AsianWeek: Falun Gong Mobilizes to Tell Its Story at Winter Olympics

[Excerpt]Sat, 9 Feb 2002

Special to AsianWeek

Police officers on horseback patrolled the front of the newly erected Olympic Medals Arena as music blared from a surround-sound system. The high security and soaring music were part of the dress rehearsal as the Winter Olympics get underway in Salt Lake City.

Crowds of people poured into the huge official souvenir store just across the street from the Delta Center, where the figure skating competition will take place. A tourist from Los Angeles thumbed through an Olympic program book and looked at photographs of such gold-medal hopefuls as ice figure skater Michelle Kwan and speed skater Apolo Ohno.

I expect to see a lot of competition and have a lot of fun here," the man said.

A few blocks away there was a contrasting scene at Salt Lake City's main library. An audio tape recorder played as a dozen Falun Gong devotees went through a series of exercises. Olympic officials have given their approval for the members of this spiritual movement -- which is banned in China -- to stage demonstrations during the international sports competition. Many have traveled to the Olympic site to make their situation international news.

"We're going to have about 500 people to march in parades at the beginning and at the end of the Winter Olympics," said Mei, one of the group's local organizers. "We'll also have a candlelight vigil. We want to demonstrate to the world we are a peaceful group and that China should be condemned for its treatment of our people."

[...]

The followers of Falun Gong, who had gathered at Salt Lake City's main library, represented a variety of ethnic groups and cultures. As they went through their movements, they projected an atmosphere of calm and serenity.

Beverly, who works in clerical support at a local office, quickly defended the movement.

"When I hear about what's happening in China and the people being detained and punished for their support of Falun Gong," she said, "It makes me very sad. I have studied the [Falun Dafa] books. They're beautiful, very good and profound. Why are these people being punished for wanting to be good?"

[...]

Wang, a native of Shanghai and current graduate student in economics at the University of Utah, has been a follower of Falun Gong since 1996. She looks at the movement as a disciplined pattern of developing the mind, body and spirit.

"Many of my friends practice Falun Gong in China and they are in jail," she said. "Some are put in labor camps. I'm so sad. The Chinese say we are terrorists. We want to show the people [here at the Olympics] that we are good people, not like the Chinese say."

[...]

Paying her own way, Le -- who works in the computer software industry in Silicon Valley, flew to Salt Lake City to help prepare for Falun Gong's presence at the Winter Olympics. She handed out copies of the group's official videotape and magazine, Compassion.

"Falun Gong is not a cult," she stated. "There's no membership. Nobody forces you to practice. People come and go as they choose. It's self-improvement with the emphasis on 'self.'

"Before, I was kind of stressed," she continued. "I used to have a temper. Those things are all gone now. My family life is more harmonious and I try to treat people better. I try to think of others before myself."

[...]

John Tay, who was born in Singapore, has lived in Salt Lake City for more than 20 years. The Falun Gong devotee champions not only the movement's efforts "to seek peace and calm," but also the efforts to protect itself.

"If someone comes and destroys your property, would you not go back and sue them?" he asked. "If someone is giving you trouble, will you let them continue and do nothing about it? There's nothing wrong with using the law to protect yourself."

Tay says he is not a very public kind of a person, but he plans to participate in the demonstrations at the Winter Olympics.

"Falun Gong has helped me to be a better person," he said. "I want to let other people to know about it and maybe it can help them."

http://www.asianweek.com/2002_02_08/news_falun.html