Police in Dali, one of China’s most popular tourist destinations, have dispersed a Rainbow Gathering, organizers of the event said yesterday.
Around 50 people from a dozen countries had gathered for the month long peace and new age festival. The loosely organized Rainbow group claims to have organized many similar events since 1972, and recently held gatherings in Israel and Thailand.
On 19th June, police officers, accompanied by Dali’s deputy mayor, ordered participants to leave a mountain camp that the group had established with the agreement of local farmers and villagers.
The handful of Chinese supporters left immediately but about a dozen overseas participants defied police orders, formed a circle and chanted the Buddhist greeting O-Mi-To-Fo.
By this afternoon however, the remaining campers had begun to trickle down the mountain to Dali’s old town.
There were no reports of arrests or violence, although one of the Chinese supporters who was present on the mountain said the police made threats and used strong language.
The authorities cited the risk of fire as the reason for their action. The mountains around Dali are heavily posted with warnings against lighting fires, and smoking is banned in forested areas. Rainbow supporters regard fire as sacred and fires form an important part of their gatherings.
Dali is China’s most popular backpacker destination and a favorite with overseas students. Marijuana and other recreational drugs are readily available and there are many Western style cafes and bars.
Locals had been watching with mild surprise and amusement as dread locked Rainbow supporters walked through the cobbled streets carrying agricultural implements.
The small expatriate community expressed mixed feelings about the newcomers with some worrying that the Rainbow Gathering would bring unwelcome police attention to other foreigners living in Dali.
Rainbow supporters say they will now reconsider plans for a larger gathering in China in 2008.
For further information about Rainbow you can visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Gathering
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