La Nacion (Argentina): Falun Gong is Here in Buenos Aires During the Chinese President's Visit (translation)

Note: "La Nacion" is the largest newspaper in Argentina

April 7, 2001

Liwei Fu, speaks rapidly with an obvious Chinese accent. She puts effort in clarifying to La Nacion that Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is not a [Chinese government's slanderous word] as the government of her country assures, but a very good practice that is attacked for no reason and is now practiced by more than 100 million people in over 40 countries.

During this weekend she will try to transmit this idea to whoever listens to her in Buenos Aires where she has lived for the last 4 years. She will gather to practice with other Falun Gong practitioners coming from the US, Canada and Latin America.

Together on Tuesday they will proceed to other countries, just as the Chinese president Jiang Zemin during his visit to the continent. According to Liwei, the first president's tour is due to his need for support from various Latin American countries for the vote of Human Rights Commission of the United Nations in Geneva on the 18^th of this month.

"Wherever Jiang Zemin goes he's going to say we are a "[Chinese government's slanderous word]" and due to the fact that people don't know us here we have to make our beliefs known, " observed Liwei.

"What are those beliefs?" They are Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance. The basic principles, explains Liwei, this is a traditional Chinese practice designed to improved the mind and the body through exercise and meditation.

Our principles go opposite of [party name omitted] because the [party name omitted] are rigid and cannot tell their people the truth and they are not compassionate or tolerant because they demand that everyone be equal and do the same thing, explains Liwei.

Nervous Government

According to Liwei the persecution of Falun Gong is partly due to the fact that the [party name omitted] are atheists. And the government became nervous at the great number of followers that the movement had.

Liwei is 53 years old and she says her younger appearance is due to the exercise she practices in the park, Las Heras. An activity that will be repeated there tomorrow at 3pm and today at noontime at the Plaza de Mayo. There will also be demonstrations, videos and experience sharing in the San Martin Cultural Center today at 4pm and in Beruti at 7pm.

"It is free of charge and we don't make lists of people attending" clarifies Liwei.

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