Korea Daily Sports: China, Why Are We an Illegal Group

Olympic Games columnist Huang Caihao from Korea Daily Sports recently reported Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful appeal and their group exercise on the Syntagma Square (Constitution Square) in Athens. The following is a translation of the text.

People practising Falun Gong on the Syntagma Square (Constitution Square) in Athens.

On the afternoon of the 12th of August, 2004 (Athens time), on the Syntagma Square in the centre of Athens, something people are not familiar with was present. A group of people were practising Falun Gong, a kind of Qi Gong originated from China. Under the high temperature of nearly 40 degrees Celsius, not only Chinese but also blond westerners concentrated on their practice in such a public place. What motivated them to do so?

"Spirit of the Olympics is peace, friendship and equality. This spirit agrees with the fundamental principles of Falun Gong. Except for China, Falun Dafa is accepted at large as a general cultivation practice in other countries in the world. However, in China, it is identified as an illegal organisation and is brutally suppressed." Said Wu Wenxin, president of European Falun Dafa Association.

The Olympic Games will be held in Beijing in 2008 after the Athens Olympics. Mr. Wu said that he hoped China which will host the next Olympic Games would reflect on its general human rights violations and correctly evaluate Falun Gong. He said that this was their purpose of conducting activities in Athens.

Falun Gong is a Qi Gong cultivation practice of mind and body. It was first made public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in 1992 from Changchun, China. It improves people's physical and mental health through the practice of five sets of simple exercises. It was warmly received after it was introduced to the public. At present, there are 80 million practitioners in China and one million outside China.

With the rapid increase of Falun Gong's popularity, the former President of China Jiang Zemin banned it as an illegal organisation. It is reported more than 1000 practitioners were killed and numerous practitioners are tortured.

"Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance" are Falun Gong's fundamental principles. People who participated in today's activities transcend age and nationality. They included an 11-year-old Chinese girl to an elderly German grandmother and Australian youths in their 20s. They called together for attention from people throughout the world.