AFP Story: Chinese president due in Iceland amid Falun Gong protests

Thursday, 13-Jun-2002 7:00AM

According to AFP report from REYKJAVIK, Iceland on June 13 , Chinese President Jiang Zemin was due to arrive in Iceland on Thursday for a four-day official visit. His visit will be held against the background of Falun Gong practitioners' protest.

According to the report, some 70 practitioners from the United States, Denmark, Canada and other countries were detained upon their arrival at Iceland's Keflavik airport earlier this week on government orders. They were later released.

According to Falun Gong practitioners, "hundreds" of supporters whose names appeared on a list provided by the Chinese government were blocked from boarding IcelandAir flights.

"I think it is quite clear that Jiang Zemin is exerting tremendous pressure on Iceland to ensure he is spared the sight of peaceful demonstrations outside his hotel room during his stay in Iceland," Erping Zhang, a spokesperson for the Falun Dafa Information Center in New York, said.

According to the Falun Gong practitioners, since China suppressed Falun Gong in July 1999, tens of thousands of practitioners have been jailed or sent to labor camps.

According to the report, the Falun Dafa Information Center has also alleged that up to 200 practitioners have died in police custody, mostly from beatings and maltreatment.

According to the report, Jiang Zemin, meanwhile, was expected to hold talks with Icelandic leaders on Friday, before dedicating Saturday to tourism issues. He is to fly home to China on Sunday.

http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/bs/Qiceland-china-sect.RxlV_CuD.html