Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance Shine in the Face of Evil Persecution

(Clearwisdom.net) A lotus grows out of muddy surroundings and murky waters, but what emerges is an untainted, pure, and lovely flower. Today, it is in the spirit of hope, purity, and steadfastness symbolized by the lotus flower that we, supporters and practitioners of Falun Gong, gather here on Parliament Hill.

Three years ago today, viewing Falun Gong's wide acclaim and popularity as a threat to his power, Chinese President Jiang Zemin ordered a brutal, illegal ban on the practice. A massive persecution campaign was launched against tens of millions of innocent, law-abiding citizens, their only so-called crime being their peaceful spiritual belief, one based purely on quiet meditation, gentle exercises, and moral principles centering on Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance. State-sanctioned terror against practitioners escalated over the years, and the campaign to defame and eradicate Falun Gong gradually extended to other countries on an unprecedented global scale.

Yet three years ago, little did the Chinese dictator anticipate that today, the heart of Falun Gong would remain strong, peaceful resistance would persist, support for Falun Gong would magnify worldwide, and more and more of the world's people would come to know the truth about the goodness of Falun Gong and the evilness of the persecution.

It is a persecution whose severity and scope far exceed our current knowledge, and it is a suppression that is difficult for people who live in a free and democratic society like Canada to imagine. Since July 20, 1999, there have been 438 verified deaths of Falun Gong practitioners from torture and mistreatment in custody. Government officials inside China, however, report that the actual death toll is well over 1,600. Practitioners have been denied all rights to appeal and all legal representation guaranteed under China's own constitution. Over 100,000 have been detained, more than 20,000 sentenced to labour camps, and thousands forced into mental hospitals where they are abused with drugs. In Chinese custody, practitioners are routinely beaten, shocked with electric batons, sexually abused, and tortured with other means to force them to renounce their practice. State-controlled media broadcasts incessant hate propaganda against Falun Gong, and all media outlets inside and outside China that could reveal the truth have been sealed off.

Amidst the escalating brutality and evil, the principles of Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance have remained solid in the hearts of the practitioners in China. Rather than returning the violence and hatred, they have truly embodied the words of Mr. Li Hongzhi, our teacher of Falun Gong, in his July 22, 1999 statement, "Other people may treat us badly, but we do not treat others badly, nor do we treat people as enemies." At the same time, true to Mr. Li's teaching, they have persisted in using reason and peaceful means to appeal for justice, demonstrating that "Forbearance is not cowardice, much less is it resigning oneself to adversity." With all legal appeal channels denied and risking the loss of their freedom and even their lives, practitioners continue to distribute flyers, hang banners, go to Tiananmen Square, and use other means to clarify the truth about their practice and the persecution. Such acts of courage and determination have shown that Falun Gong is far from being "eradicated"; it is in fact deeply rooted in the hearts of practitioners throughout China.

Over the past three years, practitioners outside China have also persevered in safeguarding their principles and practice. Not for self-interest, but to help stop the killings in China and to expose the brutality of the persecution, nearly 100 practitioners from more than a dozen countries, including at least ten from Canada, have gone to Tiananmen Square to appeal. Others have conducted SOS walks and held sit-ins and around-the-clock vigils at Chinese embassies and consulates around the world. Practitioners have received tremendous support for their daily embassy and consulate appeals. Their peaceful and orderly conduct is praised by local citizens and city officials alike. Worldwide, practitioners make numerous volunteer contributions in their local communities and offer free seminars and exercise teaching, bringing with them the goodness and benefits of Falun Gong. Through their efforts, Falun Gong is now supported, commended, and freely practised in over fifty countries outside China; it has received over 700 governmental recognitions in North America alone; and Mr. Li was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for three consecutive years in 2000, 2001, and 2002.

Yet we are alarmed that over the past three years, China's campaign to eradicate Falun Gong has intensified in Hong Kong as well as other countries, including Canada. Backed by China's huge resources and using all kinds of deception, economic pressure, modern mass media methods, and even threats and assaults against world citizens, we have witnessed that the worldwide scope of China's malicious campaign is unprecedented in history. The current Hong Kong prosecution of Falun Gong practitioners for staging a peaceful appeal makes a mockery of the one country, two systems policy guaranteed by China. Recently, over 100 practitioners from different countries met with shocking blacklist treatment and were blocked from entering Iceland and Hong Kong during President Jiang Zemin's visit. Jiang's violations against the sovereignty of other governments and the privacy, security, and safety of world citizens cannot be ignored.

We must emphasize that this tragic and senseless persecution against Falun Gong is not simply a human rights issue or a China issue; it is in fact an attack on basic human morality, on universal principles that every human being has a responsibility to uphold. As such, its victims extend far beyond those who practise Falun Gong. Those deceived by propaganda to help persecute good people and fundamental virtues are committing a great sin against themselves and all of humanity. The Falun Gong practitioners in China who are risking their lives to reveal the real situation are doing so in the interest of all of the world's people. They are safeguarding human dignity and integrity for us all.

Today, we wish to thank our Canadian government and the Canadian people for your unparalleled support. Your help and intervention have already freed three Falun Gong practitioners from illegal detention in China: Professor Kunlun Zhang, Ms. Ying Zhu, and Mr. Shenli Lin. Despite the vicious propaganda and the pressure that a country as large as China can exert on other nations, Canada has spoken out for justice and principles. We also express our sincere appreciation to the many non-governmental organizations that have lent us their support, including unions, educational institutions, community associations, and human rights groups. As well, we thank the media for your efforts made to report the true facts about the persecution.

Professor Zhang, Ms. Zhu, and Mr. Lin are now living in Canada and freely practising Falun Gong. For this we are truly encouraged and grateful. Yet, many thousands of practitioners still remain in brutal imprisonment in China. Among them, at least fifteen are family members of Canadian citizens and residents. We take today's occasion to launch a nation-wide rescue campaign to call for their release, and we thank Amnesty International for their current letter campaign appealing for the freedom of one of the fifteen, Mr. Lizhi He.

We call on Canadians and other people of conscience, governments, the media, and organizations worldwide to take responsibility in upholding universal principles and in helping restore justice. Please support our appeal efforts, continue speaking out against Jiang Zemin's brutal persecution of innocent people, reveal the truth to more people, and work toward the freedom of all Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Those persecuting our righteous faith will never succeed in changing our hearts, as truth and righteousness can never be defeated. After three dark years, Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance continue to shine in the face of evil persecution. May these principles illuminate from your heart and from every corner of the world, shaping a bright and noble future for all humankind. Thank you.