AFP: Key Dates in Falun Gong Movement

Updated: 31 October 2000

Following is a list of key events in 18 months, which have seen the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement branded the biggest threat to China's communist regime since the 1989 democracy protests.

April 25, 1999: More than 10,000 followers of the Buddhist-inspired [group] sit down around the Chinese Communist Party headquarters in Beijing for an entire day, demanding the right to practice their meditation and breathing exercises. It was the largest demonstration in the capital since 1989, when democracy protestors were massacred on Tiananmen Square.

April 27: The authorities say they are prepared to listen to Falun Gong grievances but warn of strict measures against any attempt to destabilize society.

May 3: Li Hongzhi, the [group]'s US-based [founder], calls on Beijing to start dialogue with the movement which claims it has 80 million followers in China (2 million according to the authorities).

June 6: First questioning of over 100 followers protesting in Beijing.

July 20-22: Thousands of followers rounded up throughout the country. By the end of the year at least 35,000 followers had been arrested, according to official statistics.

July 22: Falun Gong is formally declared [...]. The move coincides with the launch of a media campaign accusing the movement of causing 1,500 deaths.

July 27: US State Department calls on Beijing to exercise restraint.

July 28: China issues an international arrest warrant against Li Hongzhi, accusing him of seeking to overturn the regime. Interpol refused to help with the warrant.

October 7: First case of Falun Gong follower dying in police custody, announced from abroad.

October 21: 11 senior figures in the movement arrested.

October 25-November 1: A week of protests in Tiananmen Square in Beijing as parliament adopts law officially branding Falun Gong as [...].

November 12: First Falun Gong 'show trials' end with four followers sentenced to between 2 and 12 years prison. Hundreds of others sent to 'reeducation through labor' camps for three years.

December 26: Four senior figures in the group sentenced to prison terms of 7 to 18 years.

February 5, 2000: Dozens of followers protest in Tiananmen Square during the Chinese New Year.

February/March: Deaths in custody of 15 members disclosed. Several detained members stage hunger strike.

April 19: The official Xinhua news agency reports that a total of 84 Falun Gong supporters have been given prison terms.

April 25: At least 100 members defy a security net to protest in Tiananmen Square on the first anniversary of their landmark mass demonstration against the Chinese government.

May 11: About 200 members protest in Tiananmen Square to mark their founder's birthday are detained by police.

July 22: Falun Gong members are kicked and beaten bloody by police in Tiananmen Square in the most violent crackdown yet seen on the group since it was banned exactly one year ago.

October 1: Chinese police round up close to 1,000 protesting members of the Falun Gong group during clashes in Tiananmen Square on China's National Day.