Falun Dafa Practitioners from Bosnia and Hercegovina and from Macedonia respectfully wish Great Revered Master Happy Birthday.

Falun Dafa Practitioners in Portugal Wish Beloved Master a Happy Birthday, on this sacred day. Thank You Master.

Falun Dafa Practitioners from Romania wish beloved Master a Happy Birthday!

Falun Dafa Practitioners in Iceland send their sincere and heartfelt greetings to compassionate Master on Falun Dafa Day!

Falun Dafa Practitioners from Poland wish beloved Master a Happy Birthday!

Arabic Falun Dafa Practitioners Respectfully Wish Revered Master Happy Birthday and Celebrate the 17^th Anniversary of Falun Dafa's Public Introduction and the 10^th World Falun Dafa Day!

Falun Dafa Practitioners from Saskatchewan Canada send their sincere anheartfelt greetings to compassionate Master on Falun Dafa Day!

All practitioners from Croatia wish our Respected Master a Happy Birthday!

Serbian practitioners of Dafa wish most respected Master Happy Birthday and World Falun Dafa Day!

Falun Dafa practitioners from UAE send their sincere and heartfelt greetings to compassionate Master on Falun Dafa Day!

Falun Dafa practitioners from India send their sincere and heartfelt greetings to compassionate Master on Falun Dafa Day!

Falun Dafa practitioners from Western Australia express their warmest gratitude towards Master on World Falun Dafa Day!

All Dafa Practitioners in Iran Respectfully Wish Revered Master Happy Birthday and Celebrate the 17th Anniversary of Falun Dafa's Public Introduction!

Falun Dafa Practitioners from Holland wish beloved Master a Happy Birthday!

Practitioners from the Czech Republic and Slovakia Respectfully Wish theirh Revered Master Happy Birthday!

Falun Dafa practitioners from Isreal send their sincere and heartfelt greetings to compassionate Master on Falun Dafa Day!

Falun Dafa practitioners from Munich and Bavaria, Germany, send their sincere and heartfelt greetings to compassionate Master on Falun Dafa Day!

Falun Dafa practitioners from San Francisco, USA, send their sincere and heartfelt greetings to compassionate Master on Falun Dafa Day!

Falun Dafa practitioners from Wisconsin, USA, send their sincere and heartfelt greetings to compassionate Master on Falun Dafa Day!

Falun Dafa practitioners from Upstate New York, USA, send their sincere and heartfelt greetings to compassionate Master on Falun Dafa Day!

(Clearwisdom.net)

These embroidered images of Falun were prepared prior to July 20, 1999 by th Shenyang Assistant Site for a celebration. They are still treasured today.

Together with Dafa disciples worldwide, practitioners in the Air Force in China celebrate the 10^th World Falun Dafa Day, extending our sincere regards to revered Master. We will follow Master's teachings, do well the three things, and save more sentient beings.

We will listen to Master's teachings, study the Fa with a clean and calm mind, look within, do well the three things, seize the time to save sentient beings and be more diligent.

Tangshan; the central Jiamusi; Dalian; Dujiangyan City; the Masanjia Area in Shenyang; Changtu County; Wu'an; Changchun; Yongqing; Zhongshan Park in Wuhan City; Qingsheng in Tonghua; Yuedong;

Ziyang; Yibin City; Nanchong; Bazhong City; Sichuan Province.

Xi'an and Yulin; Shaanxi Province.

Tibet Autonomous Region.

Xinye County; Xuchang; Henan Province.

Huangdao District, Qingdao City; Jiaozhou City; Pingyuan; Yicheng; Shandong Province.

Tongcheng; Anhui Province.

Shenzhen; the Chaoshan Area; Dongguan; Maoming; Guangdong Province.

Yangzhou and Yizheng Area; Jiangsu Province.

Xianghe County; Zhuozhou City; Hebei Province.

Longyan; Fujian Province.

Zhejiang Province.

Pingfang District, Harbin; Boli County; Bei'an City; Gaoxin District, Ranghulu District Science Garden in Daqing City; Tangyuan County; Heilongjiang Province.

Guangyang Town, Mudong Town, Yinglong Town, and Yuzui Town; Chongqing.

Qinghua University; Chaoyang District and Miyun County; Beijing.

Dalian; Liaoning Province.

Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

(Clearwisdom.net) May 13, 2009 is the 10th World Falun Dafa Day. Practitioners in Calgary held celebration activities in Olympic Park in downtown to celebrate the 17th anniversary of Falun Dafa's public introduction and to wish Master Li happy birthday.

Demonstrating the exercises

Demonstrating the exercises

Coordinator Yang Jiefu of the Falun Dafa Association said that May 13 is a day of jubilation ��

Practitioner Dane Crocker gives a speech

Mr. Suea Wright looks at posters about Falun Gong's spread in the world

Explaining the facts to a passersby

A group of children watch the practitioners' movements and follow along

A group of children watch the practitioners' movements and follow along

On the morning of May 13, huge banners with the words "Falun Dafa is good" and "5.13 World Falun Dafa Day" were set up in the park. Posters introducing Falun Dafa were set up along the stairs. Falun Gong practitioners in Calgary then held a rally and exercise demonstration.

Coordinator Yang Jiefu of the Falun Dafa Association said, "All practitioners in Calgary wish Master Li happy birthday and all practitioners across the world a happy Falun Dafa Day.

"Falun Dafa has been spread for 17 years, and we are following Master to do so. We will treasure our journey and fulfill our mission."

Practitioner Dane Crocker said in his speech that for thousands years, people sought the truth of the universe and the meaning of life. Master Li brought the universal principles of "Truth-Compassion-Forbearance" to people for the first time. Though in China practitioners are being persecuted, Falun Dafa has spread to more than one hundred countries. More than one hundred million people have practiced it. He also thanked the Canadian people for their support.

Ms. Anne Li said in her speech, "Facing a powerful regime and violence, Falun Gong practitioners have demonstrated perseverance, rationality and compassion. They have set up moral milestones for human beings. All kind-hearted people across the world, please join us to stop the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong, and help Falun Gong practitioners in China follow their belief in a free environment and let Falun Dafa benefit more people for better health, happiness and peace."

Anna is a fitness teacher. She passed by the park and saw the practitioners demonstrating the exercises. She was drawn by it and said, "I felt strong energy in them. Where can I learn Falun Gong?" After a while, she returned to the park to watch the practitioners' exercise demonstration.

Mr. Suea Wright came from Lethbridge, a city two hundred kilometers away. It was his first time to come across Falun Gong. He said that he knew Taichi, martial arts and other qigong, but had never felt such peace and serenity as Falun Gong. He asked where he could buy the book, and was told by practitioners that he could download it for free on the Internet. Mr. Wright stayed for the duration of the two hour plus event.

(Clearwisdom.net) On May 13, 2009, Mayor Bill White of the City of Houston wrote the following letter to extend his congratulations to Falun Dafa practitioners in celebration of World Falun Dafa Day on May 13.

City of Houston
Office of the Mayor

Bill White

May 13, 2009

Greetings!

As Mayor of Houston, I extend my congratulations to our diverse community in celebration of World Falun Dafa Day on May 13.

The people of Houston are proud of our city's international relationships. Our citizens take pride in knowing that our city is home to cultural and spiritual diversity. Houston is a friendly, welcoming city with a variety of activities available for its citizens to enjoy personal growth and development. Houstonians pride themselves on perpetuating this spirit of harmony and unity.

Please accept my best wishes for World Falun Dafa Day.

Sincerely,

Bill White
Mayor

(Clearwisdom.net) On the occasion of the 17^th Anniversary of the introduction of Falun Dafa to the public, Greg Moore, Mayor of the the City of Port Coquitlam, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed May 2009 as Falun Dafa Month Honoring Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

Whereas: Falun Dafa is an advanced exercise and meditation practice of mind, body, and spirit that has brought health and well-being to people across Canada; and

Whereas: Falun Dafa practitioners practice the principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and incorporate it into their daily lives, striving to become better people in all environments and situations; and

Whereas: The Falun Dafa organization wishes to commend and publicly recognize Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, for his commitment to promoting better health and moral living throughout the world, and

Now Therefore: I, Greg Moore, Mayor of the Corporation of The City of Port Coquitlam, Do Hereby Proclaim May 2009, as

"Falun Dafa Month
Honouring Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance"

Greg B. Moore
Mayor

(Clearwisdom.net) On May 6, 2009, Mayor Harvey Rosen of the City of Kingston, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed May 13^th, 2009 to be Falun Dafa Day, honoring Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.

Celebrating May 13^th 2009 as Falun Dafa Day, Honouring Truthfulness Compassion and Forbearance

Whereas Falun Dafa is an advanced cultivation practice system for mind, body, and spirit based on the principles of Truthfulness Compassion Forbearance; and

Whereas Falun Dafa was first introduced to the world in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi, that has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to improving health in mind body and spirit, and to enhancing the wellbeing of people from all walks to society, who follows its tenets; and

Whereas The physical and spiritual benefits of Falun Dafa have led to its spread throughout 60 countries with over 100 million practitioners; and

Whereas Practitioners of Falun Dafa seek only health, peace, wisdom, and enlightenment however the persecution of Falun Dafa in China has been going on for 10 years; and

Whereas The great compassion and forbearance demonstrated by Falun Dafa practitioners have touched the hearts of kind-hearted people all over the world; and

Whereas, Falun Dafa practitioners in the community across Canada celebrate the Falun Dafa Day on May 13^th;

Therefore I, Mayor Ronsen, do hereby proclaim May 13^th, 2009 to be Falun Dafa Day, Honouring Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.

Dated at Kingston this 6^th day of May, 2009

Harvey Rosen
Mayor

May 10, 2009

(Clearwisdom.net) If I knew this day would come, when I could not talk to my mom on Mother's Day, or even find out if she was safe and unharmed, I would have cherished every single moment I spent with her.

My name is Jin Pang. I'm a graduate student at Missouri State University in Springfield. Today will be a sad day for me. It will be the first Mother's Day in my life that I can't talk to my mom. Instead, I will be worrying about her well-being, because she has been held for over nine months in a detention center in China, simply for her belief in Falun Gong, a spiritual meditation practice banned by the communist regime.

On July 9, 2008, to "prepare" for the Olympics, about a dozen police broke into my parents' home in Weifang, Shandong Province, and confiscated three laptops, two desktop computers, a digital camera, some bank deposits, Falun Gong informational materials, and other personal belongings worth an estimated 50,000 yuan (about $7,000). On the same day, about 100 other Falun Gong practitioners were also arrested in the same city.

Three weeks later, on July 29, 2008, just one week before the Beijing Olympics, the police took away my parents while they were at a friend's house, and held them in the Weifang City detention center. Afterwards, they ransacked my parents' house again and took many valuable personal belongings, including the rest of the bank deposits. My father was released one month later because he doesn't practice Falun Gong, but my mother has been detained ever since.

This isn't the first time that my mother has been persecuted for her belief. She has been practicing Falun Gong and following the core principles of its teachings--Truth-Compassion-Forbearance--since 1995, when people from all walks of life were performing the tai-chi like exercises in almost every park in China. As with millions of others, Falun Gong benefited my mom both mentally and physically, curing her dermatitis and greatly improving her disposition.

But the Communist Party, banned it in 1999, and has been carrying out a ruthless campaign against it since then. In January 2000, my mom and eight other Falun Gong practitioners began practicing the exercises quietly in a public square. After a few minutes, all of them were arrested and taken to a local police station. That night, they were detained in a cold cement cell that was less than nine square meters, where they were shocked with electric batons and beaten with spiked clubs.

After 11 days of torture, my mom had lost a front tooth, the skin all over her body was burned, and her legs were full of bruises and covered in blood. She was released after the police extorted 2,000 yuan (about $300, more than a month's average salary in that city) from my father.

During the past nine months of detention, no family members were allowed to see my mom. I don't have any information about her. I am afraid they may be torturing her again. On many nights, I have awakened in tears after dreaming about her.

My mother isn't the only one in this situation. According to the Falun Dafa Information Center, over 8,000 Falun Gong practitioners throughout China were detained before and during the 2008 Olympics, and 104 were persecuted to death, which brings the total death toll to 3263 in the 10-year persecution.

It may be hard for people who live in the free world to imagine someone being persecuted for doing things we take for granted here, such as reading religious teachings, doing yoga-like exercises and downloading information about human rights from the Internet. But that has not stopped many kindhearted Americans from lending their generous support. From the 3,000 Missourians who signed petitions to rescue my mom, to the 18 state representatives and senators, to Congressman Blunt, Congressman Clay, and Senator McCaskill, who wrote to the state department about my mother's case, I can see the spirit and founding principles that make this nation truly great. I am deeply touched by all the support given to me.

There are also many other sons and daughters whose mothers have been imprisoned, tortured and even killed in this persecution. Most of them endure their grief silently, as they are not as fortunate as me to have this opportunity to tell their mothers' stories.

May all the mothers who are prisoners of conscience be set free. This is my special wish on this Mother's Day.

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090510/OPINIONS02/905100304/1006/OPINIONS/A+Mother%C2%B9s+Day+wish++End+persecution+for+beliefs

May 14, 2009

(Clearwisdom.net) Hundreds of people traveled from as far as Toronto to "share the joy," as they celebrated World Falun Dafa Day on Parliament Hill Wednesday.

The practitioners and supporters of Falun Dafa -- an Asian-rooted system that teaches people to incorporate truthfulness, benevolence and forbearance in their lives -- held a parade in the downtown core, followed by music and dance performances on Parliament Hill "to share the happiness," said volunteer Steven Liu.

Liu, a Toronto Transit Commission driver, has been practicing Falun Dafa since 1998 and it changed his life, he said. It's made him feel calmer and more peaceful, he said.

While Falun Dafa has practitioners from more than 80 countries around the world, there are hundreds in Ottawa alone, said event organizer and volunteer Grace Wollensak. She said the event got support from politicians on all levels, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who sent his greetings, and Acting Mayor Michel Bellemare, who proclaimed Wednesday Falun Dafa Day in the city of Ottawa.

http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/228412--hundreds-of-devotees-celebrate-falun-dafa-day

(Clearwisdom.net) On May 10, 2009, the first Vietnam Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference was held in Hanoi, the capital. Nearly 150 practitioners from many cities and provinces came to attend this solemn Fa Conference together, sharing cultivation experiences so that they could learn and see their own shortcomings and do things better in the future. Practitioners also took this event as an opportunity to express best wishes and to pay their highest respects to their benevolent Master for the coming May 13.

The conference hall

All practitioners holding Dafa banner

A practitioner is giving a talk.

Practitioners are watching the Shenyun performance.

The conference began with the group reciting Lunyu together after sending forth righteous thoughts. Then came the main cultivation sharing part.

There were about a dozen papers presented by practitioners from Hanoi, Saigon, Da Nang, Hai Duong, Vung Tau, Binh Da, and even one from a Vietnamese practitioner living in Germany, and one from a Vietnamese practitioner working in Russia. The articles were so touching that many in attendance could not hold back their tears while feeling the greatness and benevolence of Dafa and of Master.

Most of the articles were written by newer practitioners. A practitioner who had been practicing Dafa less than two years had a long article talking about the importance of truth clarification, and encouraged practitioners to step out to fulfill the vows made in remote history. Another practitioner talked about her experience in truth clarification to Chinese people visiting Vietnam. A young practitioner in Saigon shared how he overcame difficulties in order to do truth clarification in his area. A senior practitioner -- who had been practicing for one year--- shared his experience in practicing the Dafa exercises daily in a public park in a group and his experience in introducing Dafa to relatives and friends. Many other aspects of cultivation were also touched upon in the speeches: balancing work in society and Dafa work, having a bigger and bigger heart when dealing with family issues, the importance of cultivating speech (xiukou), breaking through humanness in order to assimilate to the Fa, memorizing the book Zhuan Falun, etc.

After attending the Fa Conference, practitioners benefited greatly and determined to be more diligent, to follow the Fa Rectification's progress more and more closely.

After sending forth righteous thoughts at 5:15 p.m., the Fa Conference closed, then practitioners took photos while holding banners and sending best wishes for Dafa Day on May 13.

We are all very grateful for Master for giving us this opportunity, and we will do even better in the future.

(Clearwisdom.net) "I have waited for nine years. Finally I am able to openly quit the CCP!" On April 25, 2009, Zhang Ming, originally from Tianjin, China (a city close to Beijing directly under the jurisdiction of the central government), openly renounced the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Zhang made this statement in front of Berlin's famed Brandenburg Gate, during an activity to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the "April 25" appeal, when ten thousand Falun Gong practitioners gathered peacefully in China to request an open and unrestricted environment in which to practice Falun Gong.

Zhang Ming openly renounces the CCP and fulfills his wish of nine years on April 25, 2009 in Berlin, Germany.

Zhang Ming, in his fifties and of medium height, looks you straight in the eye when he speaks to you. The righteous energy he emanates convinces you that he was definitely able to take that outstanding action nine years ago.

In 2000, during the upsurge of the CCP's suppression of Falun Gong, the "Tianjin News" (on TV) reported that a man named Yang Quan jumped off of a multi-story building to commit suicide. It was reported that this man committed suicide because of practicing Falun Gong. Zhang Ming related that at the time, the state-run TV was broadcasting many, similar stories, but hearing this particular piece of news was like a blow to the head. "When I watched this news, I was shocked. This was obviously a huge lie, as huge as the heavens!" At that time Zhang Ming worked in the Tianjin Transportation Company. This Yang Quan was his colleague as well as his neighbor. "We all knew about Yang Quan. He suffered from femur bone necrosis. He had not been able to work for several years and was heavily in debt because of his medical treatment. The company did not apply for reimbursement for his medical treatment bills. He had come to the situation that he had nowhere to borrow money. He himself did not practice Falun Gong, though his wife did. She had lost her job already in 1999 because of practicing Falun Gong. His family had lost all sources of income. He had a senile mother and a young child in middle school. He could not hope to cure his disease with no money. To reduce the financial burden of his family, he jumped off of a multi-story building to commit suicide."

This falsified news slandering Falun Gong reminded Zhang Ming of the overwhelming media reports on Falun Gong, routinely broadcast ever since the CCP started to suppress Falun Gong in July 1999. "At that time, it was reported on all TV channels about how bad the Falun Gong was, such as practitioners committing suicide, killing and so on. I had my doubts already at that time about whether these stories were true, but I had no way to investigate them. When the news about Yang Quan came out, I was thinking, if Tianjin Television could make up a false story about this matter (of Yang Quan''s death), couldn't the Chinese Central Television make false stories about other events? This was simply a case of when the higher authorities behave wrongly, those below will do the same!"

Since Yang Quan's story was reported on the TV, his colleagues in the Tianjin Transportation Company - where Yang worked before his death and also where Zhang Ming worked - all talked a lot about it in private. Zhang Ming went further, as he wanted to find out the true picture. He eventually found Yang Quan's wife after some trouble. She told him that all these stories were fabricated by the government. Zhang said, "Yang Quan's wife told me that after he died, the District Government leaders came in person to meet Yang Quan's family members. They asked the company's leader to apply for reimbursement of 30,000 yuan (approximately 3,600 US dollars at that time) for his medical treatment. Moreover, they managed to replace Yang's three-room flat with a four-room flat located in a suburb and Yang's family moved in soon after. Yang's family at that time was under severe financial stress - they needed money urgently to pay their debts - therefore they accepted the conditions put forward by the government to state on TV that Yang Quan's suicide was brought about by practicing Falun Gong."

Afterwards, 20,000 copies of flyers titled "The true picture behind the 'death of a Falun Gong (practitioner)'" were distributed into the mailboxes of many residents in Tianjin. It was Zhang Ming and five colleagues who created and photocopied the flyers, with the company's photocopying machine, and distributed them secretly. Zhang Ming spoke about his motivation at that time: "The municipal government of Tianjin deceived the thirteen million residents in Tianjin, and this troubled me very much. I simply wanted to tell everybody the facts and show the true picture. I had no way to investigate all of those other reports (on Falun Gong) by the Chinese Central Television, but I had my personal information on this particular case of slandering Falun Gong in Tianjin. Like a piece of white paper, if the government said it was black every day, then people would believe it was black. I just wanted to tell everybody that it was white."

Soon after, when many residents in Tianjin were talking a lot about the contents of the flyer, one day in September 2000, the police from the Hebei District Branch of the Tianjing Police Bureau suddenly came to Zhang Ming's company and arrested all of the six people involved in distributing the flyer.

When the reporter asked Zhang if he had thought about the consequences of distributing those 20,000 flyers, Zhang Ming said frankly that he thought nobody would know who had done it, as they only delivered the flyers to people's mailboxes. Even now, he still does not know how the police learned about it.

Zhang Ming still finds it very difficult to recall the unbearable conditions in the detention center, where he was held for more than one month. "More than forty detainees were crowded into a room of barely more than twenty square meters. We had to tie the cuffs of our pant legs tightly and the cuffs of our sleeves to prevent the bedbugs from getting in before going to sleep. In the night we all slept on our side, packed closely together. If someone got up to go to the toilet, there would be no room left for him to sleep when he came back. What we ate was a coarse corn flour which was difficult to swallow." During the period of detention, Zhang Ming developed ulcers (aphtha) in his mouth so that he could eat nothing. In order to obtain his freedom and also to get medical treatment, he started a hunger strike. Seven days later, when he was close to death, his brother posted bail for his release for medical treatment. "I was immediately sent to a hospital after being released from the detention center. My blood vessels were easily broken by the needles used for administering medication, since I had taken no food for a quite long period of time," Zhang Ming related.

Zhang Ming temporarily escaped the detention center due to his disease, but the worst was yet to come. In March 2001, a bailiff delivered a summons to Zhang Ming's home, on which he was accused of the crime of "subverting the state."

"I knew if I reported to the court, I would not be let go. Therefore I went to a friend's place in Jilin (a province in northeast China). Later, with the help of this friend I was smuggled into Germany." Zhang Ming said, "All the other five of my colleagues were sentenced from five to seven years in prison with this same accusation. One of them died in prison. We do not know how he died but he had pleaded not guilty the entire time, and appealed. We guess that it was most probably because of this that he was fiercely tortured until he was eventually pushed to the verge of death. All the others were released at the end of their prison term. But it is impossible for them to go back to work in their previous company. They are all unemployed." Even his brother, who bailed Zhang Ming out, was subjected to a three-year prison term.

From March 2001 when he received the summons, to May 2002 when he arrived in Germany, Zhang Ming was destitute and homeless for fourteen months. On the way to Germany, he traveled by trains, buses and on foot with an immigration smuggling group. They went by way of Russia and Eastern Europe before finally arriving in Hamburg.

"I had never given much attention to Falun Gong before July 1999. After the persecution started I saw all the media report on Falun Gong. I was curious and wanted to know what it was about Falun Gong that could make the CCP wage a war on it." Zhang Ming was the head of a transportation team in his company. He oversaw ten to twenty drivers. He said, "Until one of my leaders wanted to talk with one of my drivers, I did not know he was practicing Falun Gong. Until one of my neighbors was dismissed from her job, I did not know she was practicing Falun Gong."

One or two weeks after the start of the persecution in 1999, Zhang Ming met this driver and asked to borrow the book Zhuan Falun. Zhang recalled, "At first, he did not want to lend it at all, because at that time all people were required to hand in their Falun Gong books; the person would be punished if (he/she) did not do so. That's why he did not want it known that he still had the books. Later, I promised him that I would not speak out about it, and he only agreed to let me read the book for two hours at his place and he did not allow me to take the book away." Zhang Ming recalled, "At the beginning, I had the thought of finding faults in the book. I wanted to see if there was any content in the book endangering the state. I read it for about two hours. I had two impressions: one was Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the other was 'one should not fight back when being punched or insulted, but should conduct oneself with a high standard.' I felt that these were very good things. I found no harmful content in the book."In discussing the Falun Gong practitioner who worked in his team, Zhang Ming stated, "He was a very good person. He worked very diligently." Zhang Ming gave a specific example: "All people in the transportation industry know that when a fleet of trucks is out on the road, if one truck breaks down, all the trucks behind will stop to help him repair the truck, while the trucks in front just continue to run forward, as they don't see this. The driver of the last truck simply has the most difficult situation because he has to stop to help whichever truck is broken down but nobody helps him when his truck is broken down. This Falun Gong practitioner always drove last on every trip. He did not go to the front even when he was offered the chance. Wintertime in northeastern China is a world of ice and snow. It is extremely difficult repairing a truck under these conditions, especially with no help from others. Every time, he gave himself the most difficult job."

In mainland China, due to the information blockade by the CCP, Zhang Ming did not have any channels to know the true picture of Falun Gong, but he drew a conclusion from the reports of the official Chinese media: Falun Gong is absolutely not like what the government said.

In 2000, when Zhang Ming realized that the CCP was deceiving the more than one billion Chinese people with huge lies, he had mentally renounced the CCP. Zhang Ming related, "I had joined the CCP before. But after the events that took place in 2000, I simply denied that I was a CCP member when I was asked."

Zhang Ming was born in the mid-1950s. He has experienced a very long mental journey, from the time he was a young man once hopeful about the CCP, to when he openly renounced the CCP.

In 1973 during the period of the Great Cultural Revolution, Zhang Ming was an "active and aspirant" middle school student. Once a denouncing rally was to be held in the school, and Zhang Ming was told to make a pasteboard which would be hung on the chest of the denounced person. He did not notice there was a portrait of Mao Zedong on the back side of the newspaper that he used to make the board. As a result, the pasteboard was marked with an askew cross while there was a portrait of Mao on the reverse. During that crazy period of time, he was therefore sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with the accusation of being a "counter-revolutionary". He was imprisoned in the Third Labor camp in Tianjin City. Life was extremely difficult there. There were also savage tortures, for instance pushing a person into a brick kiln where it was 70 - 80 degrees centigrade inside, and beating a person with the person's two arms trussed up behind them and hung up. He spent five years in the labor camp until 1978, when his case was redressed.

"At that time there were many wronged and false cases, for example, several lecturers in Nankai University were denounced as "counter-revolutionary" because of having a plaster statue of Mao's head by mistake. When the accusations against us were redressed, only those well-known rightists received some financial compensation; the rest of us received no compensation at all," Zhang Ming recalled.

However, this experience did not lead Zhang Ming to see clearly what the CCP was about. "Upon our release, they told us that the blame should be charged to the 'Gang of Four.' We did indeed lay the blame upon to the 'Gang of Four' and thought that the CCP was good and that it could correct its mistakes." As Zhang Ming discussed his thoughts at that time, he had to point out the general environment in 1978: "We had no other sources of information at that time. We knew nothing about democracy and freedom, nor what foreign countries were like. We believed what the CCP told us. Most people did."

It was because he regarded the Chinese Communist Party as good that he joined the CCP in 1990. There were also some practical reasons of course, he said. "There were many advantages to being a CCP member. For instance, when the company purchased some quality trucks, if the head of a transportation team was a CCP member he had more chances to be allocated the quality trucks. A team head was also more well-informed in advance if he was a CCP member."

It was the persecution of Falun Gong, as well as the persecution he experienced because he had spoken up for Falun Gong, that made Zhang Ming seriously think over what kind of organization the CCP truly was. "We can present all the facts on a desk. I simply brought out the true pictures of the facts. What crime did this commit? Who actually committed a crime?" Zhang Ming emphasized, "I was guilty of no crime! The CCP is the largest criminal clique in mainland China. It has prisons, police, military force, advanced facilities of transportation and telecommunication. The CCP alone has been autocratic. It says nice words but does evil. It does not allow others to have any disagreement with them. It deprives 1.4 billion people of their democracy and freedom. Every time it persecutes others it always finds some scapegoat so as to pass the buck to others while the CCP manages to still keep the image of being "great, glorious and correct.' Therefore, it can continue to deceive and to persecute ordinary people."

Zhang Ming had decided to quit the CCP when he was detained because of speaking up for Falun Gong in 2000. "The entire time, I had the thought of quitting the CCP but I had no opportunity. The area where I live now is very small. I seldom see the Chinese edition of the Epoch Times. I did not get in touch with the Service Center for Quitting the CCP until a few months ago, when somebody told me of a telephone hotline in the USA for quitting the CCP. I then renounced the CCP online with my real name."

When Zhang Ming got to know that the Quitting CCP movement does not only include the present members but also includes those who ever were party members, he expressed that there were definitely more than 53 million people who wanted to declare their renouncement of the CCP online. "Chinese people generally have antipathy toward the CCP," he said. "Whenever the CCP is mentioned, people always swear at it. Definitely more than 53 million people want to quit it. I believe there will be more and more people who will want to quit it when they gradually see clearly the true colors of the CCP and when more and more people come to know how to quit. Sooner or later the CCP is to be disintegrated."

When asked if he had any worries about using his real name to quit the CCP, Zhang Ming said, "It is the CCP that is afraid, indeed. It tells lies, so it fears the people who tell the truth. However more severely it persecutes, only shows the more it fears and the closer it is to its end."

Zhang Ming hopes there will be more and more people who will quit the CCP - "the largest criminal clique in mainland China." When some friends in mainland China said to him half-jokingly that he had "betrayed the CCP and his country," he said, "I agree that I have betrayed the CCP, but not my country. It is just because I love the country that I betray the CCP. Moreover I am very happy to have 'betrayed' the largest criminal clique in mainland China. The CCP has the words, 'harmonious society' in its mouth, but actually it is extremely corrupt. The money of ordinary people all has been 'harmonized' into its pocket. It tells lies and it 'harmonizes' others into prison when others tell the truth."

Zhang Ming emphasized with a gesture, "If it is China and Chinese people whom one loves, one should quit the CCP, which is a serial liar and extremely corrupt, and quit all its affiliated organizations. The CCP is not equal to China. China is not the same as the CCP."

On April 25, 2009, Zhang Ming came to Berlin after a three-hour train ride, caught in the early morning. After nine years of waiting, in front of the Brandenburg gate in the warm sunshine of the early spring of Berlin, he finally openly declared his renunciation of the CCP through a microphone, articulating a wish which he had kept in his heart for nine years. His speech was translated into German through a simultaneous interpreter. There were some German people listening and now they could understand the heartfelt wish of a Chinese person.

"Because I spoke up for Falun Gong I was persecuted by the CCP. I was compelled to leave my beloved country. My brother later hired an attorney and requested the court to cancel their case against me but they ignored our appeal. Afterwards, we learned, through an acquaintance who worked in the court, that this case received heavy political pressure from above. I have a home there but am unable to return." Zhang Ming raised his voice, "The day the CCP collapses will be the day I return home!"

(Clearwisdom.net) The Canada Divine Land Marching Band is composed of Falun Gong practitioners from Ottawa and Montreal. On May 13, 2009, the band won the best parade group award in the St. Patrick's Day Festival. Mr. Bill Tobin, one of the organizers, praised the band's performance.

Mr. Bill Tobin (second from left) presents the award to members of the Divine Land Marching Band

Divine Land Marching Bands are set up in many countries, including the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and all over Europe. All members are Falun Gong practitioners following the principles Truth-Compassion-Forbearance.

The bands are often invited to participate in celebration and performance events and has won numerous awards. Some of the tunes played by the bands include "Falun Dafa Is Good", "Drums and Trumpets Shake the World in Ten Directions", "Delivering a Treasure", and "Jubilation Across the World".

For example, the Divine Land Marching Band of Taiwan has 500 members. The band has played in each county and major city throughout Taiwan. It has been invited to play at dozens of large scale events, including the Lantern Festival, the National Day Parade, the National Sporting Games, National Day celebrations in Malaysia and the Jakarta City Celebration in Indonesia.

The band performances were often covered by local media. For example, the Divine Land Marching Band consisting of more than 200 members participated in the Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago on November 23, 2006. More than 300,000 people watched the parade in person, and an estimated 1.5 million people watched the live broadcast on ABC Channel 7.

From October 7 to 10, 2008, the Asian Divine Land Marching Band performed in India

On October 20, 2008, the Divine Land Marching Band of Taiwan was invited to participate in the Hualian YESO festival

The following photos are of the bands participating in celebration events across the world.

On July 1, 2007, the Canada Divine Land Marching Band participated in the Montreal Canada Day Parade for the second time and won the highest award--the President's Award

On October 8, 2007, the band performed at the Thanksgiving Day Parade in Waterloo

On November 17, 2007, the band participated in the Christmas Parade attended by more than 300,000 people

On March 15, 2009, the band of more than 150 members participated in the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade

On April 12, 2009, the band participated in the Toronto Easter Parade

In July 2008, Guam celebrated its 64th Freedom Day. The Divine Land Marching Band of Taiwan was invited to perform there

On October 13, 2008, the Divine Land Marching Band was invited to perform in the 30th Fall's Grand Parade in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

On May 3, 2009, the Divine Land Marching Band was invited to perform in the annual San Jose Cinco de Mayo Festival

The Asian Divine Land Marching Band consists of Falun Gong practitioners from Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore. On October 7, 2008, the band went to the city of Mysore to perform at the annual Dasara Festival. Around half a million people, including monks, were gathered there for a large Buddhist ceremony. The band brought the message of Falun Dafa and was welcomed at the festival.

On October 7, 2008, the Asian Divine Land Marching Band went to India to perform

The Asian Divine Land Marching Band performing in India

From April 12 to 13, 2009, more than 140 members of the Asian Divine Land Marching Band from Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore went to Delhi to promote Falun Gong in northern India.

The band performs in front of a Catholic Church. They introduced Falun Gong and exposed the persecution of Falun Gong in China between performances.

Shoppers in Ambiance Mall, the largest Mall in Delhi, gather from the first to the fifth floors to listen to and applaud the performance

(To be continued)

(Clearwisdom.net) Mr. Gu Qun, 50 years old, was a practitioner from Dalian City, Liaoning Province. On the afternoon of March 16, 2008, the police from the Tianjin Street Police Station of Dalian City arrested him while he was distributing Falun Gong materials. The next day, he was transferred to the Yaojia Detention Center in Dalian City. At about 2 p.m. on April 9, 2008, his family was notified of his death.

Mr. Gu Qun

Mr. Gu appeared to be in his early 40's, and was 5'8'' tall. He stood straight and walked quickly. His countenance was calm and compassionate. Compared to thirteen years ago when he was often sick, he was a different person.

Mr. Gu had been often sick most of his life and he was eager to become healthy. He had been to many places to look for a cure. Day after day and year after year, he spent more time and money but his illnesses became worse. When he had almost lost hope in life, he found Falun Gong. He had the chance to come to Teacher Li's lecture in Dalian City. July 1, 1994 was a memorable day. After eight days of classes, Mr. Gu completely changed. His illnesses were cured and he was full of energy. His experience of the physical benefits and his witness to Dafa's mighty power brought him more confidence in his practice of Dafa.

In his work, Mr. Gu did not abuse his power and always looked inward when problems occurred. When he saw his customers experiencing difficulties, he would help them without letting them know. He treated them like his relatives and friends. Some of his customers wanted to give him gifts or money to show their gratitude but he refused to accept it. He had established a very good reputation.

The housing availability was often scarce at that time. Allocating a house was often like warfare. In order to help resolve the conflicts, Mr. Gu gave up his allocated house to others. His action became a favorite story in the Bureau of Industry and Commerce where he worked. The person in charge of allocating the houses was touched by him. Mr. Gu's actions were rooted in the belief in the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

During the five years of his practicing up to 1999, Mr. Gu had gone to the Dalian Labor Park every morning to voluntarily teach the exercises and spread Dafa. After the persecution started, he saw many practitioners arrested, beaten and detained. Good and evil were inverted. He felt he had to do something. In February 2002, he went to Beijing to appeal for an end to the persecution. Since then, he was persecuted constantly. He was arrested, detained or sentenced to forced labor six times and suffered brutal torture. However, he always firmly believed in Dafa.

During the last eight years, Mr. Gu was compassionately "clarifying the facts" to people everywhere he went no matter what the circumstances. He wanted to help people see through the lies of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and thus treat practitioners kindly. After he heard about the retribution cases of the officials who participated in the persecution, he realized the importance of his responsibility of saving sentient beings. He was anxious to let more people know the truth. Besides studying the Fa and doing the exercises, he spent his spare time clarifying the facts and persuading people to withdraw from the CCP and its affiliated organizations. Whether he was walking or taking the bus, staying at home or going out, he tried to use every opportunity.

Once he met an old friend on the bus that he had not seen for several years. His first thought was not to lose this opportunity. Although his destination was further away, Mr. Gu got off on the same stop as his friend. They caught up with each other and then he got to the point. He clarified the facts to his friend who then agreed to withdraw from the CCP. His friend thanked him as well.

On the afternoon of March 16, 2008, the police from the Tianjin Street Police Station arrested Mr. Gu while he was distributing Falun Gong materials. The next day, he was transferred to the Yaojia Detention Center. He held a hunger strike to protest his arrest but he was brutally force-fed. His body suffered serious injury from the force-feeding. Later, he was sentenced to one and a half years of forced labor.

On April 7, 2008, the detention center officials sent him to the Dalian City Third People's Hospital. The doctors made the decision to keep him in the hospital for treatment, but the detention center officials insisted on sending him to the Police Department Hospital. In fact, they didn't send him there. Instead, they brought him back to the detention center. At around 9 a.m. on August 8, he was sent to the Dalian City Third People's Hospital again despite the fact that he had died in the detention center. The detention center officials had staged this to shirk their responsibility. They also tried to block news of his death from spreading and didn't tell his family until around 2 p.m. on April 9, 2008.

Mr. Gu's elderly mother became ill upon hearing the news. His elderly father was grieving and crying. His daughter, who was studying in Germany, still had not been told the news.

Mr. Gu's father tried to seek justice for his son and sent an appeal letter to the Dalian City Procuratorate. But his letter was returned to him due to the policy of the procuratorator not accepting any appeals related to Falun Gong. His father managed to send his letter to the Dalian City Politics and Law Committee. But his letter was transferred to the Xigang District Police Department with an instruction to compensate his father with some money. Mr. Gu's father was a high ranking official in the government. This was a true insult.

The period of time from Mr. Gu's arrest until his death was only 23 days. The brutality of the persecution is hard to imagine. There are over 65 confirmed deaths due to the persecution of Falun Gong in Dalian City. The CCP's crimes are unpardonable.

April 25, 2009

(Clearwisdom.net) Mr. Lei Zhengxia, in his sixties, is a retired teacher from the Shapingba District middle school in Chongqing City. After he started practicing Falun Gong back in 1996, his mental and physical health dramatically improved, as well as his moral character.

Since the Chinese Communist Party started persecuting Falun Gong in July of 1999, he was arrested, detained, and taken to brainwashing centers on numerous occasions.

At 2:00 p.m., on January 14, 2009, agents from the Shapingba District National Security Division stormed into Mr. Lei's home and arrested him. After being in police custody for just a few days, he was brutally tortured to the point where it was hard to recognize him. He was later released.

Just when Mr. Lei started showing signs of recovering from his injuries, officers from the Xinqiao Police Station arrested him and took him to the Baihelin Detention Center in Shapingba District. Without Mr. Lei's income, his 13-year-old adopted daughter, her grandma Ms. Cheng Puzhen, her grandpa, and his wife--who all live at Mr. Lei's home--had no way to support themselves.

Below is Mr. Lei's daughter's appeal:

"I was adopted by my father almost ten years ago. I can tell you that he is a good person and there is a deep bond between us. On February 23, 2009, he also adopted my grandma, 73, and my grandpa, 81. Both of them are very poor and live on a combined pension of only 140 yuan per month. My grandma is blind and my father always looks after her with kind and loving care.

In January, 2008, officer Liu Baiping, from the Xinqiao Police Station tricked my father and later arrested him. My father was beat and injured by Li Hong, the team leader of the National Security Division. After just a few days at the detention center, my father had to be taken to the hospital. On Chinese New Year's Eve, his godson went to the hospital to pick him up.

My father left home for over a year to avoid being arrested and further persecuted. My mother was forced to leave me alone at home in order to take care of my father. At first, we could only meet once a week and then we could only meet once every two or three weeks. After I graduated from elementary school, I planned to live with my parents.

In order to support the family, my mother opened up a small food store. My father came to visit us on four separate occasions The fifth time he visited us, a security guard from a local school reported him. Police officer Chen Linxiao arrested my father at 9:00 p.m. on April 7, 2009 . I miss my father very much and dislike those officers who arrest good people.

My grandparents visit the Xinqiao Police Station everyday to ask for my father's release. My grandma goes to the station everyday with tears in her eyes. Her heart is filled with deep sadness which causes her to feel unwell most of the time. My grandpa says that he will go to the station every day until my father is released.

The Xinqiao Police Station: 86-23-65211379
The Xinqiao Neighborhood Administration Office: 86-23-65211420
Tong Wen, director of the Xinqiao Police Station
Liu Dashuang, instructor at the Xinqiao Police Station

related article:

http://search.minghui.org/mh/articles/2009/4/19/199236.html

(Clearwisdom.net) Wei Dan, head of No. 7 Division of Heizuizi Forced Labor Camp, guard Zou Jialin and Wang Lihua were exceptionally brutal to detained practitioners. They forced the practitioners to work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day, and sometimes to midnight. The work

environment was odious. The dust and unusual smell caused by many kinds of chemical products were enormously harmful, but the authorities of the labor camp were not concerned about changing the hazardous conditions. Wei Dan and the other guards often incited some inmates to monitor the practitioners 24 hours a day. The practitioners were prohibited to sit in meditation position, closed their eyes or even stretch. The guards also staged sudden search of cells. If Dafa materials were found in some practitioner's cell, he would be brutally beaten and his detention extended for one month.

The persecution cases committed by the guards in the Heizuizi Forced Labor Camp are innumerable. Here are merely two cases.

Mr. Liang from Jilin City was knocked to the ground by the guards for refusing to give up Falun Gong. Due to the beating, his teeth became loose, and his pharynx and larynx were injured so severely that he could not swallow for one month. His weight dropped to about 25 kg or 55lbs. But the guards never stopped enslaving him for even one day.

When Ms. Cao Jingyun from Yongji County was taken to the labor camp, she was beaten by inmate Lu Qingchun for refusing to cooperate in the body search and interrogation. Later, she was taken to the Second Team of No. 7 Division. The guards tried all kinds of means to "transform" her, but she rejected them all. Consequently, she was brutally beaten again and again. She once asked a guard for some water who then beat and force-fed her with some unknown drugs. After that, she had mental aberrations. When she was buying food in the canteen, she mistakenly took one guard as her sister. As a result, she was surrounded and beaten by many guards. Also, she was fixed onto the Death Bed for as long as three months. She was taken to a hospital several times not for treatment but to frame Falun Gong. She was labeled as a "Falun Gong addict."

Such evil deeds continue to this day. On April 22, 2009, they plotted to set up brainwashing sessions to brainwash the practitioners. Each session lasts for three days. The so-called collaborators Zhu Jiahui, Yan and another person were involved. At present, 5 practitioners are detained in the No.7 Division.

(Clearwisdom.net) The Second Division of Shandong Women's Forced Labor Camp is the most vicious branch. There are nearly four hundred Falun Gong practitioners detained there at present.

The guards have used every means to torture Falun Gong practitioners. They mixed unknown drugs into practitioners' food. After eating the food, practitioners developed dizziness, fatigue, facial contortion, and had difficulty controlling eye movement and body movement. Some even lost their senses and became disoriented.

The guards forced practitioners to do intensive labor for extended hours. Practitioners work until 12:00 a.m. every day. In 2009, they tripled the practitioners' workload. At the end of the day, some practitioners are so exhausted that their hands and arms are numb. Their fingers are so painful that they cannot move. Some developed dizziness and high blood pressure. In addition, the guards insult and humiliate the practitioners.

Falun Gong practitioner Chen Zhenbo, forty-seven years old, is from the Pingdu area in Shandong Province. She was sent to the labor camp in January 2009, and is currently detained in the Second Division. The brutal torture she suffers includes sleep deprivation, not being allowed to use the toilet and being hung up and beaten. The police incited inmates Jiang Lixia and Sun Dandan to torture Ms. Chen.

Practitioner Sun Guizhen is in her forties. She was sent to the labor camp in January 2009, and is also being detained in the Second Division. The guards tortured her brutally. She was not allowed to sleep or use the toilet. The guards incited inmate Sun Qian to beat her up. Her head and face were injured as a result.

Practitioner Yu Xiu'e, fifty-one years old, is from the Zhu Cheng area of Shandong Province. She was sentenced to the forced labor camp on January 20, 2009, and is currently detained in the Second Division. The collaborators who had been brainwashed by officers Liu Jingjun and Cai Yun'e beat her up. As a result, she has dizziness and headaches. Her blood pressure reached 180/120 and she developed arrhythmia. She suffered vomiting, tinnitus, mouth bleeding and memory loss. Ms. Yu is still being tortured there.

Tai Yixian, fifty-six years old, is a practitioner from Qingdao City in Shandong Province. She was sentenced to the labor camp in October of 2008 and is being detained in the Second Division. Because of her firm belief in Dafa, the guards incited inmates Jiang Lixia and Sun Dandan to brutally torture her. She was not allowed to use the toilet and has not eaten for seven days straight. She was not given water and had to drink her own urine. They forced her to take off her coat and then they poured cold water on her and left the windows open to freeze her.

(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Gong practitioners held in the Yinmahe Forced Labor Camp in Jiutai City, Jilin Province are undergoing severe mistreatment by prison guards. In the Strict Discipline Team in particular, all victims are subjected to cruel torture both mentally and physically.

Li Yunbo, the director of the Strict Discipline Team, and Zhao Fengshan, the commissioner of the team, colluded to extort money from prisoners in the labor camp by charging money for the so-called Civil Administrator position. Those who got the position would pay them between 1,000 and 10,000 yuan. Li Yunbo exploited the prisoners by extorting food, wine, money and other things of everyday use from them. He constantly encouraged the Civil Administrators to mistreat Falun Gong practitioners: "You can beat or torture them whenever you find it appropriate. You do not need to worry about death from torture, because the government will be there backing you. It is very normal for a prisoner to die here; we have a death quota every year. Any death caused by torture will be regarded as a natural death so long as you can find three people to support you." They also indicated to the Civil Administrators that if they do well enough in mistreating Falun Gong practitioners, they could receive a reduction to their term in the labor camp. Incited by Li Yunbo, the Civil Administrators horribly tortured Falun Gong practitioners physically and mentally.

1. Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Li Wenzhi was subjected to violent force-feeding because he held firm to his belief. In the bathroom, they fastened him to an Iron Chair and force-fed him with solutions high in salt content. Mr. Li suffered greatly from the torture. His health deteriorated and he had a constant acute cough.

2. Mr. Zhang Xincai was forced to sit straight on a hard board for a long time. Sometimes he would have to sit for over 19 hours per day. In the cold winter in the middle of December they would open the door and windows widely to make him suffer from the freezing wind. As a result, Mr. Zhang suffered serious injuries. His waist and buttocks were wounded and festered from the long time sitting. He became unable to care for himself and stayed in a state of paralysis in bed for 8 months.

3. Mr. Li Wenjun was subjected to cruel torture. His arms were fully stretched out to the side and were fixed there with shackles. His ribs were then poked with sewing needles in an attempt to force him to give up his belief in Falun Gong. Mr. Li became emaciated, but he was still forced to sit straight for long periods of time. They also force-fed him cruelly. Four or five prisoners fastened him to an "Iron Chair" and force-fed him with salty water. Such torture lasted for over 10 months. Consequently, Mr. Li suffered many injuries including a hemorrhage in his digestive tract.

4. Mr. Jiang Jianfeng was hung up with his hands shackled, then beaten.

5. The perpetrators bound the upper half of Mr. Sun Zhanguo's body to his double-crossed legs and ordered another person to sit on his back forcefully, pressing him into a deeply bent position.

6. Mr. Zhang Guosheng was cruelly beaten by Yu Mingzhu, the chief of the Strict Discipline Team. His face was badly swollen and deformed. His blood pressure increased to 220 and as a result, he fell into a coma.

Many other Falun Gong practitioners and prisoners have been cruelly beaten to different extents.

Because of the incitement and indulgence of the prison guards in the Strict Discipline Team, the Civil Administrators mistreated Falun Gong practitioners and other prisoners audaciously. The perpetrators were not punished for their crimes. Instead, they received praise and awards for having reformed themselves actively and even received reductions to their terms of forced labor.

Li Yunbo, Zhao Fengshan and other prison guards also forced prisoners to do heavy labor. They forced the prisoners to get up and start work at 5:10 a.m. and continue until 7:30 p.m. During the work hours, the prisoners were not allowed to rest except when having dinner or going to the bathroom. Each day they worked for 13 hours. They would not even have enough time to finish their dinner because the timetable for dinner was very strict. Many people were forced to go back to work before they could finish eating. Even aged and crippled prisoners were made to run from the dining room on the first floor to the workplace on the fifth floor. In addition, they were usually forced to work overtime. For example, on January 22, 2008, they worked until 10 p.m. On November 23, 2008, they started work at 3:30 a.m. On January 23, 2009, they were forced to get up and start work at 2:50 a.m. To earn economic benefits, the prison guards from the Strict Discipline Team cruelly exploited the prisoners, even at the price of their health and life.

(Clearwisdom.net) Today's News from China includes incidents of persecution that took place in 23 cities or counties in 9 provinces. In this report, 20 Falun Gong practitioners were subjected to mistreatment during their detention, and at least 28 practitioners were illegally arrested.

On April 21, 2009, Ms. Wang Wenying (about 50 years old) from Qianjiadian went to visit her relatives at the stadium residential area and met Mr. Li Baoli, who also went to visit. Mr. Li Baoli is about 30 years old and from Shiheying, Yanqing County, Beijing. He is a taxi driver. The police went to the home of Ms. Wang's relatives and took the two practitioners away. Mr. Li's home was ransacked. The police took away a computer, a printer, 7,000 yuan cash, and other valuables. Later on, Ms. Wang was released because of her physical condition. Mr. Li Baoli is still being detained.

On the morning of April 24, 2009, Ms. Yi Shuhui gave a plainclothes policeman 10 yuan in change, and there were some words about Falun Gong on the paper bill. As a result, she was reported to the police. The new Secretary of the Junshan District Politics and Law Committee and the Security Director of the Chaoyang Neighborhood Committee led five or six people from the 610 Office to search the store she runs. They took away 500 yuan paper bills with words about Falun Gong and 2009 Shen Yun Show DVDs'. Ms. Yi was taken away.

Mr. Wang Dangyao, in his 40s, became homeless and destitute in order to avoid being arrested at home. At the end of 2008, he was arrested in Xinjiang Province by the Nanyang police. His current whereabouts are unknown.

Mr. Yan Jianbo lives in Dayanjia Village, Yibuzhuang, Weifang City. On the morning of April 25, 2009, he was taken away from his home by the police. He was released after his family paid 15,000 yuan to the authorities.

On April 10, 2009, 68-year-old Ms. Hao Shuzhi distributed flyers about Falun Gong at the west entrance to Ditan in Dongcheng District. She was taken away by officers from the Ditan Police Station. Her home was then ransacked. At 8 p.m. on that day, she was sent to the Qiliqu Detention Center in Shahe. The detention center is not allowing her family to visit her.

Qiliqu Detention Center: 86-10-84081728, 86-10-84081725

Mr. Liu Yongjin was sentenced to seven years in prison. Liu Xinrong, Gao Lingshan and other guards of the fifth division of Taian Prison are brutally torturing him. Recently, he was confined to a small cell.

Mr. Liu Yongjin is monitored around the clock. Every day, he is only allowed to sleep for 2 or 3 hours. He is given two small buns for a meal each day. When he was very weak, the guards still dragged him out for drills and demanded that he walk "goose-steps" in front of all the prisoners for four hours. The guards still torture him physically and mentally.

Liu Xinrong: 86-13370621779

The Fifth Division of Taian Prison: 86-538-8432354

The strictly monitoring team of Yinmahe Forced Labor Camp has persecuted Mr. Li Wenjun. From August 11, 2008 to April 18, 2009, Mr. Li went on a hunger strike for 251 days. Right now he is confined to bed and very thin. He is on the verge of death.

On April 24, 2009, Wang Shuxin, Head of the Lianhua Township Police Station, led a group of policemen to arrest Mr. Liu Dehuai and Mr. Xu Shukun. The two practitioners were sent to the Nanshan Detention Center in Shulan City.

Wang Shuxin: 86-13654456622
Liu Xuebing: 86-13904440755
Li Shubo: 86-13804440766

On the afternoon of April 25, 2009, Ms. Liu Jiyun, in her 50's, was arrested by police from the local police station. Her home was also ransacked. She is being detained in the Youtian Detention Center in Renqiu City.

Wang Zhiping, Director of the Xinbei Police Department: 86-317-2742238
Deputy Director of the Xinbei Police Department: 86-317-2743510
Peng Shuxue, Head of the National Security Section of Xinbei Police Department: 86-317-2742415

On April 23, 2009, Zhang Xinhui, Head of the Dawu Township Police Station, and Zhao Wansheng, Secretary of the Politics and Law Committee, led several people to ransack the home of Mr. Li Yuanhai in Xiyanxing Village. They took away portraits of Master Li and destroyed a Dafa book. After that, they went to the home of Mr. Li Shouwo in the same village and destroyed his copy of Zhuan Falun.

They also went to Fengxudaqi Village and ransacked the home of Mr. Zhang Yintong. They took away a computer, a printer and a tape recorder. Mr. Zhang and his wife were able to get away.

Zhang Xinhui, Head of the Dawu Township Police Station: 86-13931976270
Wang Genting, Director of the 610 Office: 86-311-2914828, 86-311-2943106, 86-13171561553
Pingshan County Police Department: 86-311-2914960

Mr. Xu Renwu (80 years old) and his wife Mrs. Tang Zhihui (75 years old) were arrested by the Guangan police on March 14 and 16, 2009, respectively, because they put up posters about Falun Gong. Their home was searched, and they have been detained for more than a month. Their family members are not being allowed to visit them.

Deng Maochun, head of the national security team: 86-13882666047

Wang Hongwei: 86-82622448138

At 10 a.m. on April 4, 2009, Ms. Hu Chunjing was reported to police while she was explaining the facts about Falun Gong at the intersection of North Street and Heping Road in Xinhua District. Police from the Xinhua Police Department took her away and searched her home. The police took away 10 cassettes and 16 copies of Minghui Weekly. Currently she is being detained in the fifth division of the south district of the Shijiazhuang Forced Labor Camp.

Policeman Lu Daiwang: 86-13931781466
Song Jinhui: 86-13082195620

On the afternoon of April 25, 2009, Ms. Du Dahua, 50, was arrested by police from the Huanghelou Police Station. On April 10, 2009, Ms. Pan Zhaochun from the same area was arrested. Fifteen days later, she was transferred to the Yangyuan Brainwashing Center.

On the afternoon of October 8, 2008, Yang Junli, Head of the Politics and Law Committee of the city police department, led two policemen to search the home of Ms. Xu Guiyan. They took away a copy of Zhuan Falun and several copies of Minghui Weekly. Ms. Xu jumped out from the second floor and got away. She has become homeless and destitute in order to avoid being arrested at home.

Yang Junli, Head of the Politics and Law Committee of the city police department; 86-13604703628
Secretary Liu of the Eerguna City Politics and Law Committee: 86-13847033023
Yan Jinzhu, Head of the Er Police Station: 86-15847747977

Chief Li of the national security team: 86-13847001788

Ms. Xiao is a teacher and lives in Lingxi, Gongzhuling City, Jilin Province. On the night of April 16, 2009, she was taken away from her home by police from the national security team of the city police department and the Lingxi Police Station. Her home was also searched. She was beaten during the arrest.

Mr. Liu Qilong works at the Xining Industrial School. On the afternoon of April 22, 2009, he was taken away from his office by police from the Chengxi District Police Department. At the same time, his home was searched. His computer, Dafa books and flyers about Falun Gong were taken away.

On April 21, 2009, Mr. Jia's home at Huayuan South Street was searched. Thee copies of Minghui Weekly and a MP3 player were taken away.

Elderly Ms. Xue lives in the family housing of the Eight-One West Road Forced Labor Camp. On April 22, 2009, her home was searched. Dafa books were taken away.

On April 24, 2009, Mr. Jia Changfa was arrested by the police of Shangjie District, Zhengzhou City while he was posting flyers about Falun Dafa. He is being detained in the Daobei Police Station.

On the morning of April 25, 2009, police from the Jilin City 610 Office, the Jilin City National Security Team and the Zhanqian Police Station went to search the home of Mr. Cheng Xiaoguang near the Jilin City Train Station. They pried the door open and took away a computer, a printer, printing paper, and other items. Later on, five policemen went to the home of Mr. Cheng's mother and harassed her.

On April 21, 2009, eight Falun Dafa practitioners from a Fa-study group in Wuhan City were arrested. They were Mr. Wang Desheng, Ms. Li Zuhan, Ms. Guo Yulan, Ms. Liu Youqing, Ms. Chen Huazhen, Ms. Zhang Hanying, Mr. Mao Zhenguo and Ms. Xiao Wang. Currently Mr. Wang Desheng is being detained in Etouwan. Ms. Li Zuhan, Ms. Guo Yulan, Ms. Liu Youqing, Ms. Chen Huazhen and Ms. Xiao Wang are being detained in the Erzhigou Detention Center. Ms. Zhang Hanying (70 years old) and Mr. Mao Zhenguo (76 years old) have been released.

On the afternoon of April 23, 2009, police from the Wanzhou District Police Department went to search the home of Ms. Tu Maoxun in Gaokoutang, Wanzhou District. Ms. Tu, who is about 60 years old, was also taken away. Currently she is being detained in the Zhoujiaba Detention Center in Wanzhou District.

On the afternoon of April 25, 2009, Ms. Chen Guifen, Ms. Tang Guanglan, Ms. Xi Wenxiu and other practitioners went to the home of Ms. Li. Six practitioners were arrested from there by police from Danjingshan Town, Longfeng Town and Tianpeng Town.

On the afternoon of April 26, 2009, Ms. Su Guoyi was arrested on Yongfeng Road. She was sent to the Pi County Detention Center.

Ms. Hu Yanshun from Daying County is about 70 years old. Police from the Daying County Police Station took her away to the detention center. She was subsequently sentenced to prison.

Ms. Wang Honglian, 45 years old, was detained in a detention center for one month. Later on, she was sent to a forced labor camp for a one-year term. Because she refused to wear the prisoner uniform, her hands and feet were cuffed and she was forced to sit on a chair for several days straight. She was forced to do heavy labor and also beaten.

(Clearwisdom.net) Today's News from China includes incidents of persecution that took place in 21 cities or counties in 12 provinces. In this report, 52 practitioners were subjected to mistreatment during their detention and at least 14 practitioners were illegally arrested.

1. [Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Wang Shuqing Arrested
2. [Dalian City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Shi Min Arrested
3. [Shuangcheng City, Heilongjiang Province] Ms. Zhao Lifu Arrested
4. [Gongzhuling City, Jilin Province] Several Practitioners Arrested
5. [Jinan City, Shandong Province] Ms. Xue Ziqing Held at Jinan City Detention Center
6. [Yangchun City, Guangdong Province] Ms. Lin Pingshu Arrested
7. [Dengzhou City, Henan Province] Mr. Du Zhiheng and Ms. Luan Zhongyu Arrested in Nanyang City
8. [Shulan City, Jilin Province] List of Persecuted Falun Gong Practitioners from Jishu Town
9. [Jian City, Jilin Province] Additional Information about the Arrests of Mr. Dong Yanfa and Ms. Guo Xiufang
10. [Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province] Ms. Liu Aihua Disappeared Many Days Ago
11. [Baiyin City, Gansu Province] Mr. Zhang Sanzhuan Sentenced to 3.5 Years in Prison
12. [Taian County, Liaoning Province] Ms. Fu Zhi Arrested
13. [Changsha City, Hunan Province] Ms. Jiang Deying Arrested and Taken to Zuojiatang Custody Center
14. [Chongqing] Ms. Liao Yuzhi Sentenced to Five Years in Prison
15. [Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province] Ms. Li Hong Arrested
16. [Wangkui County, Heilongjiang Province] Ms. Gao Xueyan Left Home - Belated Information
17. [Pengzhou City, Sichuan Province] Ms. Tan Chunmin Arrested
18. [Shenyang City, Liaoning Province] Second Review of Fabricated Cases against Six Practitioners Submitted to Shenyang City Intermediate Court
19. [Macheng City, Hubei Province] Mr. Luo Liteng's Mother Not Allowed to See Her Son in Prison
20. [Beijing] Update on Ms. Li Guiping and Ms. Zhou Zi
21. [Weifang City, Shandong Province] 610 Office Agents Arrest Mr. Liang Qidong
22. [Yueyang City, Hunan Province] The Persecution of Falun Gong in Pingjiang County
23. [Shuangcheng City, Heilongjiang Province] Mr. Zhao Ruifu Arrested

1. [Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Wang Shuqing Arrested

Patrolling police arrested 56-year-old Ms. Wang Shuqing, a retired statistician from the Jinzhou City Government Administration Division. The arrest happened at 1:00 p.m. on May 2, 2009, as she handed out Falun Gong flyers. The police took her to the Liuhua Police Station and then to a detention center at 4:20 p.m. Her 80-year-old paralyzed mother, whom she has cared for, is now at home on her own.

2. [Dalian City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Shi Min Arrested

Officers from the Xinhua Police Station in the Ganjingzi District arrested Ms. Shi Min near Jinnan Road in the Ganjingzi District in Dalian City on April 24, 2009. Ms. Shi's husband, Jiang Bo, is currently in Panjin Prison, and their nine-year-old child is all alone.

3. [Shuangcheng City, Heilongjiang Province] Ms. Zhao Lifu Arrested

Ms. Zhao Lifu from Xinxing Township, Shuangcheng City, was arrested on April 30, 2009, in a train on the way to visit her son, only because she carried DVDs of the Shen Yun Performing Arts show with her.

4. [Gongzhuling City, Jilin Province] Several Practitioners Arrested

Plainclothes agents from the the Jilin Province Public Security Department, secret agents from the Siping National Security Bureau, and local police from Fanjiatun, Gongzhuling City, broke into Mr. Shen Baogui's home in Fanjiatun on the morning of April 16, 2009. They arrested Shen Baogui and another practitioner who was visiting him. They also took all valuables and cash from the home.

At 8:00 p.m. that day, the same group of agents, along with 13 officers from the Lingxi Police Station in Gongzhuling City, broke into 60-year-old Ms. Xiao Jie's home. They violently attacked her as she held her grandson. The baby cried hysterically. They ransacked her home and arrested her and her friend, Li Shiying. They beat and injured Ms. Xiao and then took her to a detention center.

At 10:00 p.m. that same day, the same group of agents jumped into the front yard of a practitioner's home in Erdaokoubei. They smashed the windows, forced their way inside, and took all the electric appliances.

5. [Jinan City, Shandong Province] Ms. Xue Ziqing Held at Jinan City Detention Center

Ms. Xue Ziqing, who works at the Shandong Academy of Sciences, was reported to the police at 8:00 p.m. on May 1, 2009, when she was distributing Falun Gong pamphlets in a neighborhood on Jingshi Road. Officers from the East Jingshi Road Police Station arrested her and ransacked her home. They took several hundred copies of Falun Gong flyers and all of her Falun Gong books. She is now in the Jinan City Detention Center.

6. [Yangchun City, Guangdong Province] Ms. Lin Pingshu Arrested

Ms. Lin Pingshu from Chunheshui Town, Yangchun City, is approximately 50 years old. The police arrested her and ransacked her home in late April 2009. They also took her Falun Gong books and Falun Gong-related materials, as well as Shen Yun Performing Arts show DVDs. She is being held at the Yangchun City Detention Center, and her family is forbidden to visit her.

Yangchun City 610 Office: 86-662-7738663
Li Ming:,Yangchun City 610 Office,:86-662-7738636 (Home)
Huang Shuhua, National Security Division agent: 86-662-7732509 (Home), 86-662-7999133 (pager); 86-13829891128 (Cell)

7. [Dengzhou City, Henan Province] Mr. Du Zhiheng and Ms. Luan Zhongyu Arrested in Nanyang City

Four plainclothes police officers arrested Mr. Du Zhiheng and Ms. Luan Zhongyu from their rented home in Nanyang City right before May 1, 2009. They are now in the No. 1 Detention Center in Nanyang City.

8. [Shulan City, Jilin Province] List of Persecuted Falun Gong Practitioners from Jishu Town

Ms. Zhang Guoling was held in a forced labor camp and died as a result of torture.
Mr. Wang Shuzhang was held in police custody and died as a result of torture .
Mr. Guo Hongtao's home was ransacked and he died as a result of torture.
Mr. Wang Fukun was threatened by police and died as a result of tortur.e
Mr. Yang Xingli was held in police custody, a forced labor camp, and a mental hospital and was savagely tortured.
Mr. Bi Fengbao was held in police custody and brutally tortured at a forced labor camp.
Mr. Zhou Yunqi was held in police custody, and his home was ransacked. The police took 4,200 yuan cash from his home.
Mr. Wang Xing was held in police custody, and his home was ransacke.d
Mr. Yang Shouxiang was held in police custody and a brainwashing center.
Ms. Chen Qinglan was held in forced labor camp(s) twice and in a forced labor camp; her home was ransacked.
Ms. Li Xiuyan, Mr. Xu Zhixin and Ms. Lu Guiping were held in forced labor camp(s) and their homes were ransacked .
Ms. Lu Qing was held in police custody and a forced labor camp; her home was ransacked and cash was extorted from her.
Mr. Wang Jukun was held in police custody, and 2,660 yuan cash was extorted from him.
Ms. Feng Meilan was held in police custody and a forced labor camp, and her home was ransacked
Mr. Wang Huaipu was held in police custody and a forced labor camp, and more than 20,000 yuan cash was extorted from him.
Mr. Zhou Lixin and Ms. Zhang Jianping were held in police custody, and their home was ransacked.
Ms. Deng Hongyan was held in police custody and a brainwashing center; her home was ransacked.
Ms. Yang Yuzhi was held in a forced labor camp.
Ms. Gong Zilian was held in a forced labor camp.
Ms. Zhang Xiaoxia was held in police custody.
Mr. Yu Zhiwen was held in policy custody, and his home was ransacked; more than 4,000 yuan cash was extorted from him.
Ms. Zhao Fengqing was held in police custody and a brainwashing center; her home was ransacked, and case was extorted from her.
Mr. Xu Hanbo was held in police custody, and his home was ransacked; more than 9,000 yuan cash was extorted from him.
Mr. Wang Xuefan was held in police custody, and his home was ransacked.
Ms. Tao Yuqing was held in police custody, and her home was ransacked.
Ms. Xiao Shuyun was held in police custody, and her home was ransacked.
Mr. Jiang Jingfu's home was ransacked.
Ms. Wang Yaying's home was ransacked, and she died as a result of torture.
Ms. Li Shuxin's home was ransacked, and she was held in police custody and a forced labor camp.
Mr. Meng Xiangfu was held in police custody, and his home was ransacked.
Ms. Li Change and Ms. Zhu Xiuhua were held in police custody and a brainwashing center.
Ms. Xing Shuhua was held in police custody and 8,000 yuan cash was extorted from her.
Ms. Sun Lirong was held in police custody and her home was ransacked; more than 3,000 yuan cash was extorted from her.
Ms. Jin Lan was held in police custody, and more than 8,000 yuan was extorted from her.
Ms. Chen Yanping and Ms. Zhang Jinling were held in police custody.

9. [Ji'an City, Jilin Province] Additional Information about the Arrests of Mr. Dong Yanfa and Ms. Guo Xiufang

Plainclothes police officers arrested Mr. Dong Yanfa and Ms. Guo Xiufang from Ji'an City at 7:00 p.m. on April 12, 2009. They are still held at a detention center. The police took two computers, one printer, and many copies of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and Falun Gong flyers.

10. [Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province] Ms. Liu Aihua Disappeared Many Days Ago

Ms. Liu Aihua is in her 50s and lived in the Jiujiang City Electricity Supply Bureau employees' dormitory. She disappeared after leaving home on April 27; her current whereabouts are unknown.

11. [Baiyin City, Gansu Province] Mr. Zhang Sanzhuan Sentenced to 3.5 Years in Prison

Liu Junrui and other officials from the Pingchuan Police Department's Domestic Security Division in Baiyin City broke into Mr. Zhang Sanzhuan's home on April 22, 2008. They arrested him and took him to Pingchuan Detention Center. They secretly sentenced him to 3.5 years in prison on April 16, 2009, without notifying his family. He is now in Dashaping Prison in Lanzhou City.

Also held at the Pingchuan Detention Center are practitioners Ms. Bai Yujun and Ms. Chen Fanghua.

12. [Tai'an County, Liaoning Province] Ms. Fu Zhi Arrested

The police arrested Ms. Fu Zhi from Dingjia Village, Xintai Township, Tai'an County in Liaoning Province, on April 21, 2009. She is now in the Tai'an County Detention Center.

13. [Changsha City, Hunan Province] Ms. Jiang Deying Arrested and Taken to the Zuojiatang Custody Center

Ms. Jiang Deying, an associate professor at Hunan Normal University, was arrested on April 16, 2009, and taken to Zuojiatang Custody Center. Officials at the custody center told her daughter to find a lawyer for her as they are planning to put her on trial.

Kai County 610 Office agents in Chongqing persecuted Ms. Liao Yuzhi, a Chongqing resident, on July 25, 2008. They took lots of Falun Gong books and equipment from her home and sentenced her to five years in February 2009. They took her to a forced labor camp in Chongqing, where she remains to this day.

15. [Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province] Ms. Li Hong Arrested

The police arrested Ms. Li Hong, a resident of Taiyuan City, as she handed out Falun Gong flyers to passersby the morning of April 26, 2009. She is now in the Yingpan Police Station in the Xiaodian District, Taiyuan City.

16. [Wangkui County, Heilongjiang Province] Ms. Gao Xueyan Left Home - Belated Information

In September 2006 Wangkui County 610 Office agents arrested Ms. Gao Xueyan and held her at the Wangkui County Detention Center, where she was ruthlessly tortured. She held a persecution protest hunger strike. Her weight dropped from 40 kg [88 lbs] to 25 kg [55 lbs]. She was in critical condition. 610 Office agents released her out of fear of liability. Ms. Gao left home to avoid additional arrest.

17. [Pengzhou City, Sichuan Province] Ms. Tan Chunmin Arrested

Ms. Tan Chunmin from Qingxing, Pengzhou City visited her relatives in another city on April 21, 2009. Qingxing Township government officials and villagers demanded she return to Pengzhou City. They told her the government was going to issue her rice and oil, since she was a victim of the 2008 earthquake. She was arrested upon her return. Her family has since lost touch with her.

18. [Shenyang City, Liaoning Province] Second Review of Fabrications against Six Practitioners Submitted to the Shenyang City Intermediate Court

The second review of fabricated information against six practitioners, including Wu Yefeng, has been submitted to the Shenyang City Intermediate Court, assigned to Judge Liu. Practitioners Liu Guifeng, Lin Huaiyu, and Zhao Guoliang were called to the court on April 28 and April 29 and asked simple questions, including their reason for appeal.

Judge Liu at the Shenyang City No. 2 Intermediate Court in Liaoning Province: 86-24-22763614

19. [Macheng City, Hubei Province] Mr. Luo Liteng's Mother Not Allowed to See Her in Prison

Mr. Luo Liteng's mother went to visit him in Fanjiatai Prison in Shayang on April 28, 2009. The prison officials refused to let her meet with him or even tp give him money. Mr. Luo Liteng is from Macheng City.

20. [Beijing] Update on Ms. Li Guiping and Ms. Zhou Zi

Ms. Li Guiping has been released from solitary confinement and transferred to Ward 3; family visits are denied. Her family saw her only once, during the 2009 Chinese New Year's Day, after lodging strong complaints against the authorities. She is still held under "strict control" status.

21. [Weifang City, Shandong Province] 610 Office Agents Arrest Mr. Liang Qidong

Kuiwen District 610 Office agents arrested Mr. Liang Qidong from Weifang City on September 24, 2008. His family went to all of the detention centers in Weifang City and finally found out two months later he was held at the Changle Detention Center.

22. [Yueyang City, Hunan Province] The Persecution of Falun Gong in Pingjiang County

According to incomplete estimates, Falun Gong practitioners in Pingjiang County, Yueyang City, have had 809,000 yuan extorted from them; 43 have been sentenced to prisons and forced labor camps 54 times, and 179 have been held in custody centers and detention centers 350 times.

23. [Shuangcheng City, Heilongjiang Province] Mr. Zhao Ruifu Arrested

Mr. Zhao Ruifu from Xinxing Township, Shuangcheng City took a train to Changchun City on April 30, 2009. Officers from the Harbin Railroad Police Department arrested him after finding Shen Yun Performing Arts Show DVDs on him at the security checkpoint. He is now being held at the police department.

(Clearwisdom.net) A "Solemn Declaration" is a person's public statement to the world that whatever he or she has done or said under duress or deception that was against Falun Dafa is null and void. These statements have come from Falun Dafa practitioners in China who wish to express regret that, in the face of physical torture and brainwashing, they signed documents renouncing Dafa and guaranteeing not to practice again. Now, they hereby declare their intention to resume practicing Falun Dafa.

Here are some examples of the Solemn Declarations:

• Dafa Practitioners' Solemn Statements [7/31/2008]
• Solemn Declarations by Young Dafa Practitioners [6/1/2008]

Please click here for more Solemn Declarations

(Clearwisdom.net) This is a true story. One day, I called a taxi to go out on business. When I got into the car I noticed that someone had left a Dafa truth clarification flyer on the seat. I said to the driver, Mister, you are really blessed to have this Falun Dafa information in your cab. The driver said, I am telling you the truth. Although I do not practice Falun Gong, I know Falun Gong is good because I benefited from the Fa. I asked him to tell me how he had benefited. This is what he said:

"Some time back, I drove a Falun Gong practitioner to the city on business. She told me to keep 'Falun Dafa is good' in my thoughts or to recite the words sincerely when I encountered danger. Not long after that, I picked up a client who wanted to be taken to a mountainous area. My cab broke down mid-way through the trip. As the cab was on a mountain road, I felt very scared. At that critical moment, I recalled the practitioner's words, 'Keep in your mind 'Falun Dafa is good' or just recite the words from your heart when you are in danger.' So I said loudly, 'Falun Dafa is Good. Falun Teacher please let my cab work.' Magically, my cab started running again, as if nothing had happened. I was so excited. I just can't describe how happy I felt!

Continuing with his topic I said: Mister, Dafa is really wonderful. There are many stories like yours. There have been hundreds of thousands of reports on Clearwisdom.net. You are a beneficiary. You should tell your story to people around you. Tell them that Falun Dafa is good and you will be blessed even more.

Joy showed on the driver's face. Worry lines on his face disappeared. He said, Later, I had another Falun Gong practitioner in my cab. He suggested that I quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). I said I had never joined any CCP organizations. He then said that I could help my children quit the CCP. 'When heaven eliminates the CCP, your children will be safe.' I agreed to do that. Using aliases, I named my son 'Shunsheng' and my daughter-in-law 'Xiangyun', I got them to quit the CCP.

The driver said quietly, I think Falun Gong practitioners are good people. I'd like to tell you a secret. Since my family had good fortune, I intended to help you to distribute truth clarification fliers. I found a Falun Gong practitioner in our village and I request materials periodically. I hide them in my cab. Every time I have a new passenger, I put a flyer on the back seat. Everyone who gets into the cab will see it.

I let people keep the copy if they want it. After a copy is taken I replace it with another copy. I just keep doing that. People continue taking away the materials. Lots of fliers were distributed. I am not afraid. If someone asks where the flyer came from, I will say it was left by a passenger.

One time a policeman in uniform saw a flier. He asked me whether I practiced Falun Gong. I replied no. I told him the material was left by someone, but I thought the article was good. He did not ask any other questions.

I said to the cab driver excitedly, Thank you. Mister. You not only have courage, but also have wisdom and are kind!

The driver seemed to say to himself: Oh, I do not know from which life I obtained this luck. I always encounter Falun Gong practitioners. Thank God. Thank Master Li, the Falun Gong teacher!

When I heard his story and how he was acting from his heart, tears welled up in my eyes.

Yes, we all should thank Master Li for his benevolence in saving us. He often uses casual encounters to get predestined people together, bring people good luck, and give them opportunities to be saved. No wonder people are willing to distribute information despite the hard work and without being paid. No wonder the CCP has to pay everyone to get things done. We do things with our hearts! Money cannot buy the joy felt from being kind to Dafa! I praise their kind thoughts and kind actions!

(Clearwisdom.net)

I Withdraw From the CCP, Who Doesn't Want to Be Safe!

"Replace your junk with money! Sell your scrap copper, iron and waste paper!" A recycle collector repeatedly called to collect household waste-products in my community and some people brought their things to trade with him. A Falun Dafa practitioner walked towards him with a smile. After other people finished their business and left, she traded her scraps and also started to clarify the facts about Falun Dafa to him. He listened to her and continuously nodded his head. He excitedly said to the practitioner: "I believe all of what you have told me. All Falun Gong practitioners are good people. It indeed can save ones life by saying that Falun Dafa is good and Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good when a person runs into a danger."

Then he started to share his experiences. One day last year, several of his villagers and he drove their tricycles to a neighboring county to do business. On their way back, they ran into a very steep slope, so they drove very carefully. Suddenly one tricycle's brakes failed. The vehicle full of goods rapidly slid down. The tricycle was about to hit the vehicle ahead of it and the two people sitting on it were very scared. They had nowhere to hide and didn't dare jump off, either. They thought they were definitely going to die. At this crucial moment, someone shouted: "Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good! Master Li Hongzhi saves lives! " The vehicle instantly stopped when it's front wheel was just about to hit the vehicle in front.

How dangerous it was! The people who were in the malfunctioned tricycle got out and exhaustedly sat on the ground shaking. The other vehicles stopped and people got down and all went over to see if anyone of us was hurt. When they saw that we were fine, they relaxed.

One of people who was in the failed vehicle asked the person whose name is Changfu,"I heard you shouting 'Falun Dafa is good'. Are you Falun Gong practitioner?" Changfu replied: "My elder sister is a practitioner and she told me if I often say that Falun Dafa is good and Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good, I will be able to turn danger into safety when I run into a problem."

The recycle collector said to the practitioner: "Before the accident, I always doubted it. It was proven to me that day that Falun Dafa is a righteous Fa and Master Li Hongzhi comes to the world to save people." He continued,: "I finally met a Falun Dafa practitioner today. Can I borrow your Falun Dafa book to read? I want to know what Falun Gong is. It was so amazing that a vehicle with its brakes failed was able to stop in the middle of the slope just by saying the words 'Falun Dafa is good'. If I didn't see it myself, I would have never believed it. It was a miracle! It was a miracle!"

The practitioner said: "There are gods three feet above your head. Divine beings are watching us. You were fortunate enough to see that your friend turned danger into safety by saying that Falun Dafa is good. You have witnessed the divine power of Falun Dafa and also know that Falun Dafa is good. You must also know that the CCP (the Chinese communist party) has killed tens of thousands of people. Can the gods forgive it? If humankind does not do something about it, heaven will. When gods eliminate it, whoever is the member of the CCP and its affiliated organizations will die along with it. Therefore the gods require people to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations so that the people will forever have a good future!" " that is right! I quit right now, who doesn't want to be safe!"

A chief from a county police station in Sichuan Province witnessed a local gambler quit gambling, recover from all his illnesses, and also become a much nicer person who always considers others first. All of this happened after the man began practicing Falun Gong. After witnessing the changes in this person, the police chief understood that Dafa is good, and at the same time, understood the darkness and corruption of the Chinese government. As a result, he decided to quit the CCP.

(Clearwisdom.net) Editors' note: In both Western and Chinese cultures, the principle of karmic retribution, that is, being held ultimately accountable for one's own actions, is widely accepted. The fundamental teaching of Falun Gong is the characteristic of the universe, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The universe will reward acts that are in harmony with this principle, while doing things such as beating, torturing and murdering people will incur karmic retribution. Stated another way, good deeds will be rewarded with good, while evildoings will meet due retribution. Articles such as this one are meant as a compassionate reminder of this principle to those who would commit wrongdoing. While many of those who persecute Falun Gong are merely "following orders," the universal law requires that they, too, be held responsible for their actions, and that only by reversing their course of wrongdoing may they escape retribution.

Guo Shaolin, the ex-police chief of Lingyuan City Police Department, is currently the chief of Beipiao City Police Department. He has been diagnosed with lymphatic cancer. He had an operation recently and the hospital said that he had at most a few more months to live.

When Guo Shaolin was the police chief of Lingyuan City Police Department, he followed the orders of Jiang's regime closely and actively participated in the arrests and persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. He also extorted money from practitioners. During the court case in Lingyuan City, he managed to escape punishment, but he could not escape punishment from heaven. We hereby give advice to those people who are still persecuting Falun Gong practitioners to quickly awaken and give yourself a chance for a better future.

Policeman Chen Congyao of Beihai City, Guangxi Province, born in 1952, followed the orders of Jiang's regime closely after July 20, 1999, and actively participated in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. He was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment in 2006 for financial misdealings. Not long after being released from jail, before the lunar new year in 2009, he suddenly lost consciousness and fell in front of his doorstep. He was rushed to the hospital but could not be revived. He was only 56 years old when he died.

In 2009, Nanguanling Prison of Dalian City, Liaoning Province conducted physical check-ups on its guards. A total of more than 100 guards were examined. In the end, about a dozen guards were diagnosed with various cancers. One of them was so shocked that he slumped into his seat, dazed. The guards had a discussion amongst themselves: How come out of 100 people there are already a dozen diagnosed with cancers? This is really an unusually high occurrence rate.

April 26, 2009

(Clearwisdom.net) Whenever there are so-called "sensitive days" or another group of practitioners are persecuted, some practitioners say, "We need to avoid these crucial times." "We need to be careful and not allow the evil to take advantage of us (persecute us)." How should we be careful? The approach tends to be sending forth righteous thoughts more frequently at home, which temporarily reduces or stops the amount of truth-clarifying work. After a while, if it turns out not much is happening, then they'll resume their normal activity. If the evil Party starts another wave of harassment, this cycle then repeats itself.

In the midst of being persecuted, there are losses to validating Dafa and saving sentient beings. Therefore, Master has told us in multiple lectures that we need to pay attention to safety. However, some practitioners treat "not being persecuted" as the starting point from which to consider problems and the baseline of cultivation.

Every time I thought about this, I felt that something was wrong, but I could not figure out what the problem was. Paying attention to safety in order to avoid bringing loss to Fa-rectification--nothing is wrong with that. One day I read in one of Master's lectures:

"Under absolutely no circumstance should a Dafa disciple be transformed by the evil--even if it's to expose the persecution. Besides, exposing the persecution is not the ultimate purpose of a Dafa disciple's cultivation. So we cannot have other students who haven't completely removed their human attachments follow suit, and even less so should the book be promoted among students on the websites for students."("Master's Fa Taught in the International Teleconference") Translator's note: A reference to a certain book published by a Dafa practitioner.

Now I understood: avoiding persecution is not the final goal of our cultivation.

In order to validate Dafa and reduce loss, paying attention to safety is right. However, paying attention to safety because one is afraid of being persecuted places oneself as the starting point. That is, to put safety as the prerequisite to validating Dafa is using Master's Fa as the excuse to cover the attachment. This is not just selfishness, it is also using Dafa.

"I'm not Jesus, and I'm not Sakyamuni, but the Fa has created millions and millions of Jesuses and Sakyamunis who have the courage to walk the path of Truth, who have the courage to risk their lives for the sake of the Truth, and who have the courage to devote their lives to saving sentient beings. (Long applause) Each of you Dafa disciples should truly recognize who you are and walk your path well. You really are that magnificent, so you have to rationally and seriously do well the things you're supposed to do today." ("Teaching the Fa at the Washington, D.C. Fa Conference")

Master gave us the honor of being Dafa disciples during the Fa-rectification period and also gave us the task of validating Dafa, eliminating evil, and saving sentient beings. How are we doing? We put our minds on how we can be safe and to dodge responsibilities in the terror of being persecuted. By making personal safety the priority, the fame of Dafa and the safety of sentient beings are no longer that important. Without enlightenment from Dafa, how can we become enlightened beings and how can we own the ability to eliminate evil and dissolve the persecution?

Fa-rectification has come to the final end of the final end. Every opportunity will soon be gone. Let us all change our starting point, let go of our human notions, and treat each "crazy wave" of evil as a good opportunity for self-improvement. It is imperative that we improve ourselves as soon as possible and reach the standard required by Dafa. We need to complete our tasks better, be proud of our names, not do things we will regret, and not disappoint Master's mercy.

The above is my personal understanding. Please be compassionate in pointing out anything inappropriate.

April 22^nd, 2009

(Clearwisdom.net) I obtained Dafa a long time ago, but my elevation was very slow. I wandered on one level for an extended period of time. The main reason is that whenever I did not pass a test, I became very upset. I would lose my spirit and feel remorseful. I did not use Fa as my guidance, using self-criticism, instead. When the next test came, I was still stuck with the previous one, and did not do well with the upcoming test and was again stuck. As time went by I became despondent, and felt discouraged and lost my confidence.

I have just recently realized that I had fallen into a trap arranged by the old forces.

As a practitioner, it is regretful if one does not pass a test. At times it is even a blemish. But the tests came with me, and with my cultivation. No matter whether the tests were to help me elevate or they were persecution arranged by the old forces, it was all caused by my attachments. When the tribulation comes, if one is able to elevate their xinxing, this is great. If not, it only shows that one has an attachment; a strong one. After I realized this, I thought to myself, "Should I just keep getting upset about the tests that I failed or should I get rid of the attachments?" The answer was obvious.

In fact, if you did not pass a test, you still need to use righteous thoughts to face the test. Because I am a cultivator, I cannot be stuck here forever. When one falls to the ground, don't just lie there, time is running out!

(Clearwisdom.net) Yesterday, I chatted with someone on the Internet. After brief greetings, I started to clarify the truth. I talked about today's moral decline, the atheism inculcated by the Chinese Communist Party, and people hurting others without knowing it to enhance their reputation, for self-interest, and because of their feelings. She pondered for awhile and said, "What you've said is all true. Morality has indeed gone downhill. But the entire society has become like this--we cannot do anything about it."

I told her about how Falun Dafa has spread around the world, and how the evil CCP has slandered and brutally persecuted Dafa and practitioners for the past nine years. I gave her many examples of how the CCP ignores people's lives and only cares about maintaining its own power and how it has destroyed the traditional Chinese culture and virtues. I told her that the CCP's campaigns have claimed 80 million Chinese lives since it took power, and how there have been numerous cases of people being protected during disasters when they believed in Falun Dafa and repeated "Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good." She pondered for a long time. I waited for her reply and asked for Master's strengthening.

Until a line appeared in the chat box, "Thank you very much for what you told me, which nobody has told me before. I have come to understand so much today. Thank you very, very much." Tears fell from my eyes--I knew it was Master who did it, and I came to deeply understand Master's compassion.

Then I asked her, "Have you heard of the Three Withdrawals (withdrawing from the CCP and/or its two youth organizations) to save lives?" She said she had, so I told her she should do it and that it was very important to disassociate herself from the CCP. She replied quickly, "Please quit them for me. Also, please quit them for my husband." I said, "OK." She thanked me and said, "And for my son, too." I gave her husband and son each an alias and did the three withdrawals for them. I told her to tell them the aliases and to make sure that they understood why and accepted it. Otherwise, it wouldn't count. She said "I sure will. I believe in the existence of Gods and Buddha, and I also believe that good will be rewarded with good and evil with evil. I also know that Gods and Buddha have compassion--I have seen the compassion in you. Thank you." I told her, "You have a predestined relationship with Dafa, and Master Li has arranged all this." She said quickly, "Thank you, Master Li. Thank you, Master Li!"

She told me that someone once gave her a copy of Zhuan Falun before the persecution started, but she had never read it seriously. I said, "You have a strong predestined relationship with Dafa. Please don't lose it easily just because you have obtained it easily. Make sure you read the book conscientiously. This is the spreading of the Great Law which doesn't happen in a very long time." She said, "I will read the book, and I will take good care of it. Please be assured."

In the end I told her to tell her family members to repeat, "Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good." She said, "I sure will. Because I believe what you have told me, that reciting these nine words wholeheartedly will bring us blessings."

When our chat was over, I deeply understood Master's merciful salvation and saw that people are waking up and waiting for Dafa practitioners to save them. Let's seize the last moment, utilize all that we can, and save our sentient beings. This is what every Dafa practitioner must do and must do well. We have nothing to complain about and no reason to back off or slack off. Let's not cling to the human world's things any longer. All we must do now is to study the Fa more and save our sentient beings quickly. Only by fulfilling our prehistoric vows can we not let down our esteemed Master's earnest hope and merciful protection, as well as everything that Master has endured for us.

(Clearwisdom.net) May 13 is Master's birthday. At this special time, I would like to share my family's cultivation experience and express our gratitude to Master. Master has provided all kinds of support, including help in our daily lives. Since I have never had a job, my family's economic condition was difficult. Oftentimes, we had to sell recycled junk to pay for groceries. I went to Beijing to validate Dafa twice, the train tickets bought with borrowed money. Master knew our situation and helped us in many different ways.

My husband used to spend lots of company insurance money on medicine. After June 18, 1998, when he began to practice Falun Gong, he has never gotten sick again. I also became a practitioner the same day, as a way to show my support for him.

My son took the college entrance exam in 1999. The Communist Party began to persecute Dafa that year. On July 20, my husband, my son and I went to the provincial capital to appeal for Falun Gong and later traveled to Beijing to do the same. Before we arrived in Beijing, government personnel intercepted us and forced us to return home. They asked my son, "Do you plan to attend college?" My son answered, "I will if that is my path." After he got his admission letter, some practitioners told us the court would hold a hearing to charge some practitioners. It was only three days before my son's college classes began, but that did not stop us from making efforts to rescue practitioners. Ultimately, under Master's compassionate protection, my son was able to start school on time. After he went to college, we began to sell recycled junk to pay for groceries.

In his sophomore year, my son took a political science class. During a class discussion, he defended Falun Gong. In his paper, he mentioned that his parents were Dafa practitioners. As a result, during the winter break, his college administration refused to let him leave school. They assigned five teachers to brainwash him with the government propaganda. The school also assigned five students to follow him, but my son managed to escape two days later.

Later, my son went to Guangzhou City to find work. He found a job on the second day after his arrival. On the job application test, the subject was exactly the same as his final exam questions. He did very well and was hired on the spot. All other job applicants had to show their diplomas, but my son was an exception. Later, he found another job in Beijing, again without providing a diploma. After he worked less than two years in Guangzhou and Beijing, Master made arrangements so that he could start his own company. It was really unimaginable considering his humble education and experience and our meager income. We knew it was Master's compassion that gave us the good fortune. Master made these arrangements so we could validate Dafa and save more people without having to worry about our basic living arrangements.

We would like to thank Master for these arrangements. We will do our best to live up to this honor. We will focus on the Three Things and follow Master to return to our original home.

May 9, 2009

(Clearwisdom.net) Mr. Tian, 74, is from a village in Jiaozhou City, Shandong Province. When he was young he worked as a stevedore. Later he developed illnesses on his legs and back. He had tried to seek treatment but his attempts were in vain.

His family was affected by his bad health situation. At that time, someone asked him to practice Falun Gong. Before he started practicing Falun Gong, the Communist regime began to persecute Falun Gong and Mr. Tian believed the regime's overwhelming propaganda.

One day in 2001 he found a red paper package. He opened it and found Falun Gong truth-clarification materials which clarified the "Self-immolation on Tiananmen Square" and the facts that the CCP slandered Falun Gong practitioners. Mr. Tian was shocked: actually Falun Gong was wronged. He witnessed the CCP's evilness. He realized that the CCP has never done anything good and today it is committing a monstrous crime. He thought in his heart that he could not be cheated by the CCP again, and decided to practice Falun Gong.

Another practitioner introduced him to the practice. As soon as he started practicing Falun Gong he began to shoulder the sacred mission of validating the Fa. Miraculously, the illnesses in his legs and back disappeared in the process of studying and validating the Fa. Having an illness-free body made him believe Dafa more firmly.

He went out to hang up banners and post truth-clarification materials together with a 66-year-old practitioner. From 2001 to 2003 these two old people went out daily at 3:00 p.m. and came back at midnight. Each time they went about 50 kilometers. They hung up the banners all over the nearby six counties and cities.

With his studying the Fa more with diligence and his validating the Fa, his family members have received good fortune. He owns a 300-square-meter building and in the past nobody wanted to rent it. Now, all of his apartments are rented. He uses the rental income to make truth-clarification materials so that more people can be saved.