It was 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. His father, Jan Knapen was extremely worried yesterday morning: "The Chinese regime has already killed hundreds of Falun Gong adherents."
Yesterday afternoon came the message of relief from the Foreign Affairs Department: "Fortunately they put him back on a flight to Europe." Where he will land was not clear yesterday evening. His 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 about Falun Gong in Munich, where he works as a computer expert.
A representative of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted the Falun Gong Foundation of The Netherlands to express their concern about the arrested Dutch practitioner, Egon Knapen. Today Egon Knapen gave several interviews for national Dutch radio. In one of the interviews he mentioned the concern from our government. More interviews are planned for the next few days; one will be for national television.
There was another Falun Gong practitioner with Dutch nationality arrested in Beijing. He has both Dutch and the Brazilian nationality. He too has arrived safe and sound back home. He is now in The Netherlands. Next Monday he will travel to Brazil to address the media there.
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