The other two members of the group were released soon after their arrest.

The four-year-old, identified as Kaixin, was also taken to the detention cell after she refused to leave her father’s side.

“Right now, Falun Gong practitioners are staging a sit-in protest in front of Thai embassies in 60 countries, petitioning for the release of their colleagues who have done nothing wrong,” said Chachalai Sutakanat, a Thai practitioner of Falun Gong, at a press conference yesterday [18 December].

According to a statement released by the group, the detention of the six practitioners was unacceptable as the victims were all persons of concern (PoC) and under the UNHCR’s protection.

The detainees have begun a hunger strike to protest their arrest which, they claim, was directed by the Chinese embassy.

Ms Chachalai also expressed concern for the girl whose mother was killed during a violent crackdown in China.

Fourteen-year-old Wang Anqi, who was arrested and then released, said her parents were still in the detention cell.

The Anqi family fled with other groups of Chinese practitioners to Thailand following the crackdown and are now holding PoC refugee status.

Ms Wang said the basic human rights of the six detainees were being violated.

The Chinese government outlawed the Falun Gong in 1999, naming the group the “cult of evil”. The Chinese authorities often resorted to heavy-handed crackdowns to punish the practitioners. Over 2,000 practitioners were thought to have died in the suppression drive.

Falun Gong is a Chinese spiritual practice – a blend of qigong and religious belief purporting to improve the mind, body, and spirit. Falun Gong was introduced in Thailand in 1996. Practitioners provide free daily instructions at Lumpini Park.

Source: Bangkok Post website, Bangkok, in English 19 Dec 05