HONG KONG - The Falungong spiritual group Thursday petitioned Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa to help seek the release of an elderly practitioner jailed in Myammar.
The spiritual [group] urged Tung to help secure the release of Hong Kong native Chan Wing-yuen, 71, arrested in Rangoon December 12, 2001, for unfurling a Falungong banner during President Jiang Zemin's visit.
Chan, who faced justice without legal representation, was sentenced to seven years in prison last January, the group said.
Chinese embassy staff and local authorities had repeatedly demanded Chan publicly denounce his belief in Falungong in exchange for his freedom but he refused, they added.
"We are worried that Beijing is extending its human rights abuses and its persecution against Falunggong practitioners in more and more countries through diplomatic channels," said Falungong spokeswoman Sharon Xu.
"It is not only in countries in Asia, but in Europe as well as Americas."
Xu cited as an example a mainland couple repatriated to China by Cambodia at the request of Chinese embassy staff because of their belief in the spiritual group.
A baby born in Britain was refused a Chinese passport because his Chinese born parents practiced Falungong, she added.
"There were also cases in which Chinese passports of Falungong practitioners were not renewed by the Chinese embassy in the United States," Xu said.
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