GWANGJU (South Korea) - South Korean police confiscated hundreds of caps and fans promoting the Falungong [group] and stopped about 20 [practitioners] from handing out leaflets on the day China fought its first World Cup match with Costa Rica.
Fears that Falungong demonstrators could use the live telecast on Tuesday to reach out to hundreds of millions in China turned out to be unwarranted.
According to police sources, China had requested that World Cup co-hosts South Korea and Japan prevent any protests by [Falun Gong], which has up to 20,000 followers in Korea.
Some 60 Falungong practitioners handed out 10,000 caps and 20,000 fans to supporters of the Chinese and Costa Rican teams going to the Gwangju stadium, said Mr Kwon Hong Dae, Falungong [coordinator] in Korea
A Gwangju police official said caps and fans were confiscated from supporters entering the stadium for the match which Costa Rica won 2-0.
The caps and fans were inscribed with the Chinese characters falun dafa hao meaning Falun the Great Law is Good.
'We are opposed to the Chinese government which cracks down hard on Falungong, but we love China and the Chinese football team,' Mr Kwon said.
'We cheered on the Chinese squad when their bus went past us to the stadium and carried a banner reading, "We wish for China and South Korea to make it to the last 16." -- AFP
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http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/asia/story/0,1870,124233,00.html
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Category: Falun Dafa in the Media
