News and Events from around the World -- May 20, 2007

Issued by Clearwisdom Net

Content


  • Canada Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference Concludes  and Master Li Sends Congratulations

  • Falun Gong Practitioners Worldwide Protest the Deportation of UN Refugee by Russian Government

  • Sydney Mayor Urges Australian Government to Respond to Organ Harvesting Allegations

  • Korea: The Divine Land Marching Band Performs at Parliament Plaza



  • Canada Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference Concludes and Master Sends Congratulations

    On May 19, 2007, Canada Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference was held in Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Near two thousands Falun Dafa practitioners participated in the conference. Master Li sent a congratulatory letter to the conference and encouraged practitioners.

    Near two thousand Falun Dafa practitioners participated in the conference.

     

    Falun Gong practitioners share their cultivation experience

     

    Falun Gong practitioners share their cultivation experience

    It was the tenth Canada Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference. More than twenty practitioners shared their experiences in studying the Fa, cultivation, sending forth righteous thoughts, clarifying the truth, and saving sentient beings. There were simultaneous translations in English, French, and Chinese. The conference started at 9 a.m. and concluded successfully at 6 p.m.

    Li Ya enlightened in advising Chinese people to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations: Advising withdrawal is a process to disintegrate CCP party culture and for Chinese people to save themselves. One cannot simply assert who is easy or hard to advise.

    Yuan Ye came to Toronto five years ago to go to school. He actively explained the facts of Falun Gong to teachers and students in school. His graduation thesis was entirely on the facts of the persecution of Falun Gong.

    "I am a student. In school is the best opportunity for me to explain the facts," said Yuan Ye, "Unexpectedly my article was selected as a model article. My teacher read it in other classes. Some students were moved to tears after listening to it. One student shouted 'Falun Dafa is good'."

    There is a flight in from China everyday at the Vancouver Airport. For six years, the Vancouver Airport truth-clarification group continuously explained the facts to Chinese people. The practitioners in the group also provided volunteer service to the airport to help passengers change their flight, tax reimbursement, calling, and luggage pick up. They were accepted by airport administration and security personnel.

    The truth-clarification group and Montreal Chinese New Year Spectacular coordination group also shared their experiences in validating Falun Dafa.



    Falun Gong Practitioners Worldwide Protest the Deportation of UN Refugee by Russian Government

    Early this year, UN refugees Ms. Ma Hui and her daughter were unlawfully abducted and deported by the Russian Government. On May 13, another UN refugee was abducted and deported from Russia. Falun Gong practitioner Gao Chunman is a professor from Tsinghua University, forced to flee China because of the persecution. Growing evidence has shown that Falun Gong practitioners in China have been subjected to brutal torture methods including inhumane organ harvesting. In response to the unlawful deportation, practitioners in the US, Canada, Germany, Finland, Japan and Hong Kong have held activities to protest and condemn the Russian Government for its infringement of international law. Practitioners in Germany have also written to EU members, calling for action.


    Washington DC practitioners protest outside the Russian Embassy


    Hong Kong practitioners and supporters protest outside the Russian Consulate


    Finish practitioners protest outside the Russian Embassy


    San Francisco practitioners protest outside the Russian Consulate

    Plotted Abduction

    The Falun Dafa Information Center has reported the case of 73-year-old Mr. Gao Chunman, a Falun Gong practitioner and a professor from Tsinghua University. Mr. Gao is a United Nations refugee. Mr. Gao's wife, a Russian citizen, said that at 11:30 a.m. on May 13, several plainclothes officials from the Federal Immigration Bureau of Russia deceived them, claiming that they wanted to rent Mr. Gao's house, and entered the home. Without showing any legal documents, they cut the phone line and abducted Mr. Gao. Mr. Gao's wife pointed out that the whole procedure was similar to what happened to Ma Hui, a practitioner recently abducted and deported back to China by the Russian government.

    As the abduction took place on a Sunday, all related agencies including the office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and human rights organizations were closed. It is evident that the Russian Government purposefully chose the abduction date so that no rescue efforts could be taken in time.

    Deportation Order Given by the Highest Level

    According to a deputy director of the UNHCR, the director of the Russian Immigration Bureau said that the deportation order was given by the highest level and he was just to execute the order.

    On the afternoon of May 13, a group of practitioners were arrested when they gathered to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day. Police officers told them that Moscow had ordered a ban on all public Falun Gong activities.

    The (Chinese Communist Party) CCP Uses New Tactics to Cover up the Persecution

    The Minghui/Clearwisdom website reported that on the day of the deportation, May 14, Mr. Gao Chunman didn't see any Chinese government officials at the airport when he arrived in Beijing. Mr. Gao went to his son's house in Beijing.

    Reportedly, Russian police are trying to collect more information about Chinese Falun Gong practitioners now living in Russia. Mr. Gao Chunman pointed out that there might be an agreement between the Russian and Chinese governments--the Russian government abducts and deports Chinese Falun Gong practitioners, and to deceive Western society and hide the facts of the eight-year persecution of Falun Gong, the Chinese government doesn't publicly arrest these high profile practitioners.

    Since more and more persecution cases have been exposed, the CCP tries to perpetuate the persecution in a covert way. According to Falun Gong practitioners in China, in recent years, Chinese police often abduct and jail practitioners secretly.

    Practitioners Worldwide Condemn the Deportation

    The deportation incident happened just two days before the EU-China Rights Dialogue, which was to be held in Germany, the capital of the EU Chair country. On May 14, practitioners in Germany wrote to EU members. In addition, they rallied with other European rights groups condemning the persecution of Falun Gong and calling for an open-door human rights dialogue. A representative of Falun Gong practitioners pointed out that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is just playing a game to deceive the public by holding so-called human rights dialogues with western countries. Its sole interest is to deceive the international community and to solicit western countries with commercial interests to become its accomplices in the persecution. Falun Gong practitioners urge western countries: Openly condemn the CCP, uphold justice and help stop the persecution!

    Practitioners in the U.S. and Canada went to their local Russian consulates to protest, urging the Russian government to conform to international law and not follow the CCP in the persecution of Falun Gong because of commercial interests.

    Spokesperson for the Canada Falun Dafa Association, Zhou Limin told the reporter, "Russian authorities deported a Falun Gong practitioner and UN refugee on World Falun Dafa Day, May 13. This is the second time that the Russian authorities have deported Falun Gong practitioners. We are here to appeal to the Russian government not to follow the CCP to participate in the persecution. More importantly, we hope Russia considers its international reputation and makes a right choice for the future of its nation."

    On May 18, Hong Kong practitioners and supporters rallied outside the Russian Consulate to protest the deportation. At the consulate, they read aloud an open letter, which pointed out that the unlawful deportation of the practitioner, an officially recognized UN refugee, by the Russian government violated the UN Refugee Convention. The practitioners urged them not to assist the CCP in the persecution out of commercial interests. Southern Democratic Alliance Chairman James Lung and Sun Bin, a member of the Sun Yat-sen Association, also joined the rally. They called on the Russian authorities to treat Falun Gong practitioners properly.

    On May 17, practitioners in Japan protested outside the Russian Embassy in Tokyo. They called on the Russian government not to be deceived by the CCP, which is doomed for destruction, and to choose to join the rest of the world to uphold justice and end the persecution.

    Vice-President of the European Parliament: All Countries Should Support Falun Gong Practitioners

    The Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mr. Edward McMillan-Scott gave a public speech at a conference held before the EU-China Rights Dialogue. He said that he went to China last year and personally met a witness and victim of the persecution who testified to the CCP's atrocities of organ harvesting. McMillan-Scott stressed that the Canadian report on organ harvesting is absolutely reliable and emphasized that the 2008 Olympic Games should not be held by the CCP regime which repeatedly violates human rights. He also said that, at the very least, they must allow the UN Human Rights Rapporteur to enter detention centers, labor camps, prisons and police units to perform independent investigations. He also suggested that the EU-China Rights Dialogue should be suspended.

    Mr. McMillan-Scott also urged all countries to stand up to support Falun Gong. He said that China is being controlled by a totalitarian, crude and brutal regime. Similar to the destruction of the communist party in Eastern Europe, the persecution of religious groups may soon lead to the collapse of the CCP. Standing in front of the Berlin Wall, which was a symbol of the division of Europe, Mr. McMillan-Scott said that people should pray that the tens of thousands or even millions of Chinese detained in labor camps would be soon released and the CCP regime would soon collapse. He also said that all countries around the world should support Falun Gong practitioners who are being harshly persecuted by the CCP.


    Sydney Mayor Urges Australian Government to Respond to Organ Harvesting Allegations

    Falun Dafa practitioner and artist Ms. Zhang Cuiying recently received many letters from Australian politicians expressing their concern over her lawsuit against former Chinese Communist Party (CCP) head Jiang Zemin and their concern over the allegations of organ harvesting. Ms. Zhang sued Jiang Zemin for torture and crimes against humanity.

    Sydney Mayor Ms. Clover Moore copied Ms. Zhang two letters that she wrote to Australian Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs and New South Wales (NSW) minister of health. In the letters, Ms. Moore expressed her concern over the CCP's atrocities of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners.

    In the letter to Alexander Downer, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Moore requested: "Could you please review the reports on illegal organ harvesting in China and review the Australian Government's policy on these activities in China, consider my constituents' recommendations, and inform me what action you have taken?" In the letter to NSW Minister of Health, she requested: "Could you please review procedures in NSW health services and health training protocols to prevent training or support for the illegal harvesting of organs, and inform me what action you have take."


    Mayor Moore's letter to Minister of Foreign Affairs


    Mayor Moore's letter to NSW Minister of Health

    Australian Investigation Report into the Organ Harvesting Atrocities Is Underway

    When the CCP's atrocities of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners were exposed, the international community was shocked. Last October, Australian activists established the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) Australia Chapter. Currently, the group has drawn more than 80 members including many prominent figures such as senators Andrew Bartlett, Kerry Nettle and Barnaby Joyce and MP Chris Bowen.

    Former Canadian Secretary of State (Asia Pacific) David Kilgour recently stressed that it is time to reconsider whether the 2008 Olympic Games should be held in Beijing. He urged the public to call governments and athletes to boycott the Olympic Games in Beijing. Kilgour believes that the organ harvesting practice is completely against the spirit of the Olympic Games and the CCP regime will only use the Olympic Games to reinforce its legitimacy. A spokesperson for CIPFG Australia said that most members of the coalition concurred with Mr. Kilgour's position. The CIPFG requests unconditional release of all unlawfully detained Falun Gong practitioners and lawyers who have bravely defended Falun Gong. The coalition also requests the CCP regime to allow it to perform an independent investigation in China.

    In addition, the spokesman stated that CIPFG Australia is planning to write an independent investigation report regarding the organ harvesting allegations. The coalition also hopes that the Australian government will take concrete measures to stop the atrocities. Such measurements can include the following:



    Korea: The Divine Land Marching Band Performs at Parliament Plaza

    On May 12, 2007, the Divine Land Marching Band of Korea, consisting of Falun Gong practitioners, was invited by the organization H2O to perform for the "Children's Hearts" Festival held at the Parliament Plaza. Mr. Li Jingzai, the chairman of H2O and a parliament member, said that the performances by the Divine Land Marching Band are pure and healthy, and perfect for this activity--so H2O invited them to perform.

    The band

    Mr. Li Jingzai, the chairman of H2O and parliament member

    May, 2007 is "Family Month" in Korea, and the Korean Parliament opens Parliament Plaza for one day to support the "Children's Hearts" activity. More than twenty thousand people attended the activity.

    The host of the activity introduced the Divine Land Marching Band to the audience: "The band consists of Falun Gong practitioners, who cultivate according to the principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." The band has performed in many cities around the world, and today they are going to play the songs "Falun Dafa is Good" and "The Fa Rectifies the Universe."

    The performances by the band were very welcomed by the audience.

    The band was set up one year ago and has performed at many activities. Due to the pressure and lies of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), many people in Korea didn't know the facts about Falun Gong.

    Recently, the CCP tried to interfere with the Divine Performing Arts' performances in Korea, but failed. The CCP's evil behavior made people want to know more about Falun Gong and made many people, including the parliament members and H2O members, go to watch the art troupe's show. They wanted to know why the CCP is so afraid of a performing arts show.

    Mr. Quan Yongyou, the director of the Divine Land Marching Band, said that the CCP's interference is futile. In Korea, the CCP's interference actually promoted Falun Gong. A lot of people are curious about Falun Gong now and want to know what the facts are.

    Mr. Quan said that the world needs "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," so more and more people want to learn Falun Gong and more and more organizations are inviting Falun Gong practitioners to perform at their activities.

    After the activity, Ms. Shen,  a famous violinist and member of H2O, telephoned Mr. Quan, saying "Your performance was excellent."