A/56/253 provided information, admitted their crimes, revealed the evil character of Li Hongzhi and his sect, and sincerely repented, Li Chang was awarded a light sentence, and Yao Lie a reduced sentence. Yao Lie’s sincere repentance also won him a lighter sentence for the crime of obtaining State secrets.” 10. With regard to a third communication (para. 28), China replied, inter alia: “The facts “On 1 October 2000, successive waves of Falun Gong members, disregarding restrictions imposed by the security forces and Beijing city authorities, came to Tiananmen Square to spread trouble. The police asked them to leave. Some were taken to the police station and given a lecture. They were then fed, lodged and given enough money to return home. It is untrue that 600 Falun Gong members were arrested. “Clarifications “In taking measures against Falun Gong, the authorities are scrupulous in ensuring that their methods do not violate the law. After all, the great majority of Falun Gong followers are concerned above all with their physical well-being. Since they are being duped, they have no idea of the evil intentions of the sect’s main organizers. The Chinese authorities stand ready to help them by means of non-violent, nondiscriminating persuasion. Their rights are all fully respected.” Côte d’Ivoire 11. In response to the Special Rapporteur’s communication (para. 29), Côte d’Ivoire replied, inter alia: “Côte d’Ivoire is unquestionably the victim of a persistent misinformation campaign which seeks to give the impression that the country has suddenly become xenophobic, is torn by ethnic and religious conflicts and on the brink of civil war. “In actual fact, this is not the case. Côte d’Ivoire remains one of the few countries in which foreigners account for over 30 per cent of the population of approximately 15 million. The new Head of State, Mr. Laurent Gbagbo, in taking office on 26 October 2000, clearly reaffirmed that: ‘I wish to reassure the people of this country, whatever their origins, political and religious opinions and convictions, that the President of the Republic is at the disposal of all, namely, of Côte d’Ivoire. As I officially take office, I wish to take this opportunity to appeal to all Ivorians to unite and to respect the principles and values — forgiveness, tolerance and solidarity — that make our nation great’. “This profession of faith was translated into reality by the President of the Republic a few days later, when he sent Minister of State Boga Doudou, Minister of the Interior and Decentralization, to Burkina Faso to reassure the authorities of that sister country of his strong determination to ensure the safety of the numerous citizens of Burkina Faso (estimated at three million) some of whom had had a brush with the indigenous peoples of Tabou in the south-west of Côte d’Ivoire. 55