Telling the Truth at UK's Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference

The Liberal Democrat political party held their autumn conference in Bournemouth last week, and Dafa practitioners seized the opportunity and went along to meet the conference attendees. They ranged from Lords, Baronesses, Members of European Parliament, Members of the UK Parliament, Councillors; party activists, NGOs, national organisations, students to diplomats. It was a good opportunity to introduce Dafa to them and help the misinformed to learn the Truth.

Liberal Democrat is the UK's third largest political party. They have 56 MPs in their party and they take human rights issues very seriously.

On the first day, three Dafa practitioners attended the conference and made sure that most people obtained an SOS leaflet. They were well received, as people came forward to offer their help and asked to keep in touch. From then on, help was always at hand when needed.

Although for the remaining four days only one practitioner, who travelled daily over two hours each way by train, could attend, she did not feel she was alone. Since she did not know how to identify the MPs quickly she turned to the security team for help. She explained her purpose to them. Once the security heard the importance of her mission, they were most impressed and set about helping her. They either pointed out the MPs to her, or went over to tell them someone wished to speak to them; or better still led them to her! They also told her the best place to hand out leaflets. When they saw her handing out the leaflets and the SOS video to the MEPs and MPs, they stuck their thumbs up and said, "well done." Many people, when offered the leaflets, said they already had one. She made even more people aware of the persecution when she raised a question in one of the meetings. However, she was a little worried that one of the MPs there did not seem to understand the real situation. She asked Master to arrange an opportunity for her to talk to him before the main conference ended.

On the following day, as soon as the practitioner arrived, Mary, a security team member came up to her asking whether she needed help. From then on, Mary kept an eye on her, took her to ex-party leaders; introduced her to the Christian Forum within the party and invited her to speak to the congregation there; went to the coffee lounge and searched for MPs. Mary was delighted when she found the party lawyer there who ended up spending more time than planned listening to the practitioner.

The ex-chairman of Liberal International was keen to help too. He located one particular MEP who accepted the SOS leaflet and video, and promised to keep raising the issue in the Parliament. The MEP also said that he thinks the government's policy with China is wrong. It should be tougher and that China should be boycotted. He introduced her to the present LI chairman who is already aware of the situation since he has met Dafa practitioners in Canada. He had been hoping we would make contact and was therefore pleased to see the practitioner.

On the same day, two other practitioners travelled from London, one immediately after work and the other after college, to be at a big fringe meeting. The same councillor who offered help on the first day put in a question on behalf of Falun Gong. Although the question was not chosen, we were touched by his move.

Day four saw the launch of the Liberal Democrats Human Rights Group. The main speaker mentioned that the persecution of Falun Gong is one of the main issues they will look into. People were either nominating themselves or their friends to make sure the group was set up quickly.

When it began to drizzle, those other people who were handing out fringe meeting leaflets went for cover while the practitioner remained outside, still offering the leaflets with a warm smile. One councillor walked past and exclaimed, "How noble! Let me take one." By this time, most people said they had already read the leaflet. Some were alarmed to learn the extent of the persecution; others were shocked to hear the persecution of such a peaceful group of people by their own government and most were dismayed at it happening at all and felt sorry for not knowing more.

At the end of the fourth day, the practitioner was reflecting on the day as she sat on the train. She began to wonder whether the delay on the train had anything to do with a relatively uneventful day. She found great comfort in listening to Master's lecture. When the train was approaching her city, she saw that a gentleman sitting across the aisle was a person who refused to listen to the truth when he saw her in the city centre doing hongfa a few weeks ago. He had said that he had great admiration for China and could not bear to see anyone damaging her image. He had said that he taught in a university in a nearby town and knew a lot of Chinese students. The practitioner was glad to see him but was worried that he might shout at her again. However, she remembered that nothing is coincidental. If Master had arranged for him to ride on the same train, then he had been given another chance and she must assist Master. She quickly cleared her mind of all bad notions and then eliminated the evil forces behind him. When she went up to him as they got off the train, he spotted her 'I support Falun Gong' badge and said, "Ah, Falun Gong! I am sorry for what I said. I hope I have not offended you." They spent the next 20 minutes talking about China and about Falun Gong. When he took the SOS video from the practitioner, he said, "I don't know anymore. I am really glad that you came to talk to me. I wish you success in what you do. Thank you." On the way to her car, the practitioner was overjoyed, thinking how many more lives would now be saved after this evening. The evil forces were annoyed; they played tricks on her car alarm remote control.

The final day was hectic. All the party members congregated in the same hall. Mary took the practitioner to the ex-party leader who learned Chinese. He was delighted to see the practitioner. The practitioner greeted an MP who said he had been sent material by the Chinese authorities, the contents of which he does not believe. He took the SOS information and said he would read it and do whatever he could to help. The party leader, flanked by two aides, followed by a camera crew, did not pause for the leaflet but allowed his companion to take it. As the party leader was delivering his speech, the practitioner sent out righteous thoughts.

The conference was drawing to a close. The practitioner was wondering how she should spend the remaining time when she suddenly saw the MP she wanted to talk to standing right in front of her. She went up to him immediately. He was even more pleased at the opportunity to see her again. Like his colleagues, he had also been subjected to the attack of fabricated material. He said he has a lot of contact with the Chinese officials and has been told only their side of the story. He was eager to hear the other side of the story from us and asked for information before the practitioner offered it to him. He invited us to keep lobbying him and asked to be kept informed. Whilst people were leaving the building, they were offered the leaflet once more. Many could not resist the chance, including the staff, the stallholders, the camera crew, the news team or people who happened to walk past.

The overall result of this activity has been encouraging. People were obviously touched by the courageous act of Dafa practitioners in China and the efforts of those practitioners who make them aware of such brutal persecution. Many made remarks such as ' I am glad you have come', ' thank you for coming to tell us this', 'what you are doing is right', 'keep up with the good work', 'the final success is yours', 'you must let more people know', 'we will do whatever we can', 'I wish you all the best' 'God bless you' 'we will pray for you' and so on.

There are still many more people waiting for us to introduce Dafa to them, to tell them the truth and to help them place themselves. Learn to strike up a conversation in a natural manner and be ready to bring Dafa into the conversation. Use every opportunity because you might not meet them again. After all, you are helping them to achieve what they have lived for.