News and Events from Around the World -- July 29, 2005

Issued by Clearwisdom Net

(Clearwisdom.net) To help stop the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong, on July 22, 2005, after holding a parade in Auckland, Falun Gong practitioners held another parade in Wellington and had a rally in front of the Parliament Building.

Parade in Wellington

Parade in Wellington

The parade procession marched through the downtown area, and many people stopped to watch. Practitioners held over 20 banners explaining to people the brutal persecution Falun Gong practitioners have suffered in China. A woman learned about the truth and said, "The CCP is a tiger, it wants to eat people at any time, and we should not think that it is sleeping. Many Western countries take it as a tiger for people to view and appreciate, and many people do business with it. Actually they feed it with money, but it will still turn around and eat people."

A man inquired in detail about the persecution against Falun Gong in China to a practitioner who was handing out materials along the parade route. He said, "I do business with China, but I have never heard about the persecution of Falun Gong in China." When the practitioner affirmed that the persecution is still going on in China, he said, "I'll soon go to China again, I know what I should do."

At 1:00 p.m., the parade procession reached outside of the Parliament Building, where practitioners held a rally. Two practitioners talked about the brutal persecution they personally experienced in China.

Rally in front of the Parliament Building

United Future Party leader Peter Dunne said in his speech at the rally that the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong is not an individual case, "It takes place in the so-called People's Republic of China, and is a systematic persecution of human rights, freedom, and conscience. Everybody, regardless of environment, nationality, background and faith, has an absolute and overwhelming right to their belief, and has the right to express their belief and practice their belief." He appealed, "All New Zealanders should stand with Falun Gong practitioners, expressing our absolute indignation to the Chinese authorities for its allowing the persecution to take place and escalate. And we will try our best to ensure that the Chinese people can enjoy the same basic freedoms, because free people cherish freedom, and cherish independence and human rights."

New Zealand Green Party leader Rod Donald expressed in his speech, "I almost cannot speak. This does not often happen to politicians. This is because I have heard tragic stories of the Chinese government inhumanly suppressing its own people. China is ruled by a cruel dictator, and an autocratic regime that suppresses its own people. China is a kingdom of police, not the People's Republic of China. People should face this point. Too many politicians and too many governments disregard what is happening in China, and since the CCP seized power, it has been going on like this non-stop." Mr. Donald also stated that as a New Zealand MP, he supports Falun Gong practitioners' right to express their own beliefs and opinions everywhere and without fear. He said, "I stand by your side, to urge the CCP to stop the suppression and terror, and stop the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners."

Amnesty International New Zealand Branch president Ced Simpson also attended the rally.

On July 23, the Dominion Post, the largest newspaper in Wellington, made a positive report on the Falun Gong practitioners' parade held on July 22 in Wellington. The report was entitled, "Silent Protest," and was accompanied by a photo of Falun Gong practitioners holding photos of fellow practitioners who have died as a result of the persecution. The report said that a Falun Gong practitioner in her 80s from Hamilton held a photo of an ill practitioner who died as a result of persecution by the CCP for believing in Falun Gong. The report also stated that Falun Gong practitioners from New Zealand gathered in Wellington to protest the CCP's persecution and demonstrated the exercises. These practitioners believe that the practicing way they practice enables people to achieve physical health and inner peace. Many people held photos of those who have died as a result of persecution.

After the parade, practitioners divided into two groups. One headed toward the Chinese Embassy to send forth righteous thoughts, and the other went to Cuba Street in downtown to hold an anti-torture exhibit.

During the anti-torture exhibit, practitioners cooperated quite well, and each did what they should do. Some reenacted the torture methods used in China to persecute fellow practitioners, some handed out truth clarification materials, and some others demonstrated the exercises. Two Western practitioners took turns from beginning to end explaining and exposing the atrocities that are happening in China.q4q

Group practice

The anti-torture exhibit attracted many spectators. People showed great concern over the persecution suffered by Falun Gong practitioners. They stayed for quite some time and carefully read the content of the display boards and flyers specially made by Falun Gong practitioners for the sixth anniversary of July 20. People also asked practitioners how they could help Falun Gong. Many people listened attentively to explanations that explained that facts. They condemned political circles and media around the world who keep silent about the persecution due to their economic concerns. They expressed their indignation against the persecution happening in China.

A young lady of Chinese origin born in New Zealand said while holding back tears, "For simply practicing such a peaceful exercise, one is tortured so severely! Why have I never heard about it? I can't tolerate it, and I can't let it go on, I support you." Many people said, "We support you! We wish you success!" Such voices were expressed from the bottom of people's hearts immediately on the spot. Three women who look like overseas Chinese came to the anti-torture exhibit site twice to verbally abuse practitioners, and were immediately stopped by the audience. A Western lady said to practitioners, "Don't mind what they said. You are so peaceful, but they are there shouting, this forms a sharp contrast. They are truly making trouble. We support you." One Maori pressed his hand in front of his chest to make Heshi gesture and said loudly, "I'm Maori, I know 'Falun Dafa is great!'"

The activity concluded at dusk. Practitioners were pleased that so many kind-hearted people learned the truth.

On July 20, 2005, the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution against Falun Gong practitioners entered its seventh year. Austrian practitioners gathered in Vienna's Stephansplatz (Stephan's Square) to commemorate the victims of the brutal persecution and to let the Austrian people know about the human rights abuses that have been happening to Falun Gong practitioners in China every day since July 20, 1999.

Ever since the persecution started 6 years, the Jiang regime and CCP have been arresting, detaining and torturing innocent practitioners, resulting more than 2,700 deaths. Besides physical torture, the regime has also been brutally torturing practitioners mentally and used the state-run media to turn the public against Falun Gong. This persecution can be best summarized by Jiang's notorious genocide policies: "defame their [practitioners'] reputations, bankrupt them financially and destroy them physically." To let people know the brutality of the persecution, an anti-torture exhibition was held. The practitioners reenacted two of the torture methods employed by Chinese Communist officials in their attempts to force Falun Gong practitioners to renounce their beliefs.

Passersby asked about the persecution of Falun Gong in China	...and signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution
Many people came to learn about the persecution	Many people came to learn about the persecution

Despite the human rights atrocities inflicted upon them, in the past six years, practitioners have followed Falun Gong's principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance and have continued in their tireless campaigns of peaceful resistance.

Here in the west, we have the rights of religious freedom, freedom of expression and the right to bring injustice before the courts. Such freedom does not exist for the citizens of China. Therefore, many have filed lawsuits against Jiang Zemin and his followers in many European countries as well as the U.S., Canada and Australia.

The situation has turned for the better because of practitioners' persistent efforts worldwide, and the support by all kind-hearted people. As long as this persecution has not come to an end, however, we will continue our efforts to make a difference to the victims in China and give a voice to the practitioners held in prisons, slave labor camps or re-education camps.

On July 19, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners from Aichi County came to Glory Park Plaza in the center of Nagoya City to clarify the truth to the public and call for the end of the persecution of Falun Gong that has lasted six years in China.

The park is in the most prosperous area of Nagoya City, with a lot of offices and stores nearby. Early in the morning, Falun Gong practitioners set up display boards in the park to introduce the wide spread of Falun Gong all over the world and expose the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong. Practitioners also hung up banners reading, "Falun Dafa is Good," "Truthfulness Compassion Forbearance," and "China: Stop Persecuting Falun Gong." The banners were very eye-catching and could be seen from far away.

Banners and display boards in the center of Nagoya

People view the truth clarification boards

Passing out truth-clarifying flyers

Soon after the display boards were set up, a middle-aged man came to watch. A practitioner greeted him and found out he was from Northeast China and is now a chef in Japan. He had a day off so he came to the park. They talked a lot about Falun Gong and the practitioner gave him some Chinese newspapers. The man was very willing to tell the facts to his relatives and friends in China.

A young man had come to Japan to visit his girlfriend. He said he saw Falun Gong practitioners in Sydney, Australia wearing the same yellow T-shirts printed with words calling for the end of the persecution. He asked many questions about Falun Gong and said he would show the flyers in Japanese to his girlfriend and let his friend in Beijing know what he learned about Falun Gong in foreign countries.

The EXPO 2005 Aichi Japan is close to Nagoya. A lot of people in the streets were going to the EXPO. Many of them visited the EXPO and also learned the truth about Falun Dafa.

About 12PM, a woman in her 40's and two children came to ask more about Falun Gong. She looked Chinese. She asked many questions, from "What is Falun Gong?" to "Why does the CCP want to persecute Falun Gong?" The practitioners answered her questions. The lady said she lived in Tokyo and came here to visit the EXPO. Yesterday, they went to the EXPO and today they came to tour Nagoya and happened to meet the Falun Gong practitioners.

After she learned the truth, she wanted the practitioners to talk to her two sons, so a practitioner talked to the two boys in Chinese and Japanese.

In the afternoon, when the practitioners were ready to pack up the display boards and leave, a group of westerners in red T-shirts came to the park. A practitioner gave them some flyers and asked them if them knew about Falun Gong. One man said he knew a lot but others said they didn't. So the practitioner began to introduce Falun Gong and talk about the six-year-long persecution in China. He also talked about his own experiences when he visited China on a business trip. Because he clarified the truth of Falun Gong, he was deported back to Japan by the Chinese authorities. These westerners were surprised to know that such severe human rights violations were still happening in China.

This group of westerners had EXPO badges on their T-Shirts, as well as many souvenirs from different countries. The practitioner learned that they came from Texas in the United States. Their non-profit organization had some activity in EXPO, so they would be staying in Japan for a week. This day, their work was completed early, so they came out to tour the city. It looked like they had a long-standing predestined relationship with Dafa and so traveled such a long way to learn the truth.

The temperature in Nagoya was above 30 degrees Celsius, but the practitioners had no complaints about the weather. They just wanted to help more people learn the truth and end the persecution earlier.

July 14 is the French National Day. Besides other celebration activities, on this day of every year, a grand military review is held on Champs Elysees Avenue in Paris. Tens of thousands of people, including many from other provinces, come out to the streets to participate in the celebration. On this holiday, Falun Gong practitioners held activities at La Place des Innocents (near Pengpidu Art Centre) to promote Falun Dafa and raise awareness of the persecution.

Falun Gong exercises demonstration

Waist drum performance

A "Falun Dafa" banner was hung in a prominent position between the trees. Exhibition boards were displayed, introducing how Falun Gong has spread all over the world and describing how Jiang Zemin and the Chinese Communist Party have colluded to carry out a systematic and brutal campaign of persecution against Falun Gong practitioners. An information booth was set up nearby, which has Falun Dafa introduction fliers in more than 10 languages. A group of practitioners demonstrated the beautiful, easy and relaxing Falun Gong exercises, while some also performed traditional Chinese dancing and waist drumming. In the meantime, another group of practitioners distributed leaflets and answered questions raised by the public.

Dance: Celestial maidens scattering flowers

Dance: Silk Fan

Many passersby were drawn to the site by the peaceful exercises, the sound of the drums and the graceful dancing. After watching the performances, many people went to the information booth to sign the petition expressing support for Falun Dafa. Some of them talked with practitioners to get more information and said that they would like to go to a practice site to learn the exercises.

A civilian studying the posters

A lady signing the practitioners' petition

Many kind-hearted French people found it difficult to understand why the CCP would brutally persecute such a peaceful practice. Practitioners said: The CCP controls China by violence and lies. It can't put up with the fact that people believing in "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" outnumbered CCP members. Many people came to understand upon hearing practitioners' such explanation.

The information booth

A gentleman, who was a freelance journalist for several TV stations in France, told practitioners that he knew the human rights record of China was terrible. For criticizing China's human right problems, he said that one of his reporter friends was deported by the CCP. He left his friend's contact address so that practitioners could send her some information. Before he left, he also wished practitioners the best of luck and told them to keep up their good work.

After reading the exhibition boards exposing the persecution, a French couple that just came back from China said, "We didn't know that such filthy facts are behind the economic prosperity in China."

After reading the exhibition boards, a French girl felt not only indignant but also helpless. So she asked practitioners how she could help to end the persecution. They encouraged her to let others know about the persecution and to remember in her heart that in the end good will prevail over evil and justice will be done.

The event lasted near three hours in baking sun. With great compassion, practitioners tirelessly told the French people the facts about Falun Dafa again and again, hoping that all of them will have a bright future.