The New York Times

Friday, November 12, 1999

Annan to Raise Falun Gong Issue in Beijing

By Reuters

TOKYO (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Friday he plans to raise the issue of the outlawed Falun Gong spiritual movement when he visits China later this week.

``I'm a bit puzzled by the official Chinese government reaction (to Falun Gong)...I will have the opportunity of discussing the issue with Chinese officials,'' Annan told a news conference in Tokyo.

``In the meantime, I hope any action the government takes will be in conformity with basic requirements of the universal declaration of human rights and the Chinese constitution,'' he said.

China has been under fire from international human rights groups for its harsh crackdown on the Falun Gong. Beijing declared Falun Gong a cult last month and vowed to wipe it out.

A Hong Kong-based human rights group has said at least six Falun Gong members had died in custody since August, one from a hunger strike, one who was beaten to death and four who committed suicide.

But Annan, who has held meetings with Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and other senior officials during a five-day visit to Tokyo which began on Wednesday, said the bulk of his discussions were centered on the situation in East Timor.

On Thursday, Tokyo pledged to extend $28 million in additional humanitarian aid to refugees in the region through the United Nations.

Japan said last month it will give $2 million in emergency humanitarian aid to refugees in East Timor, aside from the $100 million it promised to provide to support the multinational forces deployed in the territory.

During the news conference, Annan also reiterated his concern about the situation in Russia's breakaway region of Chechnya, and said he was preparing to discuss humanitarian aid to the region with Russian officials.

Talks with Russian officials will be based on reports from a U.N. assessment team which just returned from the region, Annan said, adding that he plans to continue approaching Moscow privately as well.

``I'm doing some things quietly and privately with Russian officials and those will continue,'' Annan said.

Several U.N. Security Council members have raised the issue of Russia's offensive against Chechnya during informal consultations but there was no consensus to take up the issue, U.N. officials said.

Annan will visit Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto later Friday before leaving for Beijing Sunday.