Staff Reporter

Wednesday, Oct 29, 2003,Page 4

The Taiwan Falun Dafa Institute launched a round-the-island bicycle journey to raise awareness about the detention of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese government. The institute said yesterday that large numbers of Chinese practitioners are still in detention. PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES

A Falun Gong practitioner detained by Shanghai authorities earlier this month was released and returned home two days ago, the Taiwan Falun Dafa Institute said yester-day.

Lin Hsiao-kai , 29, went to visit a friend in Shanghai on Sept. 30.

His family lost contact with him on Oct. 7 and later discovered that he had been detained by the National Security Bureau in Shanghai.

His detention, and his family's efforts to locate him, were given widespread coverage in the local media.

Lin, however, has yet to comment publicly about his experience.

"We are grateful for the media coverage. It's because of the media reports that the Chinese government felt pressured and decided to release Lin," said Chang Ching-hsi , the institute's director.

Chang said that there were still several Falun Gong practitioners from Taiwan detained in China, most of whom are Chinese women married to Taiwanese men.

He urged Beijing to release them soon.

Meanwhile, 20 Falun Gong practitioners began a nationwide cycling tour yesterday to demonstrate their opposition to China's suppression of the Falun Gong.

"We are holding this cycling tour mainly to attract the attention of the Taiwanese people to this issue. Taiwanese people are still afraid to talk about human rights and China, because they are afraid of provoking China," Chang said.

"But human rights is something that needs to be maintained with mutual help from everyone," Chang said.

One of the cyclists, 59-year-old engineer Chung Cheng , said that Falun Gong did not exist to oppose any government or organization, and the Chinese government should not suppress the practice just because some officials thought it interfered with their own interests.

"As long as the suppression exists for one day, I'll put my efforts into the rescuing Falun Gong practitioners," Chung said.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/10/29/2003073789