Issued by Clearwisdom Net

From November 4 to November 6, the 2005 Korean Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference was held in Busan.

The conference site

On November 4, local practitioners held a large-scale truth-clarification event at the Busan Train Station and nearby areas to promote Falun Gong and disclose the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in Mainland China by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In the afternoon, a rally and a parade were held. In the evening, practitioners staged a truth-clarification photo exhibit, showed informational video programs and held a candlelight vigil. The activities attracted many groups of tourists and local residents.

On November 5, the 2005 Korean Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference was held. Practitioners from all over Korea attended the conference. Seventeen practitioners shared their experiences, including a practitioner who recently came to Korea from China. Young practitioners from the Minghui School were also part of the program.

The Mainland practitioner recounted how he was unlawfully detained in forced labor camps and subjected to all kinds of torture methods. Despite all the persecution, he firmly believes in Master and Falun Dafa. Instead of giving in to the evil, he clarified the truth to the guards who were deceived by CCP and the lies and propaganda of Jiang Zemin and his regime. After he was released, this practitioner clarified the truth to people using his personal experience and posted many truth-clarifying posters and banners. Another practitioner, a renowned swimming athlete and medallist in the Olympic Games, Asia Games and World Championships, shared the physical and spiritual benefits of practicing Falun Dafa and the big impact in Chinese Swimming Circles brought about by her withdrawal from the CCP.

A practitioner sharing her experiences

A practitioner sharing her experiences

On the evenings of November 4 and 5, practitioners held a group Fa study and discussion. The atmosphere was very dynamic and the discussions continued after midnight.

In the early morning of November 6, practitioners went to Haeundae, one of the tourist attractions in Busan. At the Haeundae Beach near the site where the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is to be held, practitioners formed the Chinese Characters, "Falun Dafa." They then held a rally at the Busan Train Station Plaza to call for the end of the persecution. Following the rally, the practitioners prepare for another parade.

Practitioners held a rally at the Busan Train Station Plaza and read a statement to call for the end of the persecution

Group practice before the parade

The parade started from the train station and went across Busan's downtown (6 kilometers). The practitioners' procession consisted of more than 100 banners and flags, a waist drum troupe, an anti-torture exhibit and a dance troupe. The spectacular site attracted many people. Some couldn't help saying, "Wow, Falun Gong! So many people!"

This large parade, with so many practitioners, is the first one in Busan and made a sensation in the local community. Several media outlets came to report on the event. In the days leading up to the APEC in Busan, the parade left a deep impression in the hearts of local residents and tourists alike, and demonstrated the beauty of Falun Dafa.

Group practice at the beach

Chinese character line up: "Falun Dafa"

On the eve of President Bush's visit to Asia, Falun Gong practitioners in the greater Washington, DC area rallied at Farragut Square near the White House at noontime on November 10. They called on Mr. Bush to request that the Chinese leaders end the persecution of Falun Gong, release eight practitioners who have been sentenced to long prison terms and allow persecuted Falun Gong children to come abroad.

Farragut Square is surrounded by many office buildings of major media outlets, federal government branches and national think tanks. As the rally was held at lunchtime, there were a lot of passersby, and many of them stopped to watch the practitioners' anti-torture exhibition and listen to the rally speeches.

A practitioner re-enacting one of the torture methods used in China against Falun Gong practitioners

passersby watching the rally

Passersby reading truth-clarifying posters

Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Wang Zhiwen was unlawfully sentenced to 16 years in prison, one of the eight longest sentences handed down to practitioners. Ms. Wang Xiaodan, the daughter of Mr. Wang, made a special trip from Texas to this rally in order to call for the US government to rescue her father. At the rally, Ms. Wang said, "After the Christmas of 1999, I saw my father for the first time on TV since his arrest. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison. I noticed that his face was swollen due to being punched, and his hair had turned gray. My father appeared to become much older all of sudden. I didn't dare to imagine what kind of torture he was subject to."

Wang Xiaodan voiced her wish for her father's release

Following her father's path, this recent graduate of the University of Texas just became a transportation engineer. She took a day off to join this rally. Xiaodan said:, "In the past several years, news about my father has become less and less. My father is a good father and a kind person. He raised me up by himself and I miss him very much. In the meantime, I am also very worried about his safety."

The Chinese Communist Party's persecution against Falun Gong has lasted more than 6 years. According to Clearwisdom.net, more than 2,780 practitioners have been verified as persecuted to death, while the actual number is far beyond this figure. During this unprecedented persecution, many married couples were persecuted death or one was detained with the spouse murdered by the authorities. Their children thus have been orphaned.

In addition, besides countless practitioners and their relatives being persecuted, those who have supported practitioners have also been suppressed. For example, Attorney Gao Zhisheng's law firm in China was recently closed by the community authorities after he published his open letter urging the government to stop the persecution of Falun Gong. Mr. Gao is rated as No.1 of the ten best lawyers in China.

Attorney Martin McMahon gives a speech at the rally

In 2002, more than 50 Falun Gong practitioners filed a lawsuit in the Washington, DC District Court against China's Ministry of State Security, Ministry of Public Security, and China's CCTV, charging the defendants with harassing Falun Gong practitioners in the United States. Martin McMahon, attorney for the practitioners in this case, came to the rally with his colleagues to voice his support for attorney Gao Zhisheng. Mr. Martin stated, "Just as former President Ronald Reagan told Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall, we hope that President Bush can tell Hu Jintao to dismantle the Internet blockage and to give Chinese freedom and other basic rights enshrined in the Chinese Constitution. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom released its 2005 annual report on May 11. In the report, China is listed as one of the 11 countries designated as severe violators of religious freedom, referred to as "countries of particular concern," or CPC's. This is the 7^th time for China to be listed as a CPC since 1999. Dr. Feuerberg, an employee of the US Department of Transportation, read this report and a section of another Department of State report's on the persecution of Falun Gong.

Professor Liu of American University stated, "Among all the human rights breaches of the Chinese Communist Party, the persecution of Falun Gong is the most widespread, brutal, evil and secretive one. However, practitioners' unprecedented peaceful resistance to the persecution has encouraged and inspired many suppressed Chinese to step forward to safeguard their own basic rights. It is proper to state that Falun Gong practitioners are the backbones of all persecuted Chinese. Therefore, support for practitioners is support for all Chinese. We hope that President Bush can realize this fact and ask Hu Jintao to end the persecution during his meeting with Hu. In addition, this request also falls in line with the founding principles of the US and will truly benefit Chinese and Americans."

The "Truth-Compassion-Forbearance" Fine Arts Exhibition opened recently in four locations in Hualian County, Taiwan. The exhibit was shown at Hualian County's National Dong Hwa University from October 12 to October 19, National Hualian University of Education from October 21 to October 26, the Hualian County Council Building from October 27 to October 30 and the Hualian City Office from October 31 to November 4. The successful exhibitions received positive feedback and great support from local governments and the general public.

The artwork was created by a group of established artists of different backgrounds. They are all Falun Dafa practitioners who have improved their health and spirit through the practice. Using traditional art techniques, the artists embody in their artwork the characteristics of brightness, purity, compassion and harmony between heaven and mankind. The kind and upright thoughts the artists put into creating their works were felt by the visitors to the exhibition, who were bathed in an atmosphere of compassion and peace and who gained an authentic experience of beauty.

The fine arts exhibition has toured around many countries in America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Following its opening session in Taipei, which was its first stop in Taiwan, the exhibit toured many universities in different counties of Taiwan, including Taoyuan, Xinzhu, Miaosu, Taizhong, Zhanghua, Yunlin, Tainan, Gaoxiong, Pingdong and Yilan. It was warmly received by people everywhere it toured.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Yang Wenchi, from the Hualian County Council, said in his speech, "Falun Dafa is a righteous way. I would like to thank you all for your contributions, including Master Li, and all the Falun Gong practitioners who have persisted in your belief in 'Truth-Compassion-Forbearance' and your efforts to safeguard the truth. I express my deepest respect."

Speaker of Hualian County Council, Mr. Yang Wenchi, gives a speech

Deputy County Chief, Mr. Zhu Jingpeng, gives a speech

Deputy Speaker of Hualian Council, Mr. Lin Lianming, gives a speech

Deputy County Chief, Mr. Zhu Jingpeng, said, "When I visited Singapore in August, I saw Falun Gong practitioners working hard to clarify the truth in the public square for the sake of Truth, Compassion, Forbearance, and for peace and justice. They shared the best thing in the world with people. I would like to welcome the 'Truth-Compassion-Forbearance' Fine Arts Exhibition to our county on behalf of County Chief Mr. Xie Shenshan."

Hualian County Chief Mr. Xie Shenshan signs his name to the guest book

Signatures of local government officials

Deputy Speaker of the County Council, Mr. Lin Lianming, said the communist system in Mainland China is anti-humanity and anti-morality, causing Mainland China to be the only country in the world to persecute Falun Dafa while the rest of the world welcomes Falun Dafa. He hoped that more people would pay attention to the persecution through this exhibition and wished the exhibition great success.

Mayor Cai Qita said, "I have practiced Falun Gong for three months and experienced the profound nature of Falun Gong. I am here to welcome the fine arts exhibition. I hope that the citizens of Hualian will come to enjoy this significant and profound art exhibition. They will certainly have a heart-refining experience when they view the artwork."

Mr. Li Qiuwang, a representative of Hualian citizens, said that he had heard from the media about the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) violation of basic human rights, like suppressing Falun Gong and limiting the freedom to gather and to form organizations, but he hadn't known how serious the persecution was until he visited the exhibition. He said he could feel Falun Gong practitioners' spirit of truthfulness, compassion and steadfastness through the artwork. He wished every Falun Gong practitioner peace and happiness.

Mayor Cai Qita gives a speech

Mr. Li Qiuwang, a representative of Hualian citizens, gives a speech

Mr. Lai Linjie, Deputy Chair of Citizen's Representative Committee, signs his name in the guest book

A woman who moved from Mainland China to Taiwan after she got married took the opportunity to visit the last exhibition session in Hualian. She said she used to practice Falun Gong in Mainland China, but when the persecution started, she quit practicing for fear of implicating her family. She was deeply touched by this art exhibition and decided to resume her cultivation in Falun Dafa.

Three years ago, former County Chief of Hualien, Mr. Zhang Fuxing, sent his greetings to Master Li Hongzhi and Falun Gong practitioners on the tenth anniversary of Falun Dafa's introduction to the world and World Falun Dafa Day. He sent his wishes for the kind people of the world to follow the principles of Truth-Compassion- Forbearance.

Letter of greeting to Master Li Hongzhi from the Hualian County government in May, 2002

Letter of greeting to Master Li Hongzhi from the Hualian County Council in May, 2002

Falun Gong teaches practitioners to improve their mind and heart nature and morality, and has had an amazing health effect. One hundred million people in the world have benefited from it. Governments and organizations in different countries have issued more than one thousand three hundred awards and recognitions to Falun Dafa. In Taiwan, there are more than one thousand group exercise sites. Governments and all parts of society have given Falun Gong great recognition.

The brutal persecution of innocent Falun Gong practitioners by former president Jiang Zemin's regime has lasted six years. The lies of the CCP's propaganda have been exposed by Falun Gong practitioners' persistent truth-clarification. After learning the true story of Falun Gong, many people signed a petition opposing the persecution.

There is a heavenly principle that states: "Good will be rewarded and the evil will be met with retribution." Falun Gong practitioners in Hualian warn those who persecute Falun Gong to stop their wrongdoing and to choose a better path for the sake of their futures.