The University of Maryland Diamondback: Student protests Chinese arrest

Mar 4, 2003

By Kate Slusark

For The Diamondback

When he stepped off the plane at Guangzhou Airport to spend Chinese New Year in China with his parents, Charles Li, a U.S. citizen, was immediately arrested.

Economics doctoral student Li Ding collected nearly 200 signatures in front of Stamp Student Union Thursday and Friday to ask President Bush to demand the release of Charles Li from Chinese custody. Organizations including Amnesty International, Friends of Falun Gong and Friends of Charles Li, congressmen and individuals nationwide have been collecting signatures for Li's return.

"I'm not only trying to rescue Charles Li, but I also want to raise awareness on campus, so teachers and students can know about the persecution in China and the millions of people and their suffering. It's a huge human rights violation," Ding said. "I really hope people on campus can show their concern and do something to help Charles Li."

Li, a California resident, practices Falun Gong, a meditation practice that is outlawed in China. He was arrested Jan. 22 on [fabricated] charges.

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Falun Gong is based on ancient Chinese traditions and beliefs [...] and the principles of truth, tolerance and compassion, Ding said. Its practitioners meditate, which Ding said improves their overall health.

Ding said Chinese President Jiang Zemin may be repressing Falun Gong because he sees the number of people that practice it as a threat to his power or because he disagrees with practitioners' belief in the existence of higher beings and its basis in traditional Chinese values. [...]

Ding's petition to President Bush states that an estimated 100 million practitioners and families have been persecuted by the Chinese government, and 560 practitioners have been killed.

Senior finance major Claudia Estrada signed the petition. "I just feel it's unfair for China to stop him from coming back to what he considers his home."

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Li's congresswoman, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) is also writing to the Chinese ambassador to request the release of Li and condemning the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. She has received more than 80 signatures from members of Congress, Ding said.

Li is in good health and has been visited by a U.S. counselor to check on his well-being. A rally for his release in front of the State Department is planned for March 7 at noon. Ding described the rally as the "climax" of the petition and signatures from individuals and organizations nationwide will be sent in.

Ding will also be collecting signatures Tuesday, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., in front of Stamp Student Union.

"As long as Charles has not been released, we will continue our efforts, including collecting signatures," Ding said.

http://www.inform.umd.edu/News/Diamondback/archives/2003/03/04/news7.html