VOA: American, Canadian Detained in China

February 11, 2002

Chinese police have detained an American and a Canadian who staged a protest on Beijing's Tiananmen Square against China's ban on the Falun Gong spiritual movement.

The two were identified as Levi Browde of the United States and Jason Loftus of Canada.

The two protesters unfurled a yellow banner and shouted [statements] - including "Falun Gong is good" - in Chinese. They also accused Chinese authorities of staging an incident last year in which five people set themselves on fire, supposedly to protest Beijing's crackdown on Falun Gong.

Mr. Loftus and Mr. Browde claimed the apparent group suicide attempt was aimed at discrediting Falun Gong, which Chinese officials have labeled as an [Jiang's slanderous term omitted]. Like Monday's protest, the incident last year took place on the eve of the Chinese New Year.

Mr. Loftus was wrestled to the ground by authorities before he and Mr. Browde were taken away in a police van. There was no immediate reaction from U.S. or Canadian officials.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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