HONG KONG,(AFP) – Hong Kong Falungong practitioners on Sunday
slammed government treatment of a group of Taiwanese nationals allegedly
detained and treated inhumanely when they arrived for a group meeting.
Eighty of the 450 Falungong practitioners who flew here last week for a
meeting and demonstration were denied entry on arrival at the airport
for
“security reasons,” and returned to Taiwan.
At least nine of those who were returned home alleged they were treated
violently when they argued with immigration officials, the group said.
In an open letter to chief executive Tung Chee-hwa and security chief
Regina
Ip, the spiritual group demanded an “apology for the violent actions”
and
fair treatment for the group.
Victim Lu Li-ching said she suffered bruises to her hands and mouth when
she
was escorted by force to the plane.
“Eight riot policemen wrapped me up with a blanket,” Lu told AFP.
“A flight attendant witnessing the scene told me she had never seen
police
resort to such brutalities on civilians.”
Some 250 Falungong members gathered outside Hong Kong immigration
offices
Sunday, hoisting banners urging an end to persecution of its members.
“All our (Taiwanese) members who arrived had valid visas and passports
and
had no (criminal) records so we don’t know why they were stopped and
detained, some for 12 hours without food or ventilation before
deportation,”
said Falungong spokeswoman Sharon Xu.
The spiritual group, which combines meditation with Buddhist-inspired
teachings, was banned by China in July 1999… but
remains
legal in Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China since 1997.
Taiwan protested strongly Saturday against what it called unfriendly and
inhumane treatment by the Hong Kong government of its nationals.
“We hereby express our gravest protest toward the violence and disregard
of
human rights by the Hong Kong government,” the Taipei cabinet’s Mainland
Affairs Council (MAC) said in a statement.
A Hong Kong government spokesman, without confirming the number of
people
refused entry, denied any wrongdoing and said officers had acted with
restraint.
Falungong practitioner Sophie Xiao said she feared the group could
suffer
more ill-treatment when proposed anti-subversion laws in Hong Kong are
implemented.
“Beijing will use the law as a weapon to introduce mainland
Chinese-style
oppression and persecution to Hong Kong,” said Xiao.
“They will use national security as an excuse to target Falungong and
other
groups considered undesirable by Beijing.”
Hong Kong is obliged under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the territory’s
mini-constitution, to pass laws banning treason, sedition, subversion
and
the theft of state secrets.
Despite the dilution of the security law bill, which goes to lawmakers
February 26, the proposal to ban groups outlawed in mainland China on
national security grounds was retained.
http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/db/Qhongkong-taiwan-sect.RanF_DFN.html
Posting date: 25/Feb/2003
Original article date: 23/Feb/2003
Category: Media Reports
