Monday, Nov 01 2004

DIT (Durban Institute of Technology) has backed a Chinese student's right to teach Falun Gong (exercises), a practice based on ancient teachings and similar to tai-chi which is banned in China, after the Chinese consul in Durban asked the institution to stop her.

Lin Li, an exchange student in the Department of Languages and Translation, has been holding free classes on Falun Gong for interested people during forum period on Wednesday and at 1pm on Fridays in front of the library at Steve Biko for the past two weeks. Li has also demonstrated Falun Gong in various parks near DIT.

However, Falun Gong is [...] banned (in China). Lin, who is 28, says she was imprisoned in China for 18 months after practicing Falun Gong there.

Two weeks ago, the Chinese consul general in Durban, Zhang Lianyun, paid a visit to Li's class, in which he denounced Falun Gong. Lin says at this meeting Zhang Lianyun warned her to desist from practicing and teaching Falun Gong.

Then last Monday, Zhang Lianyun met with Executive Director of Student Affairs Naziema Jappie, and requested that DIT stop Lin from teaching and practicing Falun Gong in public.

DIT spokesperson, Michelle Sprackett, said, " The Chinese Consulate met with Jappie last week to request that Lin Li stop practicing Falun Gong at the DIT. Jappie indicated to the consul general that the DIT supports freedom of speech and association and would not like to stop Lin Li. Jappie will be meeting with Lin Li soon to discuss the matter."

Lin said that on 19 October, she was told that Jappie wanted to meet with her. However, she said Jappie was not available when she arrived at her office, and she was told by her secretary that she was suspended from teaching her classes.

Li said when she did finally meet with Jappie, she presented her with materials explaining what Falun Gong is.

"The Chinese counselor told her that people were dying of Falun Gong. He didn't tell her the whole story," said Lin.

Asked for comment, Jappie told DITonline, "Due to freedom of speech, we can't stop her from what she's doing. It's not our policy to do so." She added that she would be meeting with Li to discuss the matter soon.

Lin has been in South Africa for three months, during which time she has taught (the exercises of) Falun Gong also known as Falun Dafa. According to www.religioustolerance.org, Falun Gong, (pronounced fah-luhn goong), relates to "the practice of the Wheel of the Dharma".

"Falun Gong refers to five sets of exercises, done to Chinese music and involving lotus postures and hand movements. Falun Dafa is the spiritual movement that practices Falun Gong. Increasingly, the movement itself is being called Falun Gong," explains the website.

Zhang Lianyun's secretary confirmed that he had met Li two weeks ago on Friday and with DIT last week Monday to discuss Li's teaching of Falun Gong at DIT. However, despite numerous phone calls from DITonline, refused to respond to questions about the incident. According to his secretary, Zhang Lianyun's would be unavailable till the middle of November. She added that he had no cell phone or email address on which he could be contacted.

"Actually, he's very busy. I don't think he has time to respond to you," said Zhang Lianyun's secretary.

Pata Ndamase, a second year electronic engineering student who observed one of Lin's classes last week, said, "If it's harming no-one, why should it be stopped? It it's good for your health I don't see why it should be stopped."

Kuena Mokuena, a first year IT student, said after completing one of Li's classes, "It's so wonderful and refreshing. I liked it from hearing about it. I'll try and bring more people to come here, so that they feel more refreshed too," she added.

Namshe Kunene, a second year accounting student, said, "I love it. You feel so relaxed afterwards, almost like you're floating," after coming to her second Falun Gong class.

According to www.religioustolerance.org, Falun Dafa, also called Falun Gong, is a movement which "uses ancient Chinese methods to cultivate mind and body as a means of keeping fit and healing oneself".

According to the website, "Falun Dafa incorporates Buddhist and Taoist principles, and combines them with exercise and body cultivation ... The founder of the practice, Li Hongzhi, made the movement public in 1992 in China. The Chinese government soon became worried about the number of people practicing Falun Dafa, as the number of practitioners had exceeded the number of people in the Communist Party. Therefore, the government banned the Falun Gong from joining any other association."

In 1999, the Falun Gong group became outlawed. To find out more about Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa, click here

Click here to read a letter that Li wrote detailing her experience in South Africa.

Last Monday, DIT's Monday Edition published a short article on Lin.

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Source: http://olcweb.dit.ac.za/ditonline/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=957