(Clearwisdom.net) On April 25, Falun Gong practitioners from Melbourne held activities to commemorate practitioners' peaceful appeal in China 11 years ago.

A local resident talks to practitioners.

The candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate

Practitioners displayed banners downtown and handed out truth-clarifying materials. Many people signed the petition to condemn the persecution.

Mr. Fan, a local practitioner, said that many people noticed their activities. He said, "The persecution of Falun Gong has gone on for 11 years. Many people cannot believe it is still happening. Once they learn the truth about Falun Gong and the persecution, they express their support. We told them that we hope they will tell their friends and family about the persecution. We also called upon the Australian government to help stop the persecution."

Mr. Han said that those responsible for the persecution are under investigation by the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong and will be brought to justice eventually.

At night, practitioners held a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate in memory of those who were tortured to death during the persecution.

Background:

On April 25, 1999, over 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in China gathered outside the State Council Appeal Office to demand their basic rights of belief and the immediate release of 45 fellow practitioners who had been unlawfully arrested. Though as a result of the appeal the Chinese Communist regime promised to protect the practitioners' rights and released the arrested practitioners, three months later, the regime started a nationwide persecution to "eliminate Falun Gong." The brutal persecution has continued for nearly 11 years.