Falun Gong members join Global Walk

Falun Gong members join Global Walk

JAKARTA (JP): In protest to the repression of Falun Gong
members in China, around 40 Indonesian members are conducting a
seven-day walk from Bandung, West Java, to Jakarta.

It will end on Tuesday in front of the Chinese embassy here.

The so-called Global Walk of some 180 kilometers is aimed at
gathering support for the Falun Gong movement.

"We start by meditating each morning before starting the days
walk.. we do not shout slogans nor display any banners," said one
member Joko Buntar.

He added that most of the participants are men in their
forties.

Joko said that the walk started on Wednesday with 20 people
but the number doubled as others joined on the way.

Not all took part until the end of the walk. Joko himself for
example, said that he walked in the first two days of the event
as he had things to do in Jakarta on Saturday.

According to Joko, the walk is not sponsored by any
organization and participants are expected to provide for
themselves during the walk.

"None of our members are allowed to receive any kind of
donations, accept for moral support," he stressed.

Thus far, there has been no reaction to their activity, and
Joko said that a lot of people on the street encouraged
participants in the walk.

According to Falun Gong association data in Jakarta, there are
about 3,000 practitioners across the nation with most residing in
the capital.(06)