March 26, 2002

A TRINITY COLLEGE student, imprisoned for being a Falun Gong practitioner, spoke about being tortured in a Chinese labour camp, upon his arrival back in Ireland yesterday. Zhao Ming, 31, a computer science postgraduate at TCD, claimed he was subjected to electric shock treatment using currents of 30,000 volts just two weeks before his release earlier this month.

"It made my body shake violently," said Ming, who was released by the Chinese authorities after 22 months in captivity.

Other forms of torture used on Ming included sleep deprivation and various types of physical punishment.

During a press conference at TCD in Dublin yesterday, the Falun Gong practitioner said he suffered from a lack of feeling in his legs because of being forced to squat for periods of up to 10 hours per day.

"My feet are still very painful. It's very hard to get to sleep," said Ming. "There were many times when attempts were made to force me to give up my belief in Falun Gong."

Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been detained indefinitely and been subjected to brain-washing by the Chinese authorities, who have described the popular spiritual practice as an [Jiang Zemin regime's slanderous term omitted].

"It was a really hard and painful time," said Ming, who now hopes to resume his studies in TCD. Even when released on March 12, Ming claimed he was kept under surveillance constantly by Chinese police. "It was very worrying for my parents as they were concerned I would be taken into custody again," he recalled.

Ming also expressed gratitude to the Friends of Zhao Ming - the group which campaigned for his release since his detention after returning home to China for a holiday in January 2000. He was subsequently imprisoned in a labour camp near Beijing after breaking house arrest to attend a Falun Gong rally in Tianamen Square.

The group's spokesperson, Jim Dowling, praised the Government's role in highlighting the issue with the Chinese authorities, in particular Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for raising Ming's case with Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji during his State visit to Ireland last year.

"There were times when we wondered if it was possible, but we never lost hope and never for a minute considered giving up campaigning," said Mr Dowling.

He added: "it's very difficult to understand what Ming has endured and the torture he has gone through in standing up for his beliefs." The group also repeated its call on the Chinese government to free all Falun Gong practitioners held in captivity. "People have a right to practice their faith without fear of prosecution," said Mr Dowling. Ming's release was welcomed by the TCD provost, Dr John Hegarty, TCD Student Union and a variety of human rights organisations, including Amnesty International. 50,000 jailed

* Falun Gong (or Falun Dafa as it is also known) is a spiritual meditation practice originating in China.

* It is a form of qigong - an ancient Chinese practice not unlike tai-chi.

* Falun Gong is practised by millions of followers in about 40 countries.

* Its practice has been banned by the Chinese authorities since July 1999.

* Falun Gong members claim that about 50,000 practitioners have been arrested and imprisoned in China.

* It is estimated that about 1,600 Falun Gong members have died in custody in China.

http://www.online.ie/news/irish_examiner/viewer.adp?article=1697843