NEW YORK (FDI) -- Mr. Guan Jun Liang, a pro-Communist (or pro-Beijing) Chinese leader and chairman of the Unified Organisation of Overseas Chinese Associations, was arrested on the evening of Wednesday, June 25, 2003 by New York City police, for his leading role in a group assault against a number of peacefully demonstrating Falun Gong practitioners Monday night (news).
Liang was charged with assault on Mr. Jun Li, a Falun Gong practitioner from the New York area. Witnesses say Liang both directed and participated in the attack, carried out by some 40 people. Jun Li suffered multiple injuries, including a black eye and bloody nose.
The group assault took place in front of Yi Dong Restaurant in New York's Chinatown where the Falun Gong practitioners were peacefully protesting China's brutal campaign of terror and genocide against all members of the practise in China.
Present at the banquet were Yingfan Wang, the departing UN ambassador from the People's Republic of China, and Hongxi Zhang, the Consular-General from the Chinese Consulate in New York City, according to the World Journal.
During the assault, witnesses report that attackers shouted "If you are Falun Gong, I will beat you to death!" As Liang was escorted by police following his arrest Wednesday night, he paused and addressed reporters, shouting slanderous terms often used by Jiang Zemin's regime to defame Falun Gong.
Liang is escorted by a New York City police officer following his arrest Wednesday night.
The attacks appear not to be aimed at specific individuals, but rather at their victims' practise and belief in Falun Gong, characterising the crime as one of hatred, targeted at a public group.
Background
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa (about), is a practise of meditation and exercises with teachings based on the universal principle of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance.” It is a practise that was taught in private for thousands of years before being made public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture, but it is distinct and separate from other practises such as the religions of Buddhism and Taoism. Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China, and is now practised in over 50 countries.
With government estimates of as many as 100 million practising Falun Gong, China’s President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practise in July 1999 (report), fearful of anything touching the hearts and minds of more citizens than the Communist Party. Unable to crush the spirit of millions who had experienced improved health and positive life changes from Falun Gong, Jiang’s regime has intensified its propaganda campaign to turn public opinion against the practise while quietly imprisoning, torturing and even murdering those who practise it.
The Falun Dafa Information Centre has verified details of 740 deaths (reports / sources) since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. Government officials inside China, however, report that the actual death toll is well over 1,600, while expert sources estimate that figure to be much higher. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, with more than 100,000 being sentenced to forced labour camps, typically without trial.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTRE
Contacts: Gail Rachlin (+001 917-501-4441), Levi Browde (+001 914-720-0963), Erping Zhang (+001 646-533-6147), or Feng Yuan (+001 917-941-1097).
Fax: +001 646-792-3916
Email: [email protected]
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