Finland: Fourth Stop of the SOS Tour of Northern Europe - Helsinki (Photos)

Wednesday, July 24, 2002

The Nordic SOS Tour arrived in Helsinki on July 16 and about 30 practitioners from Finland, Sweden and Norway participated to let more Finnish people know about Falun Gong and to learn about the terrible persecution in China.

First we held a peaceful appeal at the Chinese Embassy and asked the Chinese government to stop the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Practitioners demonstrated the exercises and sent forth righteous thoughts. Because the embassy officials refused to accept the open letter from the practitioners, a Finnish practitioner put it into the embassy's mailbox.

After the appeal we had some activities in a park in downtown Helsinki. Practitioners demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises and handed out truth-clarifying materials. It was a warm and sunny day, so lots of people were enjoying themselves sitting on the park lawn and benches or walking through the park. At the same time they could feel the peacefulness and beauty of Falun Dafa.

Many people stopped to watch practitioners doing the exercises and gladly accepted more information about the practice. The photo display and information on Falun Gong attracted many people and gave them a good chance to learn more about Falun Gong and about what has happened in China over the past three years. After we gave a short introduction, some people immediately wanted to sign the petition.

Dai Zhizhen from Australia told her story to the audience and many people were moved upon hearing her experience. They now have a clearer understanding of how serious the situation in China really is. Some people we met in the park and talked with supported us by saying things like "We wish you great success!" while giving a thumbs-up.

A reporter from Finland's third largest newspaper came by and interviewed Dai Zhizhen and other practitioners. The reporter also took some photos of the event. A Finnish news agency (STT) also called us for an interview. They asked about the demonstration at the Chinese Embassy and what our message to China was. We told them that all we ask is an end to the persecution of innocent Falun Gong practitioners in China.

On the same day, Dai Zhizhen and two other practitioners went to meet some officials from Finland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Officials from both the Human Rights department and the department that deals with issues concerning Asia and China were present. They learned more about the persecution and human rights violations after hearing Dai Zhizen's story of how her husband died due to the persecution. They gladly accepted the Human Right Reports Supplementary Cases book, in which individual human rights violation cases of Falun Gong practitioners are reported.

Source: http://www.clearharmony.net/articles/5823.html