HONG KONG, Jan 25, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) An apparently healthy follower of the banned Falungong movement died while in police custody in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, the group said here Tuesday.
Gao Xinmin, 41, died after he was taking away by police in Guangzhou on December 31 while he was having a picnic with 10 other Falungong followers in a park, Sophie Xiao, spokeswoman for the group in Hong Kong told AFP.
"The family of Gao was only told by police on June 18 that he has died," said Xiao, who was informed of Gao's death by his friends.
"We do not know what is the cause of his death."
Gao was said to have been in good health and not suffering from any illness.
Falungong followers advocate traditional Chinese breathing exercises, meditation and "moral" living.
The movement was outlawed by China last July after an April demonstration in which 10,000 followers descended on Beijing, alarming the communist authorities.
Since the ban, the Chinese authorities have stepped up their efforts to crush the group.
Some 35,000 followers have been detained, more than 5,000 have been sentenced without trial to administrative detention, while some 300 have been formally tried and sentenced to jail terms of up to 18 years.
The latest incident takes to at least four the number of Falungong adepts reported to have died in police custody. ((c) 2000 Agence France Presse)
http://www.insidechina.com/news.php3?id=128504
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We appeal to the media to avoid pejorative terms in its coverage including "sect," "cult," "mishmash" as well as the term "mystical." Falun Gong is an advanced, traditional Chinese Qigong practice designed to improve the mind and body through exercise and meditation bringing people toward wisdom and enlightenment.
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Category: Deaths Due To Persecution
