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Dala-Demokraten: Falun Gong is on the Go By Sylvia Kjellberg July 13, 2001 Falun
Yesterday saw the start of SOS Save Falun Gong Practitioners, a march from Stora Torget to Stockholm. There, a demonstration against the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China will be held. Of course Beijing should not have the Olympic Games in 2008, said opposition council member Ingalill Persson, Social Democratic Party, in a speech before the march off. She and other politicians from Falun recently visited China to promote business connections. However, Ingalill Persson thinks that the town district of Falun should reconsider its relations with China. In the next few days Falun Gong supporters will be marching in several different countries, amongst others the USA. The marches will be going to Chinese embassies. The aim is to inform people of atrocities and violations of human rights. Up until today, at least 253 people have been killed. Many people in China are risking their lives in order
to spread the truth to the Western World about what is happening. Women are tortured
The police are alleged to have the right to kill Falun Gong adherents and report it as suicide. Fifteen women have recently been tortured to death in a labor camp in northeastern China. Women are especially hard hit by the persecution according to Lei Wang-Dragin, chairperson of the Nordic Association of Falun Gong. There exist many methods of punishment; amongst others, women are thrown, naked, into cells with male prisoners. Some thirty people participated in the march from Stora Torget. "Truth, Compassion and Forbearance" was printed on their yellow jackets. Not the whole way
The first stage of the march went to Hedemora. Next week it will reach Stockholm, via Avesta, Sala, Uppsala and Knivsta. But not all are going the whole way. "I have a one-year-old son so we will only be going as far as the city limits," said Eva Karlsson from Falun. It was health problems that got her to start Falun Gong. "I had backache and pain in my knees and was looking for something to make me well. So I started Falun Gong and the pain disappeared." The exercises also give peace of mind and stress tolerance, in her opinion. Christian Democrat, Lennart Sacrédeus, is also against China's receiving the summer Olympics. This he explained in an official letter which Malin Nordstrand read out on the square [Stora Torget]. Posting date: 7/18/2001 |