9/30/01

The blisters on the feet of Mingjing Xue are nothing compared to the torture she faced while captive in a Chinese jail for 104 days. Her crime was one that is common in China -- the practice of an exercise known as Falun Gong.

Falun Gong [is] [...]an ancient practice for the mind and body, which espouses the principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. It was the simple nature of the exercises that attracted millions of followers in a relatively short time -- something that didn't escape the watchful eyes of the Chinese government.

"They banned it two years because it was bigger than the Communist Party," said Gina Sanchez, a Falun Gong practitioner and a volunteer in the efforts to bring the actions of the Chinese government to the public. "There were 100 million practitioners and 60 million communists."

Many refused to adhere to the Chinese government's ban, which led to jail sentences, labor camps -- or worse, for those who continued with their practice of Falun Gong. Nearly 300 deaths have been confirmed, although most close to Falun Gong say the actual number of those persecuted to death exceeds 1,000.

Bringing attention to the plight of Falun Gong practitioners has led a group of 11, including eight who are walking, to make the trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco, stopping periodically to give presentations along the way. On Friday afternoon the group stopped in Santa Maria, where those in attendance included Mayor Joe Centeno.

As part of the SOS! Global RescueWalks, the group told the audience that its help was needed to stop the violence taking place against its practitioners.

"We fear more mass killings," Jessica Amador said. "We call on the American people to help stop the persecution."

Xue spoke of her time in jail, explaining how more than 30 people were shoved into cells designed to hold a dozen people, often strapped together at the hands, making routine tasks, such as laying down, impossible.

"We were not allowed to meditate or even close our eyes," she said through a translator.

The group's presentation also featured photographs of some of the victims who have been tortured by the Chinese government -- which certainly caught the attention of Centeno.

"In looking at the photographs, it's unbelievable the pain and suffering..." he said. "We're so glad there are people like you bringing this to our attention."

Centeno then read a proclamation, which commended "the spiritual leadership to many people of California" of Falun Gong, among other things. "In some small way, maybe this will help your cause," he said following the reading.

The group expects to arrive in San Francisco on Oct. 18, and understands they have plenty of work ahead -- not only the physical aspect of the walking, but reaching people who may be unfamiliar with their cause or have only heard the Chinese government's position on Falun Gong.

"We have to clarify the truth," Amador said. "It's not the [Jiang Zemin government's slanderous term omitted] China has made it out to be."

http://www.lompocrecord.com/display/inn_news/news17.txt