KYW News Radio 1060: NJ Family Concerned about Family in Beijing

by KYW's Karin Phillips

During his visit, President George Bush addressed the issue of religious freedom with Chinese President Jiang Zemin -- an item of great interest to an Evesham, NJ family.

At one time Falun Gong, an ancient Chinese spiritual practice of self improvement, meditation and slow exercise, was endorsed in China -- before a government crackdown in July 1999.

Ying Chen of Evesham began to worry about her family in Beijing: "I called home and my mom said, 'That must be why your brother hasn't come home.' It turned out that he was taken from the park where he did the exercises and he was detained in the local police station. He wasn't allowed to go home or go to work and put through a series of brainwashing classes."

Finally, Chen says, her brother was sent to a labor camp, where he was repeatedly tortured. He's now living in Beijing, but constantly monitored by authorities. Her parents have moved here. Chen hopes U.S. government interest, as well as more worldwide exposure to the persecution, will help see it end that much quicker.

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