DATE=10/30/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA / FALUN GONG (L)
NUMBER=2-255639
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: China's congress has passed a law outlawing
organizations the government considers cults. But --
as V-O-A's Stephanie Ho reports from Beijing --
defiant members of a banned spiritual group, the law's
main target, continue silent protests on Tiananmen
Square.
TEXT: The law passed by China's National People's
Congress Saturday calls on courts, prosecutors and
police to be on full alert for cult activities and to
rigorously curb them in accordance with the law.
The official Xinhua news agency says new law is aimed
at combating spiritual groups like Falun Gong, which
blends Buddhism, Taoism and traditional breathing
exercises.
The new law provides the framework for an even-harsher
crackdown on Falun Gong, which was branded a cult
Thursday. Xinhua says the law differentiates between
leaders and followers. But it gave no details of the
penalties for convicted Falun Gong leaders, whose
trials are expected to begin soon.
While this announcement was being made at the Great
Hall of the People, police outside on Tiananmen Square
rounded up several dozen Falun Gong members who had
come to protest a government crackdown on the group
that began in July.
In recent days, Falun Gong followers have been coming
to Beijing from around the country. They say the
official characterization of their group as an evil
cult is wrong. They want to appeal to the government
to change its mind.
There was no repeat of a violent incident Friday, when
witnesses say protesters sat in the lotus position and
remained silent as police kicked them and dragged them
away by their hair.
Frank Lu -- from the Hong Kong-based Information
Center of Human Rights and Democratic Movement in
China -- says he thinks the Chinese action to ban the
group could backfire.
// LU CHINESE ACT - IN FULL, FADE OUT //
He says passing laws outlawing Falun Gong and sending
its followers to labor camp will raise more awareness
and concern for the group. He says the Chinese
government's problems with Falun Gong could actually
increase.
Mr. Lu says more than 100 Falun Gong members have been
sent to labor camps in northeastern Jilin province,
which is home to the largest number of followers in
China.
Falun Gong claims 100 million followers. The Chinese
government says its membership is closer to two
million. (signed)
NEB/HO/ wd
30-Oct-1999 04:55 AM EDT (30-Oct-1999 0855 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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