February 25, 2002

Text of report by Radio TV Hong Kong audio web site on 25 February

A freed Chinese-Canadian follower of the banned Falun Gong spiritual group has said he was beaten and pressured to renounce his beliefs during a two-year detention in a mainland labour camp. This contradicts a mainland report which said he was treated well. Cliff Bale has the details:

Bale The Falun Gong follower, Lin Shenli, spoke out about the mistreatment after returning to Canada, following his release last month from a re-education camp. Falun Gong's spokesman in New York, Levi Browde, quoted Mr Lin as saying that he had been beaten, forced to do hard labour, and was subject to various brainwashing activities. Mr Browde also said he was not allowed any communication with his wife or family, while other prisoners were allowed to communicate with their relatives. The allegations directly contradicted a report by Xinhua news agency which said Mr Lin had been treated well in detention despite his continued espousal of Falun Gong beliefs. According to Falun Gong, Mr Lin was arrested with his wife in December 1999 when they came to Beijing to lodge an appeal with the government for the release of other detained followers. His wife, who is a Canadian citizen, spent only a few days in jail before being deported.