Egon Knapen from Breda experienced a few exciting days in China. Knapen, adherent of the Falun Gong movement which is forbidden in China, wanted to hold a demonstration on Thursday in Beijing together with other western adherents. On his way to Tiananmen Square he was arrested.
It had to become the biggest western demonstration yet against the ban on Falun Gong, with adherents from America, Canada, Belgium and Germany. The Chinese police acted immediately and sent the large group on a flight out of the country. A few adherents were arrested, among them Knapen. Father Jan Knapen was extremely worried yesterday morning: "The Chinese regime has already killed hundreds of Falun Gong adherents."
Yesterday afternoon the message that brought relief from the Foreign Affairs Department came: "Fortunately they put him back on a flight to Europe." Where he will land was not clear yesterday evening. Father Jan Knapen at first was not so glad that his son went to Beijing. The Communist regime of China has been persecuting Falun Gong adherents since 1999. Thousands of people are detained in labour camps. The movement which combines physical exercises with meditation and elements from Buddhism and Taoism, has approximately 100 million adherents. The Chinese government sees the movement as a threat to their society. In the Netherlands there are about 20 practitioners. Knapen learned Falun Gong in Munich, where he works as a computer expert.
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