ABC Radio (Australia): Chinese protests are not political says ACT demonstrator

Around 40 members of the Falun Gong movement have marched on the Chinese Embassy in Canberra.

The peaceful protest marks the first anniversary of the Beijing Government's crackdown on the group, which human rights groups claim has cost 22 lives.

Falun Gong spokesperson Kean Wong says Beijing has reacted to its immense popularity in China by branding it as a cult and an illegal political movement.

"Clearly we have no political intentions and it's an open practice for everybody and not some secretive movement as such.

"My understanding is, I think, they're fearful that it will be some political movement which it clearly isn't," he said.

Meditators to protest China ban

Australian practitioners of a form of meditation banned in China will converge on Canberra today for a protest outside the Chinese embassy.

Practitioners have also planned an evening candlelight vigil just outside the compound.

Today marks the first anniversary of a crackdown on Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese Government involving mass arrests, torture and imprisonment.

Human rights groups say 22 people have died as a result of the crackdown and subsequent ban of the belief.

Falun Gong spokeswoman Caroline Lam says peaceful protests will be held around the world to mark the anniversary.

"It's an ongoing appeal to the Chinese Government to hear our voice and let them know that we're not a force against them and never will be," she said.

"The situation has worsened...both tortures and deaths have been taking place...it's going on and not everybody knows about it.

"It's very scary because these people don't fight back...the thought of retaliation is just not part of our teachings."

ABC Radio 20 July 2000 Wednesday