South Africa: 'The Mercury' Reports on the Chinese Consulate's Attempt to Persecute Durbin Institute of Technology Student

In its November 18th, 2004 edition, the South African Newspaper The Mercury reported the story of a young Chinese woman who endured 18 months in a forced labour camp in her home country, and now finds that the persecution has followed her to South Africa.

Twenty eight year old Lin Li, an exchange student at the Durbin Institute of Technology, started teaching Falun Gong classes three months ago, and soon afterwards, the Chinese Consulate officials asked DIT to stop her from holding classes at the institute.

The article reports that the DIT officials refused, saying that their rules were based on South African democratic rights which allowed freedom of expression.

"Li alleged that while she was in China she, family and friends, were persecuted for practising Falun Gong.

"She said she was detained for 18 months in a forced labour camp, had raids on their home, experienced the loss of a friend, who had died after a severe beating and her husband couldn't get a passport - allegedly because he did Falun Gong.

"Naziema Jappie, the executive director of student affairs at DIT, said: "We've had discussions with the Chinese consulate and explained that SA is a democracy. We are not going to stop her (Li). From what I've seen, it seems to be just exercise and meditation."

The article continued: "She said she was aware of the Chinese government's stance, but she was not going to give up her belief.

'If the Chinese government doesn't change its policy on Falun Gong, I don't think I would want to go back. It will be very hard to return to that kind of environment without freedom after living in South Africa ... I will continue with my practise here ... I don't know what would happen to me if I went back (to China), but I will not change my belief, no matter what I face in the future,' she said."