February 10, 2003, Page 10

Truthfulness, compassion and forbearance are the universal principles of Falun Gong, also know as Falun Dafa, a traditional Chinese practice for self-cultivation. But in China, where Falun Dafa practitioners are forced to face the true test of forbearance, there is no compassion, and the truth is painful.

Falun Dafa, an exercise involving slow, gentle movements, and meditation, originated in prehistoric China. Today, about 70 million Chinese people practice the exercise. But on July 20, 1999, virtually overnight, Falun Dafa was banned. Many practitioners think the Chinese government decided that Falun Dafa's increasing popularity posed a threat to their authority.

In a reception last Monday to gain the attention of state legislators, many Chinese Americans, whose family members are being jailed and tortured for practicing Falun Dafa in China, spoke out against what they said were horrendous acts by the Chinese government.

"Because I didn't want to give up my belief in Falun Dafa, I was tortured by very brutal means," said Amy Lee who moved from China to Queens in 2001. Although she is able to practice Falun Dafa freely, the losses she suffers are immense.

"My husband was forced to divorce me," she said.

But that's not the worst of it. When she came to America the Chinese government refused to issue a passport for her young daughter.

"I miss my daughter very much and we haven't seen each other for two or three years," she said.

Lee hopes that the Legislature can pressure the Chinese government to grant her daughter a passport.

Unfortunately, Lee is not alone in enduring the pain of separation. There are more than 100,000 Falun Dafa practitioners persecuted in China and many more who have escaped to the United States seeking relief.

Xueyuan Wu knows the story all too well. Despite threats from the government, Wu's mother stood by her belief in Falun Dafa. Because of her convictions, Wu's mother was tortured, thrown in a mental institution [Editor's correction: drug rehabilitation center] and is now forced to live and work in a labor camp.

"If I use my father's words, he said 'she is very slim now,'" said Wu, who has not seen her mother in 6 years. "I cannot visit my mom, I cannot even call her."

Wu recalls that seven Falun Dafa practitioners were rescued from China by the Canadian government and hopes that the American government will make similar efforts.

"If they could send a letter or something, to the Chinese Embassy or the Department of Foreign Affairs, then they may pay attention to this issue," Wu said.

The practitioners picked up some support in Albany.

"I think that members of the Assembly should put a resolution [together] and send it to the Chinese Ambassador," Assemblyman Jose Rivera, D-Bronx, said. "If there is one I will sign it, if there isn't I will speak out for it."

There are many more to speak out for. Christina Yuan misses her mother tremendously and Lorraine Kabacinski wants to see her mentor and friend, Teng Chunyan, again.

They all agree that [...] the United States involvement will make a difference.