DATE=3/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=FALUN GONG (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260378
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Representatives of the Falun Gong spiritual
movement are appealing for U-N pressure against China
to stop what the group considers persecution of its
followers. Lisa Schlein reports hundreds of Falun
Gong followers performed meditative exercises outside
U-N headquarters in Geneva as the U-N Human Rights
Commission began its annual session.
TEXT: The Falun Gong representatives say more than
35-thousand people have been arrested since China
began its crackdown on the movement less than one-year
ago.
They say at least five-thousand Falun Gong
practitioners have been sent to labor camps without a
trial. They say many people have been sent to mental
hospitals and drug rehabilitation centers where they
have been treated with anti-psychotics, sedatives and
electric shocks. And they say millions of Falun Gong
books, videotapes, and audiotapes have been
confiscated and burned
A Chinese-born U-S citizen, Jimmy Zou, says he went to
China as a tourist last November. He says he was
detained by police and subjected to several days of
brutal beatings.
/// ZOU ACT ///
Suddenly, there came over three policemen. One
guy took away my glasses by force. And this
policeman punched my both eyes with his fists.
For a few seconds I could not even see because
my two eyes were swollen and I said what
happened to me. Suddenly another two policemen
surrounded me and one policeman punched my
shoulder and chest and the other kicked my legs
for a couple of minutes. I felt lightheaded and
dizzy.
/// END ACT ///
Three other Falun Gong followers - all U-S citizens -
recount similar stories on visits to China. They say
their treatment improved once the Chinese police
discovered they were U-S citizens. But, they say
other prisoners were not so lucky and suffered
brutality and torture.
A Chinese diplomat and several Chinese journalists
attending the news conference become angry. As Falun
Gong spokesman Erping Zhang was speaking, they
disrupted the proceeding, accusing the Falun Gong of
lying.
/// ZHANG ACT ONE ///
China... (noise) ...let me finish.
/// END ACT ///
Falun Gong spokesman Erping Zhang says he is pleased
that the Chinese diplomat and journalists were at the
news conference. He says Falun Gong has been trying
to meet with Chinese officials either privately or
publicly to get them to stop their policy of
suppression.
/// ZHANG ACT TWO ///
We as Falun Gong, we are peaceful, non-political
spiritual practice. We urge the Chinese
government to have peaceful dialogue with us, to
resolve the issue and the crisis peacefully
because we are not against the government. It
is the government's position that its citizens
are the enemy of the State. So, it is the other
way around.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Zhang says Falun Gong representatives will try to
meet with the U-N's top human-rights official, Mary
Robinson to present their case and ask for her help.
He says Falun Gong is pleased the U-S government is
introducing a resolution to the U-N Human Rights
Commission to denounce China's human-rights record.
(SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH/RAE
20-Mar-2000 10:14 AM EDT (20-Mar-2000 1514 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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