A group of Falun Gong followers said Thursday that they were
verbally and physically assaulted outside a Manhattan restaurant after a dinner
party to honor the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations.
The confrontation Monday night involved at least six practitioners who were
handing out fliers outside Yi Dong restaurant on East Broadway in Chinatown.
The fliers were critical of the Chinese government's treatment of Falun Gong
practitioners.
Falun Gong members said that after Ambassador Yingfan Wang and other diplomats
left the dinner, the dinner's organizers proceeded to slap the fliers out of
their hands and struck at least one practitioner, Jun Li, 48, of Flushing.
"They cursed at me and say, 'You Falun Gong, go die,'" Li said
Thursday. "The people around me started beating me from the front and
back."
Guan Liang, 42, of Manhattan, allegedly punched Li once in the eye, according
to a police spokesman. He was charged with third-degree assault on Wednesday,
police said.
At a news conference in Chinatown Thursday, Falun Gong members said the
incident was triggered by Liang, whom they identified as chairman of the
Unified Organization of Overseas Chinese Associations.
Liang did not answer calls to his cell phone Thursday and his voice mail did
not accept messages.
At the Falun Gong news conference, several large photos of Liang were taped to
the wall, showing him confronting Falun Gong members. The photos also included
close-ups of Li, who suffered a black eye and several bruises on his chest and
abdomen.
Before the dinner, practitioner Frank Lee, a computer consultant from East
Brunswick, N.J., said he was confronted but was not attacked.
"They wanted to start a fight and I had no intention to fight
anyone," Lee said. "I told them I'm not here to start trouble, I just
wanted to raise awareness."
Falun Gong, created in 1992 by a Flushing man, was banned in 1999 by the
Chinese government and labeled an "evil cult." Followers said they
have millions of followers in 40 countries.
Practitioners said their teachings prohibit violence and promote use of
"refining the body and mind through special exercises and
meditation."