Margie Mason, Associated Press Writer

Friday, July 13, 2001

[...]

Across town, about 50 Falun Gong practitioners lined up in front of the consulate to meditate and practice their slow-moving stretches, while calling on China to stop torturing followers there.

"The Chinese government's concerted effort to win the Olympics reveals that they do care about world opinion," said Falun Gong practitioner Adam Leining.

The Falun Gong is a spiritual group that meditates daily through exercises and says it promotes health and morality. The Chinese government has banned the group as an "[Jiang Zemin government's slanderous term omitted]."

The Falun Gong says Chinese authorities have killed about 250 followers, but independent monitors put the figure at about 150.

Falun Gong practitioner Sherry Zhang says the Chinese government has been announcing that her group is against the Olympic bid, angering many Chinese citizens who desperately want the torch brought to Beijing.

"It's to incite hatred against the Falun Gong. I think this is really, really bad. It's not an honorable thing to do," she said. "We want our country to advance toward a better direction for the Olympic spirit. I think the Falun Gong practitioners embody the Olympic spirit in peacefulness, innerness and spirit."

Zhang said she hopes China is forced to allow Falun Gong athletes and spectators into the games.

[...]

Human rights groups were outraged the IOC did not push for more promises from the Chinese government before voting.

"The IOC didn't even try to get guarantees on human rights," said Sydney Jones, Asia Director of Human Rights Watch. "If abuses take place as preparations for the Games proceed, it won't be just the Chinese authorities who look bad -- the IOC and the corporate sponsors will be complicit."

[...]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2001/07/13/sports1 527EDT0196.DTL

Posting date: 7/14/2001
Original article date: 7/13/2001
Category: News & Media Reports

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