Wednesday, December 5, 2001

On the morning of the November 21, while still in detention in China, a female Falun Gong practitioner gave a live interview for BBC World Radio, which was broadcast across East Asia. When the BBC radio station got in contact with the practitioner, they where already "on the air," with only 6 minutes left of the program. This exclusive issue was given 2.5 minutes of which 2 minutes and 7 seconds were given to the live interview. The following are some excerpts.

Practitioner: "Yesterday we held a peaceful appeal to kindly ask the Chinese Government to stop beating, torturing, killing and raping innocent Falun Gong Practitioners."

Practitioner: "Several of us have been beaten, punched, and shoved."

Reporter: "Have you been treated badly would you say?"

Practitioner: "Well, the way I have been treated is not my focus. My focus is the way that the Chinese people are treated for practising a peaceful practice.

"I am from the international community. They would probably not kill me. But considering that I also do this spiritual practice [Falun Gong] I could have been treated that same way if I was born in China."


After the 2 minute long live interview, the radio personnel was very grateful and honoured for this rare interview. 10-15 policemen were in the room during the interview.