SCMP: Be heroic on [group], Tung urged

Tuesday, June 26, 2001

Tung Chee-hwa's day at the races in Tai Po drew protests from a lobby group at his claims that Falun Gong was an "[Jiang Zemin government's slanderous term omitted]". The Social Democratic Forum accused Mr Tung of trying to please Beijing and smooth his path to re-election by escalating his attacks on Falun Gong, which is banned on the mainland.

They urged Mr Tung to stand by the principles of legendary dragon boat hero Qu Yuan, who committed suicide in protest at his advice to state leaders going unheeded.

"Qu become a legendary hero by sacrificing himself for righteousness. Why [does the Chief Executive] insist on currying favour with Beijing in order to secure re-election and be condemned for 10,000 years?" the group said.

About 10 members of the forum protested outside the entrance to the stands for the Tai Po races. Mr Tung walked past them as he entered and did not take the protest letter forum members were ready to hand him. They then tore the letter up.

Two weeks ago in Legco, Mr Tung described Falun Gong as "no doubt an [Jiang Zemin government's slanderous term omitted]".

Falun Gong activists said they would use today's International Day in Support of Victims of Torture to launch a campaign to commemorate fellow members in China. [Group] practitioners will stage their [...] exercises outside the Chinese Liaison Office in Sheung Wan and also in Chater Garden in what they term a "peaceful appeal" to Beijing to stop torturing mainland members.

The group said at least 20 Falun Gong members had died in police custody in the past month. "We again call for help around the globe to eradicate torture and inhumanity," it said, attributing the surge in deaths to enforcement of new laws against Falun Gong that provided "legal grounds" to kill practitioners. A total of 233 practitioners had died in custody, the group claimed.

http://hongkong.scmp.com/ZZZJIYQ7EOC.html

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