NEW YORK (FDI) -- Mr. Guan Jun Liang, a pro-Communist (or
pro-Beijing) Chinese leader and chairman of the Unified Organization of Overseas
Chinese Associations, was arrested on the evening of Wednesday, June 25, 2003 by
New York City police, for his leading role in a group assault against a number
of peacefully demonstrating Falun Gong practitioners Monday night (news).
Liang was charged with assault on Mr. Jun Li, a Falun Gong
practitioner from the New York area. Witnesses say Liang both directed and
participated in the attack, carried out by some 40 people. Jun Li suffered
multiple injuries, including a black eye and bloody nose.
The group assault took place in front of Yi Dong Restaurant
in New York's Chinatown where the Falun Gong practitioners were peacefully
protesting China's brutal campaign of terror and genocide against all members of
the practice in China.
Present at the banquet were Yingfan Wang, the departing UN
ambassador from the People's Republic of China, and Hongxi Zhang, the
Consular-General from the Chinese Consulate in New York City, according to the
World Journal.
During the assault, witnesses report that attackers shouted
"If you are Falun Gong, I will beat you to death!" As Liang was escorted by
police following his arrest Wednesday night, he paused and addressed reporters,
shouting "Evil cult!" -- a term commonly used by Jiang Zemin's regime to defame
Falun Gong, both in China and overseas.
|
Liang is
escorted by a New York City police officer following his arrest Wednesday
night.
|
The attacks appear not to be aimed at specific individuals,
but rather at their victims' practice and belief in Falun Gong, characterizing
the crime as one of hatred, targeted at a public group.
# # #
NEWS -- Jun. 27, 2003
Falun Dafa Information Center,
www.faluninfo.net
Background
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about),
is a practice of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal
principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." It is a practice that was
taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr.
Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is
distinct and separate from other practices such as the religions of Buddhism and
Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth
throughout China, and is now practiced in over
50
countries.
With government estimates of as many as
100
million practicing Falun Gong, China's Communist leader Jiang Zemin outlawed
the peaceful practice in July 1999 (report),
fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens than the
Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions who had experienced
improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong, Jiang's regime has
intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practice
while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practice it.
The Falun Dafa Information Center has verified details of 744
deaths (reports
/
sources) since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999.
Government officials inside China, however, report that the actual death toll is
well over 1,600, while expert sources estimate that figure to be much higher.
Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than
100,000 being sentenced to forced labor camps, typically without trial.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER --
Gail Rachlin 917-501-4441, Levi Browde 914-720-0963, Erping Zhang 646-533-6147,
or Feng Yuan 917-941-1097. Email:
faluninfoctr@nycmail.com, Website:
http://www.faluninfo.net/
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