CHINA: Up to 40 Western members of the Falun Gong spiritual group were arrested following scuffles with Chinese police in Tiananmen Square yesterday.
Scores of police tackled the demonstrators, kicking and punching some in the face, before wrestling them into vans, according to witnesses.
The clash happened after the demonstrators, who included British citizens, unfurled yellow banners and shouted "Falun Gong is good" in a protest against China's ban on the movement. Astonished - in the heart of Beijing for the Chinese Lunar New Year - holiday watched during the 15-minute drama.
A Falun Gong spokeswoman in New York said the demonstration was to highlight China's persecution of the movement ahead of a visit to Beijing by President Bush next Thursday.
The official Xinhua news agency said police had detained 40 foreign Falun Gong followers "who agitated for the evil cult and produced uproars" on the square.
"This turmoil at the centre of the Chinese capital was aimed to undermine the happy atmosphere of the Spring Festival, the traditional family reunion for the Chinese," it said. It was the second demonstration this week by Western Falun Gong members in Tiananmen. An American and a Canadian citizen were expelled from the country after a protest on Monday. Last night security on the square was tight, with hundreds of extra police officers drafted into the vicinity. Foreigners' identity papers were checked and bags were searched before people were allowed onto the plaza.
In November, China expelled 35 foreign Falun Gong members, including an Irish citizen, after they protested on the square.
Last Lunar New Year Eve, five alleged Falun Gong members, including a 12-year-old girl and her mother, set themselves ablaze in the square. The girl and her mother died of their injuries. Falun Gong has denied any involvement.
Thousands of Falun Gong members are in "re-education through labour" camps in China.
Falun Gong claims more than 1,600 followers have died as a result of abuse in police custody.
Meanwhile, the Vatican missionary news agency, Fides, has claimed that China has detained dozens of bishops and priests loyal to Pope John Paul II and is closely watching many more as part of its efforts to weaken the underground Catholic Church. The news agency released the names of 33 bishops and priests either detained or being kept under police surveillance and forbidden to worship in China. It said about 20 more priests also were being detained.
Some of the bishops and priests have been arrested "on no charges, and have disappeared", it said.
Earlier this week, a US-based religious rights group published details of secret Chinese government documents outlining attempts to crush unauthorised religious groups in China, including Falun Gong.
The eight documents outline in great detail moves by the Chinese authorities to crack down on underground Catholic churches, and the use of secret agents to infiltrate illegal Protestant congregations.