Clearwisdom Weekly

On July 21, 2005, more than a thousand Falun Gong practitioners from around the world gathered in the US capital, Washington, DC to hold a series of activities including a rally, parade and candlelight vigil, to expose and condemn the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for brutally persecuting Falun Gong. At the same time, they called for people from all walks of life to stop the CCP's state-run terrorism, and to end the CCP's brutal persecution of Falun Gong that is still going on.

Anti-persecution rally

On July 20, 1999, the CCP regime, driven by Jiang Zemin who had hatched a malicious plot, began a six-year long brutal persecution against more than 100 million people in China who practice "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." Since then, Falun Gong practitioners worldwide have come to Washington DC around July 20 to hold a series of activities to oppose the persecution.

Anti-persecution rally

Falun Gong practitioners participating in the rally reiterated that the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong is entirely based on lies. Over the past six years, Falun Gong practitioners inside and outside China have been tenaciously and persistently clarifying the facts. More and more people have seen through the CCP's evil nature. They have broken away from it, opposed it and no longer assisted it to do evil deeds.

One of the coordinators of the activity expressed that since the persecution began, practitioners in Washington DC have been using various peaceful means to help the people learn the truth about Falun Gong and the brutal persecution against Falun Gong practitioners happening in Mainland China. She said, "Every time we held truth clarification activities, many people learned about the truth and would sign the petition to support us. The US congress unanimously passed Resolution No. 188 three years ago, urging the CCP to stop the persecution of Falun Gong. And last year, the House of Representatives also unanimously passed Resolution No. 304, prohibiting the CCP from exporting the persecution of Falun Gong to the US."

The coordinator said, "Since London's terrorist bombings incident, the police everywhere reinforce their guard, but you see, more than a thousand people gather here, not a single police office came around. This is because they trust Falun Gong group. They know that where Falun Gong practitioners gather must be peaceful and in good order."

Grand parade procession set off from the Capitol Hill

Stop the persecution

Expose the brutal torture

Mourning Falun Gong practitioners who have died as a result of persecution

July 20^th six years ago, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) headed by Jiang Zemin launched a large-scale persecution campaign against the Falun Gong spiritual group. According to data from the Minghui website, over the past six years, news from various channels has confirmed that 2711 Falun Gong practitioners have died as a result of persecution. These practitioners were distributed in over 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of the country. On July 20, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners in Ottawa, Canada held activities on Parliament Hill to mourn these practitioners and tell people about Falun Dafa and the facts of the persecution.

Tourists from around the world learn about the facts of Falun Gong on Parliament Hill

In front Canada's Parliament Buildings there is a constant stream of people. Practitioners in white peacefully sat on the lawn to meditate. Some other practitioners introduced Falun Gong to visitors passing by and explained truth about the persecution to them.

Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Zhou Limin said in an interview, "Over the past six years, the persecution has been carrying on while covered by Jiang Zemin regime's lies. From the very beginning, the lies fabricated to slander Falun Gong, included so-called 'self-immolation incident on Tiananmen Square' and '1,600 death cases,' had been spread to all over China by means of the media controlled by CCP. The lies and hatred propaganda were also extended to outside China. Not long ago, the hate crimes group of the Edmonton City Police Department declared that through a year's investigation, it is affirmed that the brochure against Falun Gong published and distributed by the Chinese Consulate in Calgary in 2004 was hate propaganda publication. It has committed an offense against the Canadian criminal law."

Ms. Zhou Limin continued, "Over the past six years, Jiang's regime has been using such method and under the cover of lies, to persecute and torture Falun Gong practitioners physically, mentally and spiritually. Under such a large-scale suppression and persecution, Falun Gong practitioners, however, have been persistently clarifying the facts in a peaceful manner so as to stop the persecution."

Ms. Chen from Mainland China also talked about the persecution she suffered in China for persisting in her belief. She once had a very good education background and job in China, but after July 20, 1999, she has suffered greatly for persisting in her belief in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. She lived under surveillance for a long period of time, her home was once ransacked and she was illegally detained afterwards. Last year, she was even abducted to a brainwashing class and lost her job.

In her speech, Ms. Chen said, "Over the past six years, among fellow practitioners who we used to practice together, some have been illegally detained, sent to forced labor camps or sentenced to prison. Some have been abducted to brainwashing classes to suffer torment both physically and mentally. Some have been expelled from their jobs, their schools, some stay away from home and live a homeless life, and some practitioners' families have been broken up. In front of the huge tribulations, our Falun Gong practitioners have endured with their strong faith and persevering courage. We have unremittingly practiced the principle of 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.' In face of tyranny and violence, we have insisted on the truth unyieldingly, but we have never used violence to fight back. In face of lies, we have only clarified the facts, telling people the facts that 'Falun Dafa is Great', and 'Falun Dafa is a Righteous Way.'"

Ms. Nie in her 70s has experienced tremendous changes both physically and mentally since practicing Falun Dafa. She could not read before, but she can now read Falun Dafa books. Ms. Nie spends much of her time each week telling tourists from around the world about Falun Gong and the persecution on Parliament Hill and other places. She said, "I only want to tell people Falun Dafa is great."

Ms. Diana said in an interview that more and more people have learned about the facts of Falun Gong now. In China, affected by Falun Gong practitioners' anti-persecution movement, more than three million people have publicly withdrawn from the CCP. Time has proved that the persecution will not last long, because good will ultimately triumph over evil.

2711 names of known Falun Gong practitioners who have died as a result of persecution in China were read out one by one in front of the Chinese Consulate in Chicago on the evening of July 19, 2005. Falun Gong practitioners from the Chicago area gathered once again in front of the Chinese Consulate and held a candlelight vigil to mourn Falun Gong practitioners who have died as a result of persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since July 20, 1999. They also strongly protest the CCP's six-year atrocity of persecuting Falun Gong.

Candlelight shone upon each Falun Gong practitioner's solemn and reassuring face, mourning practitioners who have died as a result of the persecution. Six years of persecution has not made this group of people who believe in "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" withdraw. On the contrary, over the past six years, through practitioners' tenacious efforts of clarifying the truth and resisting the persecution, more and more people, including confidential employees of the malevolent CCP, have stepped forward courageously to support Falun Gong and worked together with practitioners to condemn the CCP's atrocities.

A man passed by and learned the facts about Falun Gong from practitioners, and he could hardly imagine that there are still such cruel things happening in modern society. He asked if giving the party money could solve the problem. Practitioners relied, "It is not a matter of money, it is a matter of faith. The CCP does not allow people to have their own belief, which resulted in the persecution that has lasted for six years." Later the man asked again: Is it useful to sit here? Why don't you get into (the consulate)?" Practitioners explained to him the reason why we have been persistently clarifying the facts in front of the Chinese Consulate, and the fact that we have tried several times to enter the consulate to deliver a petition, but have been rejected. When he learned about all this, he said, "Then I'll enter to ask them." He directly walked to the gate of the consulate and knocked at it. Nobody inside the consulate dared to answer him. This passerby said seriously, "Can you give me their telephone number and the name of their consul. I'll call them and let them give me a reason!"

The coordinator of the activity Mr. Xu said, "In July 2004, it took us about 45 minutes to finish reading the list of names of Falun Gong practitioners who have died as a result of the persecution in front of the Chinese Consulate. This year, it takes us one and a half hours to finish reading them. In the past year, names of Falun Gong practitioners who had died several years ago were constantly revealed, at the same time, the CCP has never stopped its persecution of Falun Gong, and the persecution has become even more covert and brutal. The information has been blocked even tightly. Even so, the list of names we read today is far less than the real number of practitioners who have died from the persecution. There was a touching story behind each name. Torture, abuses and even murder, the number of people and families that the CCP's persecution has implicated is actually unimaginably numerous."

In the past six years, Chicago practitioners have held various kinds of gatherings in front of the Chinese Consulate disregard the weather, rain or shine. People here have learned about the persecution. During our activity, many people who drove by either honked the horns to express their support or waved to greet us. A middle-aged westerner even stopped his car and walked to practitioners and raised his two thumbs up to express his respect and support. Practitioners felt grateful to these people and government of Chicago for their support of Falun Gong in the past years. From an encouraging smile from a passerby, to the pass of a city-level resolution to condemn the CCP persecution of Falun Gong, and bringing to justice perpetrators who beat Falun Gong practitioners in front of the Chinese Consulate in Chicago. All this has reflected that people have been awakening after having learned about the truth. When more and more people stand up to condemn the persecution, it will be close to the time when the truth reveals itself. We believe it will also be the time when the perpetrators who have launched and directly participated in the persecution will be held accountable.

July 20, 2005 marked the six year of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s persecution against Falun Dafa. Falun Gong practitioners from Kinki gathered in front of the Chinese Consulate General in Osaka to urge the CCP to stop the persecution of Falun Gong, and call for the consulate staff to learn from Chen Yonglin from Australia to break with the CCP and choose a bright future.

Practitioners sent forth righteous thoughts, practiced the exercises and read a statement to the Chinese consulate in Osaka.

In the statement, practitioners expressed that Jiang Zemin, who was named "Human rights scoundrel" by Amnesty International launched a persecution campaign against Falun Gong six years ago. During the six years, Jiang Zemin has colluded with the CCP to use all the means whatsoever to persecute Falun Gong, as a result, at least 2702 Falun Gong practitioners have died as a result of persecution, and countless families have been torn apart. The CCP suppression of Falun Gong practitioners, people who believe in "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance", has caused the China's social moral standards to slide down rapidly and people's heart to become degenerated.

But the CCP suppression has not destroyed Falun Gong. Instead, Falun Gong has become popular around the world. Falun Gong has flourished in over 70 countries, and has been honored with over 1,400 awards and proclamations from different countries.

In the end, the statement called for the consulate staff to learn from the former first secretary from the Chinese Consulate General in Sydney to step forward courageously to break away from the CCP and choose a bright future for themselves.

It has been six years since Jiang Zemin colluded with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to persecute Falun Gong, and the persecution is still going on today. On July 20, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners went to the Chinese Embassy in Singapore to urge the CCP to stop the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

In the morning of the day, some practitioners held photo display boards and walked to the Chinese Embassy. Some photo display boards bore messages calling for the CCP to stop the persecution of Falun Gong, and some others displayed the photos of Gao Rongrong with explanation on how she was tortured to death. The display boards attracted many people, mostly Chinese people, who came to the embassy. They seriously read the contents on the display boards and accepted truth clarification leaflets from practitioners. Practitioners also told them how the CCP brutally persecutes innocent Falun Gong practitioners.

Practitioners form two Chinese characters, meaning "Fa-rectification" and do the exercises

The embassy staff did not allow practitioners to enter into the embassy to deliver a petition, and required practitioners to remove the truth clarification boards. They even threatened to call the police to come to arrest practitioners. They refused to accept practitioners' letter to the Ambassador Zhang Yun. Until the practitioners left the embassy, no one embassy staff had come out, neither did the police appear.

In conjunction with the global July 20^th appeal for putting an end to the persecution, Singapore practitioners held a large-scale group practice on Sunday ahead of July 20^th. More than a hundred practitioners formed two Chinese characters, meaning "Fa-rectification" and then practiced the five sets of the exercises. The practitioners intended to demonstrate the power of Fa-rectification in the universe by forming the two Chinese characters. After the exercises, practitioners had a group photo taken. The banners practitioners held attracted attention and concerns from people who were doing exercises nearby.

The lawsuit filed by Falun Gong practitioners Zhang Cuiying and Dai Zhizhen is moving forward in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Supreme Court against Foreign Minister Alexander Downer for violating human rights. On July 18, 2005, a Directions Hearing was held in the Supreme Court.

Australian Falun Gong practitioners support the lawsuit against Minister Downer outside the court

At 8:00a.m., Falun Gong practitioners from different areas of Australia gathered outside the Supreme Court of the ACT, supporting the lawsuit against Foreign Minister Downer, who abused his power, sold Australian people's interest, and issued monthly certificates for 42 consecutive months specifically "banning Falun Gong practitioners from displaying banners in front of the Chinese Embassy." The practitioners also condemned Downer's unrighteous action of violating Australian citizens' human rights. After the court hearing, the practitioners held a press conference. Major media outlets in Australia came to conduct interviews. The second court hearing will be held on August 1, 2005.

Over three years ago, Mr. Downer signed a certificate specifically banning Falun Gong practitioners from displaying banner in front of the Chinese Embassy during the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan. The period of validity for the certificate was 30 days. Since then, Downer has signed the special 30-day certificates against Australian citizen's human rights for 42 consecutive months.

In that time, Falun Gong practitioners in Australia have made great efforts to communicate with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but they have not obtained a positive reply. They have no other way but to seek the legal channel to safeguard their rights.

Practitioners' lawyer Bernard Collaery spoke at the press conference. He talked about when a former officer of the 610 Office recently defected to Australia, he brought with him electronic information from the most secret archives of Beijing's Public Security Bureau. In the past three months, we have been translating and reading these shocking materials. Almost every Chinese organization overseas has been infiltrated into by the CCP's public security departments. The 610 Office had a list of 14 main targets which it particularly struck, including Christian churches. The enormous sums of money were spent in monitoring and infiltrating into these Chinese churches and other civil organizations in the United States, Canada and Australia. These sums of money were provided by the CCP government.

The lawyer also stated, "You will read about the billions of dollars being invested in this country, Australia, at the moment. Well I should tell you that a large sum of money is also spent on watching you (Falun Gong). And not only that, penetrating your organizations, and deceiving innocent people. We have studied the Chinese law and constitution, and found out that 610 Office was illegally set up. Australia's government is a weak government. Over the past two years, I've been to many countries, and I have never seen any democratic countries ban Falun Gong banners. In free world, the only country that prohibits Falun Gong banners is Australia. This makes all Australian people worry. This matter has lasted for two years, and would ultimately be resolved through legal channel."

One of the plaintiffs, Zhang Cuiying expressed in her speech that Downer disrespected law, abused his power, and took advantage of privileges granted him by law and parliament to re-issue 30 days' certificates, participating in helping evil CCP to persecute Falun Gong practitioners. During the time of Mr. Downer re-issuing certificates for 41 months, 1187 Falun Gong practitioners died as a result of persecution in China, but the Chinese citizens had known nothing about it. Ms. Zhang said, "The purpose of our holding banners in front of the Chinese embassy is to let more Chinese people know the truth and the facts about the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Downer's action of violating human rights, has brought about great harm to both the Chinese people and Australian people."

Falun Gong practitioner Geoff pointed out at the press conference that the period of validity for the certificate signed by the Foreign Minister is 30 days, and must be submitted to the parliament in seven working days. At parliament, among 82 certificates that ban Falun Gong practitioners from displaying banners in front of the Chinese Embassy, only 78 were put on record. In other words, there were four certificates that were not passed at parliament. What is interesting is on March 6, 2002, when Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan visited Australia, the first certificate Downer signed was not put on record at Parliament. That is to say, in 2002, it was an illegal action of the federal police to remove Falun Gong banners from the outside of the Chinese Embassy. He said, "Every month we tried to communicate with Minister Downer, but he has been refusing to have a dialogue with us, we have no other way but to seek the legal action to resolve it."

The annual Moss Paint-in Festival was held on Moss Street in Victoria on July 16. This is the 18^th anniversary of this event, one of the largest summer activities in Victoria, historic capital of the province of British Columbia. Artworks by 100 artists were displayed in ten regions along the street, attracting tens of thousands visitors. This event certainly offers an excellent opportunity for Falun Gong practitioners to reach the public. Similar to previous years, practitioners rented a booth, which had a banner and posters displayed. The posters contained information about how Falun Dafa has spread around the world, and the truth of the ongoing brutal persecution in China. Practitioners also made Chinese and English truth-clarification materials available to visitors.

Many passersby stopped at the booth to view the posters. After reading the posters, some talked with practitioners for more information. There were also people who showed interest in the Falun Gong exercises upon seeing the practitioners' demonstration. Some even asked practitioners to teach them the exercises right there at the site. There were also many people who said that they knew about the persecution already and that they supported practitioners. Before leaving the booth, many visitors said, "Good Luck!"

The kind-hearted Canadians were shocked by the brutality of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Two middle-school students were shocked by the persecution and said, "We can't believe such brutal things are still happening."

One visitor, a western woman, is a teacher. She said that she assigned the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party as homework to her students so that they could understand the evil nature of the CCP. She also talked about human rights issues in China, including the persecution of Falun Gong. A practitioner talked with her in more detail and gave her as many different materials as she needed.

At one point during the event, two Chinese students stopped at the booth to look at the posters. A practitioner told them more about the truth of the persecution. The two were both listening attentively. One of them said that she often received truth-clarifying emails when she was in China.

Besides clarifying the truth at the booth site, some practitioners went to the art museum, located on Moss Street, to distribute fliers.

The "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" International Art Exhibition visited Calgary from July 15 to 17. Visitors were impressed by the art works and were moved by the true stories behind the paintings.

This exhibition displayed nearly 40 paintings by outstanding practitioner-artists from around the world. It consists of five sections: "Enlightenment," "The Beauty of Practice," "Uncompromising Courage," "Calling for Justice," and "Justice Prevails." The paintings vividly depict the spread of Falun Dafa, the beauty that the practice has brought to practitioners, the uncompromising spirit of practitioners facing brutal persecution, and practitioners' great compassion demonstrated in their persistent truth-clarification efforts. The paintings also reveal the truth about the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) brutal persecution of Falun Gong, as well as the unchangeable, universal principle of karmic retribution.

With the melody of "Pudu" playing in the background, the visitors admired the paintings. While impressed by the beauty and serenity depicted by the images, they were moved by the true stories behind the paintings, as narrated by the practitioners who volunteered to act as hosts.

Now and then, one heard someone exclaiming, "So beautiful!" and "Amazing!" Some said, "I believe in the existence of other dimensions." Some visitors also showed an interest in learning the Falun Gong exercises and asked where they could learn them. There were also quite a few visitors who learned the exercises on the spot, in a corner of the exhibition hall.

When visitors saw the paintings which depicted how practitioners are being persecuted in China, some cried. Many made comments such as, "How sad!" and, "Unbelievable." An elderly woman stayed at the exhibition for quite a while and wept several times. Before she left, she wrote that the exhibition was the answer to life and art.

There were also several Mainland Chinese tourists who came to the exhibition. Some said, "Though I don't practice Falun Gong, I believe that Falun Gong is good." Some said, "We don't believe the propaganda of the Mainland media. For example, the 'Tiananmen Self-immolation' incident reported by the media is apparently a fake." Many Chinese people also asked about issues which they didn't quite understand. After they got clear answers, they thanked the practitioners repeatedly.

It is worth mentioning that a middle-aged woman came back to the exhibition and told a practitioner, "China is experiencing such havoc now. What you are doing is great and you should continue!" This woman works at city hall and had visited the exhibition earlier.

After being shown in Calgary, the "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" International Art Exhibition will then visit Edmonton, the provincial capital of Alberta.