members were asked to sign simply stated that they would conduct their Mary Kay business in accordance with all local laws and that they will not be a member of or participate in any organization or activity determined to be illegal by the Chinese government," Oxford said.
Vice Chairman Chris Smith (R-N.J.), Ranking Democratic Member Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Middle East and Central Asia Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) wrote the letter.
The congressmen called on Mary Kay, Inc., to "immediately revoke the requirement imposed by Mary Kay China on its sales associates that they sign 'behavior standard statements' which specifically mention Falun Gong or any other religious, spiritual or political movement."
"The only mention [in the statement] of Falun Gong was that it was used as an example of an organization determined to be illegal by the Chinese government. We did not specifically cite Falun Gong, as the [congressmen's] letter indicates," Oxford said. The letter was issued in early September and pulled by the end of October, he said.
Oxford explained that when Mary Kay, Inc., received the pledge, reviewed it and saw that Falun Gong was mentioned as an example, "we knew that was inconsistent with what we do in our other international markets."
The company "opted not to move forward with the pledge," Oxford said.
Instead, they revised their normal sales force agreement, Oxford said, "to make sure that our Chinese businesspeople understood that they have to conduct their business in accordance with Chinese law." The new agreement did not "cite any specific group or organization, which is the same thing that we do in all 32 of our international markets."
The congressmen detailed the persecution religious groups like Falun Gong face in China.
"According to the U.S. Department of State, several hundred Falun Gong adherents have died in detention due to torture, abuse and neglect, with their bodies immediately cremated to prevent their families from seeing the abuse inflicted upon their relatives," the congressmen wrote.
"Those Falun Gong adherents lucky enough to avoid imprisonment by the Chinese government have been subjected to a high-pressure government indoctrination campaign to force practitioners to renounce Falun Gong," the congressmen added.
Oxford said Mary Kay, Inc., creates a "tremendous business opportunity for more than 120,000 women in a country where there are extremely limited business opportunities for women."
"Our sales force members are able to achieve a level of personal and financial success for themselves and for their families that otherwise would simply not be available," Oxford added.
Mary Kay, Inc., according to its website, operates in 32 international markets, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Uruguay.
Oxford said in all markets, saleswomen are required to conduct their businesses in accordance with all local laws.
Maverick: Added to the news page. Message icon updated.
