05/04/2000

Page 10

Even though the April 25 anniversary of the Falun Gong's landmark 1999 gathering around the Chinese leadership compound has passed, Chinese security forces remain vigilant. Falun Gong practitioners travelling to Beijing from the provinces say police in their home towns have designated the period from April 25 to May 13 -- birthday of Falun Gong founder Li Hongzhi -- as a period of likely heightened activity. Practitioners themselves disavow any plans for serious protests during this period, but say that if they hear of any, they will drop everything and join in.

(Copyright (c) 2000)