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Washington, D.C. Falun Gong Practitioners Hold Peaceful Appeal in front of Chinese Embassy (Photos)
Northern Virginia resident Ms. Tiny Hong movingly described not being able to
attend her father's funeral in July 2002 or console her mother in person because
both she and her mother are Falun Gong practitioners. Ms. Hong's mother was
first arrested in October 2001 at a train station in Beijing when she refused to
denounce her belief in Falun Gong and defame founder Li Hongzhi. During the
Communist Party's 16th Congress in November 2002, she was detained
and held incommunicado for several days at a brainwashing camp. Currently, she
is unable to leave her hometown.
Although Ms. Jin Wei was unable to attend today's appeal, she recounted the
story of her aunt's experience as a Falun Gong practitioner persecuted in China
in a statement read by Ms. Cailing Ling. Ms. Wei described how her aunt,
Jingzhen Li, overcame personal hardships and various illnesses after she began
to practice Falun Gong in 1997. She traced Ms. Li's troubles to the beginning of
the persecution when she was first arrested for appealing to the government.
Because she continued to tell others of the benefits of Falun Gong, Ms. Li was
most recently arrested and detained in September 2002; her family has not heard
from her since then. They have been told that she is serving a one-year sentence
at the notorious Heizuizi Forced Labor Camp in Changchun.
"I know tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners like my aunt are being
persecuted for their belief in Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. I urge
the U.S. government, media and all kind-hearted people around the world to pay
attention to this persecution," Ms. Ling read.
Other practitioners demonstrated the five sets of graceful Falun Gong
exercises and displayed banners clearly visible by those passing by the busy
thoroughfare where the Embassy is located.
Posting date: 1/15/2003
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