2,000 in Banned Sect Held After TV Protest
Authorities have detained 2,000 followers of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement in a northern Chinese city after a defiant television broadcast by the group, a human rights organization said.
More than 150 followers in Changchun have been sent to “re-education through labor” camps, the Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy said.
Changchun’s women’s labor camp alone has admitted 80 Falun Gong followers during the last six weeks, the Hong Kong-based center said.
Seven Falun Gong members have been arrested in connection with the March 5 cable TV broadcast in Changchun and Songyuan that attacked what the group called government propaganda against it.
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