Kyodo News Service, September 6, 2000

NEW YORK, Sept. 6 (Kyodo) - About 2,000 members of the Chinese spiritual practice group Falun Gong demonstrated in front of the United Nations Wednesday demanding that their [practice], which has been banned in China, be officially recognized and its members released from prison.

The rally was the largest of several protests that the group has staged at the U.N. and in front of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel where Chinese President is staying while he participates in the three-day U.N. Millennium Summit.

According to a Falun Gong representative in New York, 10,000 group members have been arrested in China and about 50 have died from mistreatment while in prison.

Falun Gong also ran a one-page advertisement in the New York Times on Wednesday with an open letter demanding a meeting with [Chinese President] and demanding that China stop ''these uncivilized and inhumane practices.''