Thursday, August 23, 2001

As Dartmouth resident Deping Chien went through some of the gracious and meditative moves of Falun Gong on Wednesday in Halifax, it was difficult to imagine the Chinese government violently repressing the seemingly harmless practice.

However, this was just the scenario presented by a small group of Falun Gong practitioners as they provided a demonstration of some of the exercises and explained some of the spiritual elements that have caught the ire of communist officials in China.

"The exercises are excellent for reducing stress," said Mr. Chien, a computer specialist and Dalhousie graduate who became involved in Falun Gong almost three years ago. "They are harmless and peaceful."

He said if anything, the Chinese government's banning of Falun Gong has only served to popularize the meditative sequence of exercises and the philosophy behind them.

"Since the persecution started in China, I've been much more active," he said.

The outdoor Falun Gong demonstration at Dalhousie University was organized by Canadian practitioners concerned about the plight of their brethren in China.

Co-ordinator Alice Huyn said it's part of a global effort to raise awareness about the "persecution" of supporters of the mediatative movement, which was enjoying a huge growth in popularity when Chinese officials instituted the ban two years ago.

To date, she said, 265 people have died from police torture in China, while thousands are being held in work camps and hundreds in mental hospitals.

"Practitioners are at risk, but so are their friends and families," she said.

"We're hoping that Canada would co-ordinate an international rescue team," she added.

Falun Gong was described by the handful of participants at the Dalhousie demonstration as a meditative pursuit that has a "spiritual" underpinning, but is not an organized faith in the western sense. They described it as a "peaceful and harmonious" way of living.

Mr. Chien said outdoor and indoor gatherings of groups of practitioners are popular but very informal. There is no participation fee.

"It's very effective, very good for mind, body and spirit," he said. "And it's free."

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