July 16 -- A dozen teens from Canada and the United States are passing through Franklin County today on their way to Washington, D.C., where they will gather to raise awareness about the persecution in China of those who practice Falun Gong.

The group calls its mission "Bike for Falun Gong: Save the Kids in China."

Falun Gong is not a religion, but an ancient practice that originated in China, in which people through meditation and gentle movements improve their physical and mental health. Those who practice Falun Gong believe in and practice the principles of "truthfulness, compassion and tolerance."

Some compare the techniques and postures used in Falun Gong to tai chi or yoga, and say that the practice reduces stress and increases energy.

Jin Ye, 17, is one of the teenage bikers -- all of whom practice Falun Gong -- who began the ride to Washington, D.C. from Toronto on June 29. She said this morning that she and her immediate family came from China to the United States when she was 9 years old, but she still has other relatives in that country who practice Falun Gong and have been persecuted.

"My aunt in China lost her job and my uncle was detained for a month after he went to (file an) appeal," Jin said.

Although her uncle was not tortured during his detention, that has not always been the case. According to news reports, many who have been detained or placed into forced labor camps have died from maltreatment. Those who practice Falun Gong say deaths of practitioners in China number more than 1,000.

Ye said that she has no idea why a practice such as Falun Gong -- which is peaceful in nature -- would be the subject of governmental persecution. "I suppose the Communist government feels threatened for some reason by the practice," she said.

Ye said one of the main concerns of her group is the treatment of children in China who either practice Falun Gong or have parents who do. "Kids are being tortured or orphaned because of their beliefs or the beliefs of their parents," she said. "We want to raise awareness about the fact that the children are suffering."

People of all ages, including many elderly, practice Falun Gong in countries around the world.

[...]

One of the other riders is Kevin Koo, also from Toronto. "We are doing our bike ride to solemnly commemorate July 20," Koo said. "This is the date the crackdown was initiated by the former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin. We want to honor those who have been tortured, killed and all the innocent children who have suffered under this enormous and most heinous persecution ..."

Koo said that reports out of China say that pregnant women have been beaten, and lost their unborn babies, because they practice Falun Gong. "Many people have been killed because of their beliefs, even the ones that have not been given a chance to live," he said.

The teenagers are urging Americans to contact their representatives in Congress to protest the human rights violations against Falun Gong in China.

Ye, Kevin and her group made it to St. Thomas last night, but backtracked to Scotland where they spent the night in a local motel. Today they resumed their journey, on Rt. 30. They hope to make it to Washington, D.C. in plenty of time for the July 22 gathering.

The group, which picked up American riders in Boston and Pittsburgh, is biking about 30 miles a day, Ye said.

http://www.thegazettenews.com/absolutenm/templates/template.asp?articleid=4