Dafa Practitioners Hold Large-Scale Hunger Strike on Steps of Parliament Hill to Awaken Canadians to the Urgency of the Persecution in China (Photos)

Canadian Falun Dafa practitioners began gathering Wednesday morning on Parliament Hill (the federal government buildings of Canada) to begin a two-day fast in order to awaken people to the urgent situation in mainland China in which Jiang has ordered "Kill Them [Falun Gong practitioners] Without Pardon!" and "Shoot on Sight!" By Thursday morning, more than 100 Falun Dafa practitioners had joined the fast.

Throughout the persecution of Dafa, practitioners have always used the most peaceful and rational means to appeal, keeping in mind the best interest of society, other Dafa disciples, Dafa and themselves. The unprecedented benevolence and persistently peaceful approach even amidst horrendous evil persecution has moved the hearts of people around the world and has won awards, praise and enormous respect.

After the courageous TV broadcast in Changchun City of news positive about Dafa and the subsequent orders by the enraged Jiang to "Kill Without Pardon!" and "Shoot on Sight!" Dafa practitioners, Canadian practitioners discussed whether the usual means such as press conferences properly conveyed the seriousness of the situation in China. The practitioners decided to gather in Ottawa to make an urgent appeal. That such a peaceful, rational group of people began a fast at the steps of their government does not mean that they have changed their benevolent approach, it shows that the current evil persecution has reached a frighteningly critical state. The practitioners carried out the fast righteously and benevolently. Practitioners made their own sacrifices in order to awaken all beings to the urgency and the evil of the current persecution of Falun Dafa in China.

Dafa disciples prepared flyers, postcard petitions, signs and banners exposing Jiang's latest orders of "Kill Without Pardon!" and "Shoot on Sight!" They also held a press conference on Parliament Hill. Although Parliament Hill was covered with a layer of snow and ice, many practitioners stayed over night in the frigid Ottawa weather. Moved by the actions of Dafa disciples, this appeal gained much response from the Canadian government, media and public.

The press conference on Parliament Hill was attended by many media including Canadian Press, Ottawa's largest newspapers the Ottawa Citizen and the Ottawa Sun, Ottawa television stations CJOH, and the New RO as well as a Canadian nation-wide TV station, CTV, Chinese media CNA (Central News Agency) and Ming Bao. Several reporters stayed for over an hour to meet with practitioners. Even local media in Toronto, Victoria and Edmonton aired the story of the practitioners' hunger strike in Ottawa. On the second day, Chinese television station CFMT came and interviewed a practitioner.

Canadian Secretary of State for Asia, the Honourable David Kilgour, MP, was very moved by the practitioners' appeal and came out to personally meet the practitioners on the morning of the first day. He told them, "Do you know how impressive you are?" He shared with the practitioners that he knew a lot about Falun Gong and that the practitioners' actions were really amazing. He shook hands with practitioners, gave them his business card and invited practitioners to come meet with him. The next morning, he spent about 20 minutes meeting with practitioners. He said their action was very effective and that many people in the Foreign Affairs Department had been talking about it. His assistant also met with the practitioners for roughly an hour.

Member of Parliament and Foreign Affairs Critic, Mr. Svend Robinson was out of the country when practitioners began their fast on Parliament Hill. However, when he read the statement by Dafa practitioners about their fast, he took the time to write a full-page letter to the Prime Minister about it the very same day. He wrote about the seriousness of the persecution of Falun Gong, the urgency of the new order from President Jiang and the "group of courageous Canadian Falun Gong practitioners" holding a hunger strike on Parliament Hill. His letter concluded, "Canada has a moral obligation to initiate its own resolution to this effect [ a UN resolution condemning China for its human rights abuses such as those against Falun Gong]. To do otherwise would risk Canada's international reputation as a champion of human rights and international law." His assistant came out to personally deliver the letter to practitioners on Parliament Hill and he expressed solidarity with them. The assistant informed the practitioners that Mr. Robinson would travel to the upcoming UN Human Rights meeting in Geneva and personally lobby the Canadian government to condemn China's persecution of Falun Gong.

Member of Parliament Yvon Gordin sent a letter to practitioners on the first day of the fast as well, calling on the Foreign Affairs Minister to condemn the persecution of Falun Gong. He wrote, "I call on your Government to condemn China's abuse of Canadian citizens and I request Canada to initiate a censure condemning China on its human rights record at the U.N. convention in Geneva this month. There is no reason for such violations and deaths. These actions are not acceptable."

The practitioners visited the office of the Prime Minister Jean Chretien on the first day to deliver a letter. One staff member from the Prime Minister's office came out to meet the practitioners. He shook hands with the practitioners who explained the purpose of their appeal and the urgent situation in China. He accepted the practitioners' letter to the Prime Minister.

Member of Parliament Scott Reid, along with his assistant, took time out of their busy schedule to come out and meet the practitioners and express support. He spoke with the practitioners and encouraged their efforts. He made the time to meet the practitioners with the intention of joining their press conference.

Member of Parliament Rob Anders came in the afternoon of the first day to meet the practitioners and offer his support. He made a short speech in support of the practitioners' actions. He even returned after-hours with a friend and introduced his friend to the practitioners fasting on Parliament Hill.

One organization came and told the practitioners that they would like to post information about the practitioners' appeal on their web site which reaches over 1700 academics in Canada who are concerned with human rights. A lady from Amnesty International also came in the evening and stayed with the practitioners for about an hour and talked with them and showed support.

A professor who heard about the practitioners' fast offered to help make a web site specifically for this urgent appeal campaign and share it with universities across the country.

On the evening of the first day, the practitioners held a candle vigil on Parliament Hill. It was covered by the local TV station.

On the second day, the practitioners continued with their fast on Parliament Hill. In the afternoon, roughly 100 practitioners marched from Parliament Hill to the Foreign Affairs office. They were met by two people from the Foreign Affairs Department who accepted a letter on behalf of the practitioners.

The practitioners continued their march to the Chinese Embassy.

At around 7:00pm they returned to Parliament Hill to conclude the 36-hour fast.

The old forces arranged modern society such that people have the notion, "There is so much injustice in the world and there is nothing we can do about it." People consider inaction acceptable and inevitable. It has also been arranged that speaking out against human rights abuses is seen as a political issue. However, because of these notions some everyday people have treated the persecution of Falun Dafa in this way and these notions have restrained beings from creating a more wonderful future for themselves by supporting Dafa. The purpose of the event was not to pressure the Canadian government. Dafa disciples used their own sacrifices to awaken peoples' hearts to what is right. We also let the Chinese government know and the whole world know that Falun Gong is an issue for every nation, it is not only a Chinese issue.