“We heard horrible things about how the cells for Chinese look like.”

[His mother, Gaydor Kaye, said]: "As far as we're concerned, it's had an excellent effect on his schoolwork and whole attitude. How many teenagers have the self-discipline to get up early three times a week to do
an hour of exercises in the park?"

An 18-year-old schoolboy from Leeds has described how he was pinned by the throat as Chinese police tried to break up a protest supporting the Falun Gong spiritual
movement. Alexander Rostron was arrested in Beijing at a demonstration in Tiananmen Square in support of the movement on Thursday.

An 18-year-old schoolboy is set to become the fifth Briton expelled from China amid protests at the authorities' crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement.

A Chinese (non-practitioner) resident in Europe speaks out against the persecution in her motherland, and speaks in support of Falun Gong

Falun Gong members have claimed that Mr Zhao was tortured while in detention, beaten by guards with electric batons and allowed only two hours' sleep a day. They further claim that on one occasion guards tried to force him to write anti-Falun Gong material and that he was beaten to the brink of death when he refused.

Amnesty International was not impressed. It has reported that 1,511 death sentences were passed in 2000 and at least 1,000 executions were carried out. Amnesty officials believe this represents only a fraction of the true figures, as death penalty statistics remain a state secret in China.

The Minister is likely to raise the issue of the jailed Falun Gong practitioner and Trinity College student, Mr Zhao Ming, during planned meetings with the Chinese Premier, Mr Zhu Rongji

We thanked the Dutch policemen sincerely for their understanding, sympathy and support. They said, ‘you are welcome. To support Falun Gong is righteous. Despite the brutal persecution by China we hope that the Falun Gong practitioners will continue their campaign till victory!’

Since the eradication campaign against Falun Gong was launched by the authorities, foreign journalists have systematically been hindered in their work on this topic. Foreign photographers and cameramen are prevented from working on and around Tiananmen Square where hundreds of Falun Gong followers have demonstrated for the passed years. According to Reporters Without Borders' estimations, at least 50 representatives of international media have been questioned. Some of them have been beaten by the police. The correspondents who have tried to cover the banned movement's activities have been harassed by the security services. Finally, many Falun Gong followers have been jailed for being interviewed by foreign journalists.

"The police attacked us and then grabbed the banner. What stood out was the brutal, aggressive way the police officers treated the females in the group,” said Mr. Uhl disgustedly. “The women were kicked and dragged by their hair."

“We had no intention of becoming martyrs or heroes there,” said Fernandez.“ It was important to us to demonstrate [to the world] that in China, human rights are trampled on. And we also wanted to show the Falun Gong practitioners in China that they are not alone.” That message, the Swiss are certain, has been sent loud and clear.

A Swedish demonstrator [..] managed to make a call from the police station using his cell phone. He said, “I was subjected to brutal mistreatment in the van. They punched, kicked and stomped on me. My arm is bleeding.” Moreover, he said that several of the women were dragged by their hair.
“We are not against any government. We promote tolerance and kindness,” said[..], another detainee.

In just eight years since its [Falun Gong's] public introduction in 1992, it has grown to become the most popular form of body and mind meditation ever in Chinese history.

It emphasises physical cultivation and the cultivation of one’s moral character in daily life, according to the principles of Falun Gong’s founder, Li Hongzhi.

Falun Gong’s effectiveness in improving health has quickly made it popular throughout the entire world and has largely been spread by word of mouth.

What made these Westerners drop their jobs and their families to go and confront the Chinese police, whose reputation freezes the blood of the Chinese? The four from Zurich explained their action on a diskette they sent to friends. More than two years of attempts by numerous Governments and humanitarian organizations have had no effect on China. The massive persecution of Falun Gong has even worsened since the attacks of 11 September have monopolized international attention: 311 proven deaths (probably 1,000), 50,000 persons held in gulags, 1,000 in mental institutions, thousands of rapes and sadistic torture … in all, 70 million practitioners risk being denounced, being fined, losing their jobs, their homes, their family life or their freedom.

"Police detained the protesters after they unfurled a banner in English and Chinese in the middle of the square. Those involved are from ten different countries including Ireland."

Mr Brian Trought (23), from Cork city, a physics student at UCC, was among a group of Falun Gong practitioners from 10 countries, who staged the peaceful protest against the Chinese government's persecution of the spiritual group. Mr Trought has been a Falun Gong practitioner for two years.

"Police in China have arrested an Irishman who was part of an anti-government [Note from the Editor: Falun Gong Practitioners are not anti-government, they only wish for a peaceful end to the tragic persecution] demonstration in Tiananmen Square in Beijing today. The group of around 30 Westerners was arrested after allegedly unfurling a banner and chanting slogans in support of the outlawed Falun Gong spiritual movement."