By Jamie Pandaram
The pain of not knowing is all too real for Belfield woman Lisa Liang, who has not seen her sister for three years.
Mrs Liang’s younger sister Tang Yiwen, who lives in China, was detained by authorities in Tiananmen Square in 2000 after she went to appeal t stop the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.
Mrs Liang can only pray that Yiwen is safe in the shocking labour camps where Falun Gong practitioners are kept throughout China.
But from what she has heard so far, Mrs Liang believes her sister is not at all safe. In fact, Yiwen’s family believes the treatment she is receiving is nothing short of barbaric.
Mrs Liang talked fondly of the close relationship she shared with Yiwen, and despairs at the thought of never seeing her again, or receiving a dreaded phone call.
“I am in fear that someone will call me to tell me my sister is dead. Yiwen was energetic, kindhearted and good at singing and dancing. We were very close.
“I cannot see her, they do not allow anybody to see her, and the Chinese government won’t approve a visa for me because I am a Falun Gong practitioner.
“People need to know about the terrible treatment the Chinese government gives to these people. They lie, they torture and humiliate people just because the good messages of Falun Gong were becoming so popular. They felt threatened.”
Falun Gong is a practice of meditation and is based on the key principles of “Truth, Compassion and Forbearance.” More than 100 million people practiced Falun Gong in China before it was outlawed in 1999 by the Chinese government.
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Posting date: 21/May/2003
Original article date: 14/May/2003
Category: Media Reports
