March 20, 2002

LOS ANGELES -- Eleven people ended a three-day fast protesting China's treatment of falun gong members with a demonstration at the Chinese consulate Wednesday.

Members of the Falun Gong pray and demontrate in front of the People's Republic of China Consulate on Shatto Pl. (Staff Photo by Mike Mullen)

Through a translator, Alhambra resident Yan Li, 61, said the meditative practice of falun gong helped sustain him through the fast.

"I am still in very good spirits. It is not a difficult job," said Li, who immigrated from China in 2000. "Falun gong has improved my health and my morality greatly."

Li and the fasters were joined by about 12 other protesters, who sat on the grass in front of the consulate building and quietly meditated. Many held signs urging China to end its ban on falun gong.

"Stop the killing," one read. "Falun gong good," another said in English and Chinese.

Falun gong followers practice spiritual improvement through exercise and meditation. The practice, based on Chinese healing, was founded by Master Li Hongzhi in 1992.

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"The violence and torture of the persecution has led to 381 confirmed deaths in (police) custody," said Susie Truong, 32, a Rosemead resident who works at Caltech. Truong is Vietnamese and grew up in Southern California.

She and the other fasters went without food and water for three days. The protesters said they organized the fast after Chinese President Jiang Zemin allegedly ordered the execution of several falun gong followers.

"Our hunger strike is also to ask for justice on behalf of the recently released practitioners in Hong Kong," said Truong, referring to followers arrested after a demonstration last week in the city.

"We demand that the persecution and killing be stopped," she said.