Reuters: Falun followers die in China detention

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HONG KONG, Sep 6 2000 (Reuters) - Three members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement have died after ill treatment during detention in China where the movement is banned, a Hong Kong-based human rights group said Wednesday.

At least 30 Falun Gong followers had died of ill treatment in custody since July last year, the Information Center for Human Rights & Democracy said in a statement.

One of the latest victims was Liu Yufeng, a 64-year-old retiree in the eastern Shandong province, the group said.

He was detained when taking part in a mass Falun Gong exercise. The detention center notified his family to take him back four days later, when Liu was already unconscious with three broken ribs and other injuries. Liu died on July 23.

In northwestern Gansu province, police detained 52-year-old worker Li Faming on Aug. 10 when Li was suspected of distributing Falun Gong propaganda leaflets.

Police then took Li back to his home for a search, during which they beat up Li who was then seen falling from a window of his apartment, the group said. Li died shortly after being taken to a hospital.

Police declared that Li committed suicide to escape punishment for his crimes, the human rights group said.

In northeastern Heilongjiang province, 29-year-old Zhang Tieyan was detained on April 21.

She was kept in a cramped, poorly ventilated and hot detention center, where she fainted many times. She died after fainting on Aug. 11, the Hong Kong group said.