Barometern Oskarshamns-tidningen (Swedish newspaper): Free from detention in China

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Wednesday, February 20, 2002

Kalmar

Tuesday evening Ulrik Dahlgren arrived in Malmo from China where he’s been in detention for appealing for Falun Gong.

(…)

”The action was planned for Tuesday. When we got off the subway at Tiananmen Square and went up to the square the police stood there waiting for us. They searched us and confiscated the banners we had brought with us. We tried to run with the policemen following us as we shouted ‘Falun Dafa is good’ in Chinese,” says Ulrik Dahlgren.


40-50 Westerners

After being arrested in Tiananmen Square they were pulled into police vans and taken to the police station.

At the police station we continued shouted ’Falun Gong [Dafa] is good’ and singing a song that is called that. (…) All together we were 30-40 Westerners there.

(…) Several were beaten up. Two policemen pulled Ulrik Dahlgren in the legs causing the trousers to be torn. He was also kneed in the chest on several occasions. After an hour everyone were taken to a hotel near the airport. (…)


Hunger strike

After more than a day and a night Ulrik Dahlgren and the other five Westerners who refused to give their names or their nationalities were sent back to the detention centre. (…)

”We refused and therefore we decided to hunger strike to show that we didn’t want to be towed by their line. We wanted to talk to the Embassy. Sunday we finally we got response and they promised we would go home soon.”

Ulrik Dahlgren was finally allowed to leave China…


Higher purpose

Why does one do such a thing when one knows the chance of being arrested is great and that it isn’t unusual to be tortured?

”There is a higher purpose. If I can get a few people to understand the truth and become kinder human beings it is worth it.”

But is it worth dying for?

I don’t see it that way. For me it is about getting an end to the persecution and to show the Chinese authorities that there are even Westerners who practice Falun Gong. I don’t go there to sacrifice my life. I do it for a higher and a noble thing.

(…)

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