DATE=3/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=FALUN GONG (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260378
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  Representatives of the Falun Gong spiritual 
movement are appealing for U-N pressure against China 
to stop what the group considers persecution of its 
followers.  Lisa Schlein reports hundreds of Falun 
Gong followers performed meditative exercises outside 
U-N headquarters in Geneva as the U-N Human Rights 
Commission began its annual session. 

TEXT:  The Falun Gong representatives say more than 
35-thousand people have been arrested since China 
began its crackdown on the movement less than one-year 
ago.  

They say at least five-thousand Falun Gong 
practitioners have been sent to labor camps without a 
trial.  They say many people have been sent to mental 
hospitals and drug rehabilitation centers where they 
have been treated with anti-psychotics, sedatives and 
electric shocks.  And they say millions of Falun Gong 
books, videotapes, and audiotapes have been 
confiscated and burned 

A Chinese-born U-S citizen, Jimmy Zou, says he went to 
China as a tourist last November.  He says he was 
detained by police and subjected to several days of 
brutal beatings.

            /// ZOU ACT ///

      Suddenly, there came over three policemen.  One 
      guy took away my glasses by force.  And this 
      policeman punched my both eyes with his fists.  
      For a few seconds I could not even see because 
      my two eyes were swollen and I said what 
      happened to me.  Suddenly another two policemen 
      surrounded me and one policeman punched my 
      shoulder and chest and the other kicked my legs 
      for a couple of minutes.  I felt lightheaded and 
      dizzy. 

            /// END ACT ///

Three other Falun Gong followers - all U-S citizens - 
recount similar stories on visits to China.  They say 
their treatment improved once the Chinese police 
discovered they were U-S citizens.  But, they say 
other prisoners were not so lucky and suffered 
brutality and torture.  

A Chinese diplomat and several Chinese journalists 
attending the news conference become angry.  As Falun 
Gong spokesman Erping Zhang was speaking, they 
disrupted the proceeding, accusing the Falun Gong of 
lying.  

            /// ZHANG ACT ONE ///

      China...  (noise)  ...let me finish.


            /// END ACT ///

Falun Gong spokesman Erping Zhang says he is pleased 
that the Chinese diplomat and journalists were at the 
news conference.  He says Falun Gong has been trying 
to meet with Chinese officials either privately or 
publicly to get them to stop their policy of 
suppression.

            /// ZHANG ACT TWO ///

      We as Falun Gong, we are peaceful, non-political 
      spiritual practice.  We urge the Chinese 
      government to have peaceful dialogue with us, to 
      resolve the issue and the crisis peacefully 
      because we are not against the government.  It 
      is the government's position that its citizens 
      are the enemy of the State.  So, it is the other 
      way around. 

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Zhang says Falun Gong representatives will try to 
meet with the U-N's top human-rights official, Mary 
Robinson to present their case and ask for her help.  
He says Falun Gong is pleased the U-S government is 
introducing a resolution to the U-N Human Rights 
Commission to denounce China's human-rights record.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/LS/JWH/RAE



20-Mar-2000 10:14 AM EDT (20-Mar-2000 1514 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.