June 8, 2001

The Falungong meditation group has appealed for the release of thousands of supporters jailed in China.

The group's Hong Kong-based members have issued a letter urging the immediate, unconditional release of all Falungong followers detained in China.

It alleges that supporters held in Chinese labour camps and detention centres face torture, "brainwashing", slave labour and rape.

It calls for an immediate end to the ban on Falungong and the persecution of its followers.

The Chinese government outlawed the popular meditation movement in July 1999, deeming it [Chinese government's slanderous terms omitted].

It denies any mistreatment of the thousands of Falungong followers detained for defying the ban.

Falun Gong claims that 200 members have died from mistreatment or persecution in the Chinese campaign to eliminate the group.

Today's appeal cites five residents from abroad who are allegedly held in China, including U.S. permanent resident Teng Chunyan, sentenced by a Beijing court last year to three years in a labour camp for spying and leaking state secrets.

Others allegedly held in China are a permanent resident of Canada; a postgraduate student from Ireland; a Hong Kong permanent resident; and a Japanese researcher.