SCMP: [Group] asks UN to censure Beijing for crackdown

Wednesday, April 18, 2001

Hong Kong Falun Gong members yesterday joined a worldwide series of demonstrations urging the UN to censure Beijing for its crackdown on the [group]. Dozens of Falun Gong members held a photo exhibition and candlelight vigil at Tsim Sha Tsui and Central ferry piers last night to pay tribute to the roughly 190 practitioners they allege have been killed by the mainland.

The event coincided with similar vigils held in Paris, New York, Toronto and Geneva, where the United Nations Commission on Human Rights will vote on whether to censure China for its rights record today.

"In silent appeals, illuminated by candlelight, world citizens ask the UN Commission on Human Rights to take action to prevent further killings," a statement by the Falun Gong group in Hong Kong said.

It made allegations that most of the deaths resulted from torture and occurred over the past five months, with 12 cases reported during the first four weeks of the commission's current session in Geneva.

A spokeswoman for the Hong Kong group, Hui Cheung Yee-han, said it was also planning to hold a group practice on April 25 to mark the anniversary of the Zhongnanhai incident for the first time in Hong Kong.

About 10,000 Falun Gong followers were accused of having "besieged" the Chinese leaders' compound in Zhongnanhai, Beijing, on April 25, 1999.

"We did not hold it last year as the suppression of Falun Gong was not as serious as at present. Even ordinary mainland citizens who do not practise Falun Gong are being asked to support the suppression," Mrs Hui said.

She said it was wrong to accuse followers of besieging Zhongnanhai, as they were led there by public security officers.

She said the followers originally intended to lodge a complaint with the Beijing municipal Government and State Council against the beating of members in Tianjin.

Mrs Hui said the incident was originally resolved after senior officials promised normal qi gong - a form of respiratory and meditation exercise that practitioners claim has healing power - would be allowed after a meeting with representatives.

But President Jiang Zemin ordered a crackdown and outlawed the [group] as an "[Chinese government's slanderous term omitted]" in July 1999. The local group is planning to petition Mr Jiang when he attends a business forum in the SAR on May 8, while another practising session will be held on the proclaimed "World Falun Dafa Day", May 13.

Mrs Hui said Falun Gong was not worried that its recent activities would give the SAR Government an excuse to ban it here. "We have been conducting our activities peacefully and legally."