Protesters Gather In Media To Show Support
For American Jailed In China

Communists Are Persecuting Practitioners Of Falun Gong

By Matt Hasson

Gang Chen, who was imprisoned in a Chinese labor camp for 18 months for practicing Falun Gong, an exercise and meditation practice, appeared at the County Courthouse in Media, Sept. 10, to protest the imprisonment of Charles Lee, a U.S. citizen, in China. Lee is a practitioner of Falun Gong, which China's leader Jiang Zemin outlawed in July 1999.

Chen joined the "Coast-to-Coast Rescue Drive", which began in San Francisco, August 13, and was scheduled to end in Washington, D.C., yesterday (Sept. 16). Organizers plan to give a petition protesting the persecutions to the U.S. State Department.

Chen was released from prison in January 2002. He arrived in the U.S. in July and is living with his brother in Marlton, NJ.

Falun Gong became popular in China in 1992 and is now practiced in more than 50 countries. The Chinese government started imprisoning-and torturing-practitioners after it was banned. It's believed that the Chinese government considers Falun Gong a thread to its totalitarian authority.

Torture

"I was sent to a labor camp for the toughest 18 months of my life," said Chen, as protesters in yellow T-shirts held banners and signs. "They used the most violent and inhumane means to torture and degrade me. It was also the worst year for my wife, my parents and my sister. Do everything you can to bring Charles Lee home."

In prison, Chen was tied, gagged and electrocuted. He recalled prison guards telling other inmates to sit on and crush him.

Chen recalled that, after his release from prison, he was placed under house arrest, harassed, wiretapped and had his home ransacked by police.

"It (imprisonment) was very cruel and was the longest day in my life," said Chen in a private interview. "One can't imagine the persecution in the labor camps. People don't have their sense of dignity."

Human Rights

Lee entered China last January and was immediately arrested for his intention to expose human rights violations against Falun Gong adherents. He was reportedly been brainwashed and went on a hunger strike.

"I feel the persecution has no regard for people's fundamental rights," said Ellen Wang, a resident of Media. "Falun Gong is a very peaceful and upright practice."

Upper Darby Mayor F. Raymond Shay came to show support for the protesters, including Upper Darby resident Cindy Wang.

The crackdown on Falun Gong adherents has also affected Lijie Sun, a protestor from Drexel Hill.

"My cousin is in prison south of Beijing," said Ms. Sun. "Even Dr. Lee, an American citizen, is in prison."

Terri Morse, a Falun Gong practitioner and spokeswoman from Media, discussed the persecution of Falun Gong adherents in an e-mail sent before the rally.

"Since the persecution, over 773 deaths have been verified," said Mrs. Morse. "Government officials inside China report that the actual death toll is 1,600. Over 100,000 have been detained, with more than 20,000 being sentenced to forced labor camps without trial."

Protester William Timm of Eureka, California, blasted religious persecution.

"It seems odd that people are getting together for a good thing like Falun Gong and are being tortured for doing it," said Timm. "It's like being arrested for going to church. Can you imagine that?"

Check www.rescuecharles.org for more information.