Tue 20 Aug 2002

The Chinese government [persecutes it], while the followers of Falun Gong claim it's a peaceful organisation. But why is it becoming so prominent in Edinburgh, asks Liam Rudden?

FOR two hours every morning Christina Jing Ha sits in the lotus position outside the Chinese Consulate in Edinburgh and meditates.

As she does so, passers-by throw her curious glances. Not just because she appears to be doing yoga in the street, but also because of her bright yellow top - emblazoned with the words Falun Gong in both English and Chinese - and the banner that she, and other members of her group, carry to highlight their protest.

For more than a year now the Chinese authorities have refused to renew Christina's passport and that decision she believes is a direct result of her refusal to renounce [practicing] of Falun Gong, a [spiritual] group banned by the Chinese government since 1999.

Christina, who has lived in Edinburgh for six years and has taught the principles of Falun Gong for four, explains: "Last year, when my Chinese passport expired I went to the Chinese Consulate to have it renewed, but when I handed it in they wouldn't return it to me, or give me any reason why they were holding it. Later they called me and said: 'We will consider renewing your passport if you relinquish your Falun Gong classes'."

It was a request the 35-year-old immediately refused, deciding instead to mount the daily protest until her passport was returned. That peaceful protest has now lasted more than a year.

Still determined to see justice done, she recalls: "In the beginning the staff in the Consulate laughed at me. Then they tried to ignore me. Later, when they found out that the media were interested in my case they were angry and called the police complaining that I was protesting too loudly. The police came, checked with the neighbours, who said they had heard nothing, and left me there."

She continues: "Last week I went back and asked to renew my passport again. This time I also accused them of persecuting me. A new member of staff I had not seen before spoke to me. He treated me very politely, but I felt uncomfortable because it was not natural. He accepted the form I had filled in, returned my invalid passport and told me to wait at home saying: 'Maybe we will call you.' But he didn't give me an exact answer."

However, the renewal of her passport is now only one of two reasons Christine continues her protest. She also wants to highlight the fact that since the Falun Gong [group] was outlawed in China three years ago, 17,000 people have allegedly been tortured to death for their beliefs. She also claims a further 1000 have been abused in mental hospitals while another 25,000 have been sent to labour camps without trial.

She states: "I want to try my best to help other practitioners of Falun Gong in China because they are being persecuted for their beliefs."

Recently, members of Falun Gong - which is described by followers as an ancient practice for improving body mind and spirit [...] have been raising public awareness of their cause in Edinburgh. Earlier this month they brought a dash of oriental colour to the Festival Cavalcade, and a week later entertained thousands of people who thronged to the Meadows on Fringe Sunday.

[...]

Christina insists: "Falun Gong is not a religion. It is a practice that consists of five easy to learn meditative exercises that are used to improve body, mind and spirit. There is no formality, no personal worship, and no donation. Falun Gong and Falun Dafa are beliefs for life that we cultivate ourselves according to the law of the universe."

[...]

Christina continues: "I have provided free Falun Gong classes in Edinburgh for four years and there is no hidden agenda. The exercises I teach are for anyone who is interested in learning to meditate. Everyone is welcome to come along and they can stop at any time." Pointing out that her classes attract more Westerners than Chinese, she says: "Falun Gong was introduced to the public in 1992 by [...] Master Li Hongzhi. It was banned because it had more members than the Communist party and the government feared the size of the movement.

"At the beginning they thought it would be easy to ban Falun Gong. They have now discovered it is not, so they use beatings and torture instead. China is different from European countries. In China the government control everything - the media, the newspapers, and sometimes they want to control the minds of the people too. That is why they are worried by the principles of Falun Gong."

Those main principles she says are truth, compassion and tolerance.

[...]

Christina vows: "I protested in front of the Vice President of China when he visited Edinburgh and I could see on his face that he was angry, but I will not give up my protest until my passport is returned and the authorities stop persecuting practitioners of Falun Gong in China."

[...]

http://news.scotsman.com/features.cfm?id=920492002