Wednesday, 30 June 2004, 8:53 am

Anti-Torture Exhibition In Auckland

'Iron cell', 'Tiger bench', and 'dead person's bed' were just few of the Chinese polices' brutal torture methods exhibited by Falun Gong practitioners in Auckland's Aotea square last weekend.

The anti-torture display was part of an effort supporting the United Nations International Day to support victims of torture. The exhibit graphically re-enacted the type of abuse that the Communist regime resorts to in forcing people to recant their adherence to the practise of Falun Gong and its three principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

The exhibit was similar to others held by Falun Gong practitioners across the world in an effort to raise awareness of the plight of Falun Gong practitioners facing persecution in China. After the practise was released to the public in 1992, by Mr Li Hongzhi, Falun Gong became the most popular form of qigong in Chinese history. In 1999 it was bann

Recently Chinese authorities postponed a prearranged visit by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture to inspect the Chinese re-education through Labour Camps and prisons. Chinese authorities cancelled the visit under the pretext that they were not prepared for the visit.

In light of the fact that the Special Rapporteur on Torture has been under discussion for the best part of a decade, this eleventh-hour postponement raises serious questions about the sincerity of the Chinese regime's commitment to international cooperation and in its addressing its woeful human rights record.

Please See Photos Of Auckland Exhibition.

Falun Gong is practised worldwide in over 40 countries. It consists of five simple exercises (taught free by volunteers at practise sites) and the teachings, which are articulated in the two books China Falun Gong and Zhuan Falun; free to down load from the Internet www.falundafa.org. At the heart of the practise are the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Through a combination of studying the books and performing the exercises, practitioners strive to become better people by embodying these three principles in everything they do. Falun Gong has no religious rituals or worship, no donations, fees, memberships or obligations, no racial or cultural boundaries, no political gender, no hierarchy, rank or formal organisation.

1. Tiger bench. Practitioners are forced to sit on a small iron bench that is approximately 20 cm with their knees held together. Usually bricks are inserted underneath the practitioner's lower legs or ankles and the police officers would press down on the victim's knees with an iron or wooden rod.

2. Dead person's bed was only previously used for hard-core criminals. Now it is commonly used to torture Falun Gong practitioners. Practitioners who have experienced this torture include grandmothers and young unmarried women.

3. Practitioners have been bound tightly by ropes for long periods of time.

4. Re-enactment of Chinese policemen beating a Falun Gong practitioner sitting on a Tiger bench.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0406/S00287.htm