The New York Times

Thursday, March 8, 2000

More Falun Gong Followers Detained

By The Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) -- Chinese police have detained seven foreign followers of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement in the southern border city of Shenzhen, a human rights group reported Wednesday.

The seven women, including three Australians and four from Hong Kong, planned to go to Beijing to appeal for an end to the communist government's ban on Falun Gong when they were detained Saturday, the Information Center of Human Rights and Democratic Movement in China said.

The Hong Kong-based group identified two of the Australians as Zhang Cuiying and Tao Huolian, but did not have the name of the third. One of the Hong Kong residents, Wang Yaoqing, was detained along with her 7-year-old son, the group said. It said the boy was later released.

Falun Gong followers have defied the government's ban, issued more than seven months ago, by repeatedly staging peaceful protests in Beijing. Police have been on alert to prevent renewed protests during the 11-day annual session of the national legislature, which opened Sunday.

Information Center founder Lu Siqing said four U.S. citizens detained by Beijing police on Saturday in a sweep of Falun Gong followers remained in custody. The U.S. Embassy confirmed that two were U.S. citizens and was checking on the other two.