Promoting and Validating Dafa at the First Anniversary of Macao's Re-unification with China

"Don't voluntarily let the evil take you away." (Rationality)

Earlier in December 2000, to prepare for the celebration of the 1^st Anniversary, Macao police suspended the regular vacations of their officers and beefed up security measures. They used all kinds of means (including illegal ones) to persecute and suppress Falun Gong practitioners in Macao. They checked IDs, forced registration and form filing, monitored around the clock, took secret photos, etc.. Some practitioners reported to the police station that they were being followed. But the police said that they would not accept the complaint because no harm had been done to anyone. They even suggested that the practitioners themselves follow their followers, if they wish, which is a completely ridiculous and sarcastic notion.

At noon, December 18, reporters from several newspapers, radio stations and TV stations interviewed Falun Gong practitioners at a coffee shop. Before midnight, some wicked policemen conspired to take away all Falun Gong practitioners before Jiang Zemin's visit. They fabricated evidence such as possession of firearms, drug trafficking, possessing contraband, illegal residence and raided some practitioners' houses using these excuses. They left no stones unturned. After the search, they took away Falun Gong books and T-shirts. They also arrested whole families, including non-practitioners and children. Some practitioners resisted the arrest following Master's teaching in Rationality, "Don't voluntarily let the evil take you away... The actions the evil forces are now adopting in the persecution of Dafa and its practitioners are extremely wicked and shameful, and they fear these will be exposed... We must expose their evil to the public." The practitioners called the news media to report the event. After several failed attempts by the police to block the phone calls, the evil police officers ran away when the reporters arrived. They were so afraid of the news media that they turned their backs toward the cameras so that their faces would not be exposed to the whole world.

On the morning of December 19, more reporters arrived at the practitioner's house to interview. The reporters told the practitioners that the police had surrounded the whole building. The police checked all the reporters' IDs. "You will get arrested if you step out of the building right now" the reporters warned the practitioners. The practitioners recalled Master's words: "Getting arrested is not the purpose. Validating Dafa is truly glorious--it is to validate Dafa that you step forward. Since you step forward, you should try to succeed in validating the Fa--this is the real purpose of stepping forward."(Rationality) Taking advantage of the circumstance, they decided to hold a news conference inside the house. In the living room, they set up the banner of Zhen, Shan, Ren and the Falun emblem. They also displayed the slogan: "Jiang Zemin can't escape the historic responsibility." During the news conference, the practitioners introduced Falun Gong to the media. They also called for stopping the persecution of Falun Gong in China. At the request of the reporters, practitioners demonstrated Falun Gong exercises to the media.

At 3PM, several dozen reporters arrived. Knowing very well that police and undercover agents were surrounding their house, three practitioners in this family walked out of the house and made their way towards Yiyuan Park. They carried large banners that said, "Falun Dafa: Zhen-Shan-Ren", and "Jiang Zemin can't escape the historic responsibility." Shortly thereafter, police, undercover agents and police vehicles followed them. During their march, the three practitioners repeatedly shouted to the public, "Falun Dafa, Zhen-Shan-Ren. Falun Dafa is great. Give Falun Dafa it's reputation back. Jiang Zemin can't escape the historic responsibility. Police are violating the law by arresting peaceful people." Dozens of reporters were on site to record the event.

At the same time, at other locations in Macao, many Falun Gong practitioners from Macao and overseas were also approaching Yiyuan Park. Some began to practice the exercise. Others held up banners and set up photo displays. Some had just arrived. The police started to arrest people and violated the law in public. Reporters took photos and made videotapes. Many reporters supported the just actions of practitioners and called on the police to demand an account of why they arrested people. "What have they done to be arrested? Stop treating people this way."

About 3:30 PM, police took 30 practitioners to the police station. During registration, a police officer asked a clerk to search a practitioner and strip his yellow T-shirt [with Falun Gong slogans]. He also ordered to lock this practitioner in a single cell. The practitioner told the police that stripping one's T-shirt is a violation of the law and of human rights. After another police officer's intervention, the officer did not pursue this issue any further. The practitioner was held in a single glass cell. He practiced the five exercises calmly. Other practitioners who were held in a large room practiced the exercises in a group. During their practice, a police officer wanted to ask questions, but when he saw the situation, he changed his mind. "Let's wait a while. Don't disturb their practice." We can see even non-practitioners were re-positioning themselves.

A Powerful Display of Falun Dafa in Macao

At 10 AM, December 19, 2000, a press conference was held in a practitioners' house.

12 PM, practitioners from Hong Kong held a press conference in their Hong Kong residence.

1PM, about 30 Hong Kong practitioners left for Macao.

1:30PM, practitioners went to the harbor to greet the Hong Kong practitioners, but were stopped by police.

2PM, over ten Hong Kong practitioners arrived at Macao. They made their way to the Yiyuan Park.

3PM, some Macao practitioners marched towards Yiyuan Park with large banners.

Shortly after 3PM, more practitioners arrived at Yiyuan Park from different locations.

All of a sudden, practitioners in yellow T-shirts were seen everywhere. Nervous police were struggling to contain the people. They realized that it's very difficult to do so and initiated peaceful dialogue. After 5PM, a senior officer met with practitioners. During the meeting, police and other staff noticed the yellow T-shirts and the words, Zhen-Shan-Ren. Master Li has told us: "Currently, all the evil forces in the Cosmo have been eliminated. Fa-rectification within the three realms is also completed." (Get Rid of Your Final Attachment) Master Li also said at the north American Great Lakes Falun Gong Conference, "Wicked people will lose their spirit once the evil elements are eliminated." After several negotiation and discussion, the police finally agreed to allow group practice and display of banners at a designated area.

Agreements on several key points took several rounds of negotiation. For example,

1. Originally, police agreed to give us permission for only one day, December 20, to peaceably assemble and validate the Fa. The practitioners insisted on both the 20^th and the 21^st, because Jiang Zemin left for Beijing on the 21^st.
2. Initially, police declared that only Macao permanent residents could participate. To this request, practitioners countered with three points:

1. Macao's law does not specify this.
2. In many other area outside of Macao, people of all nationalities are allowed to participate in similar events;
3. Police should treat practitioners in a peaceful manner.

Because Falun Gong activities are spontaneous, no one knows who may show up and where. Finally, the police agreed to allow non-residents to participate, but asked the practitioners to demonstrate and show orderly conduct.

3. Police also asked that no personal attack on the government leaders be made in the wording of the banners. Practitioners explained to them that Falun Dafa requires that the practitioners follow the principles of Zhen-Shan-Ren, and that we will remain peaceful and compassionate. We let them know that in China, hundreds of millions of practitioners are facing persecution; none of the practitioners resort to violence or criminal conduct; we do not carry out personal attacks. On the other hand, we must display the banner that says, "Jiang Zemin can't escape the historic responsibility." for three reasons:

1. The purpose of this activity is to spread the truth and reveal Jiang Zemin's violent persecution. The persecution must stop.
2. Overseas practitioners came to make their voices heard by Jiang Zemin. They absolutely will not agree to remove this banner.
3. The banner is not a personal attack. One must face the consequence of one's own conduct. History will be the judge.

The police countered without direct argument on these points. The agreement to allow a two-day activity was reached.

When the detained practitioners heard the agreement, everyone felt that it was the Dafa's power and the Master Li's compassion that made the difference. At this moment, two police officers rushed into the detention room and accused the practitioners of getting them in trouble. For several hours, the practitioners had hung the banner that says, "Jiang Zemin can't escape the historic responsibility" outside the window facing the busy street. Someone called the police. At 8:30PM, police released all Macao practitioners. At 9PM, they also released overseas practitioners and sent them back to Hong Kong.

"If it does not irritate a person psychologically, it does not count or is useless and cannot make him or her improve." (Zhuan Falun)

Right after I got home at 10PM, I informed some Hong Kong and Macao practitioners about the agreement to allow group practice. I later browsed the Clearwisdom web site and contacted the news media. Several practitioners called to ask about the agreement. They wondered if the police provided anything in writing. At first, I was not about to have second thoughts. But at 2AM, I was still receiving calls from Hong Kong, asking whether the police lied. I began to feel uneasy. I began to worry about several scenarios:

1. Police threatened some overseas practitioners that they may send them to Mainland China.
2. A Macao practitioner was missing that day since 12 Noon. We are afraid that the police indeed sent him (or her) to the Mainland.
3. The designated practice site was Sun Yat-sen Park, which is right next to Zhuhai City, China.
4. Permission for public gathering is under the powers of the city council. Police has no jurisdiction over such matters. If the police indeed lied, what kind of damage will Dafa endure? How much will the practitioners have to suffer?

It was not a pleasant picture. How could I not have neglected to ask for a written permission? Why was I so confident? Why did I trust the police?

I am willing to bear the full responsibility. But what help does that provide? I was very concerned and felt sick in my heart. In the meantime, I reminded myself to stay firm. Master Li said: "It's futile for the evil forces that want to damage us to attempt to destroy us - nothing like this has happened in history, nor do humans have the ability to do that." (Master Li's Speech at the US West Falun Gong Conference, October 2000, San Francisco). I recalled the detailed negotiations with the police and felt that it was unlikely that the police would lie. But I took this as lessons to be learned. I will not be so careless in the future.

Next morning, December 20^th, was rainy. The sky was dark. At 9 AM we arrived at the designated practice site. We saw a large number of policemen arresting practitioners and pushing them into police vehicles. The scene was quite similar to that in Beijing. We felt betrayed. We had an agreement with the police department yesterday. Now the special police are arresting us. How mean! We jumped out of the car and rushed to the special police. We told them about the agreement. At first, they didn't want to listen and continued the arrests. Later, we contacted the police headquarter. After the senior officers' intervention, they finally released all the practitioners. Master has said, "We must break through every barrier; demons are everywhere." (Tempering One's Mind and Heart in Hong Yin [Master Li's poem collection])

The sky turned clear and the sun light was shining. People can see the banners and the Falun emblem in the park. Reporters were busy taking pictures of the Falun emblem, Zhen-Shan-Ren, and other banner. They especially liked the banner "Jiang Zemin can't escape from the historical responsibility."

Eighteen practitioners practiced five sets of exercises in front of hundreds of police, several dozens of reporters and many citizens. We heard a reporter's remark: "Had they let them practice in the beginning, none of this mess would have happened." After the practice, all practitioners left peacefully. They spent the afternoon in group study and experience sharing.

December 21^st at the same place, we practiced the exercises for two hours. This time, two police departments sent high rank officers to monitor the event. Practitioners recited Lunyu and several poems in Hong Yin. This activity of spreading and defending Dafa has concluded.

Practitioners from Hong Kong and Australia participated in this event. We believe that Master Li has given us the opportunity to reveal the truth to people.

We want to thank the reporters for their positive coverage of this Dafa-validating event.

A Falun Gong Practitioner in Macao

December 22, 2000