Agence France-Presse

Friday, Feb. 8, 2002

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AFP) - Some 600 Falun Gong members will hold a 12-hour demonstration around Friday's opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics to draw attention to the plight of the spiritual group in China.

Spokeswoman Ying Lee from Vancouver, British Columbia, said Falun Gong members had come from all across North America, and some even as far way as Taiwan, to put pressure on the Chinese government to stop its crackdown against the group. "The Olympic spirit is of peace and the Falun Gong is based on compassion and tolerance. We want the international community to help us to stop the persecution," she told Agence France-Presse.

President Bush and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan are among the dignitaries set to attend the opening ceremony of the quadrennial winter sporting extravaganza at the Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium later Friday.

"We want to alert public awareness. We are trying to remind the world and the Olympic delegates of what is happening in China," Ying said.

The Chinese government banned the movement in July 1999[...] Human rights groups estimate that hundreds of Falun Gong followers have been sentenced to jail terms and tens of thousands sent to labor camps. The movement says as many as 300 followers have died from brutality in police detention.

Ying also said the group would try and meet with the delegation of Chinese athletes competing at the 19th Winter Games.

Beijing was awarded the right to host the 2008 Summer Games last July, prompting a storm of protest from religious and human rights groups.

China later said its successful Olympic bid justified its tough crackdown on the spiritual movement.

Falun Gong combines [Master Li's teaching] and slow-motion exercises, [...] which can bring health and spiritual well-being.

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