(Minghui.org) On April 24, 2012, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Stockholm to attend the Stockholm+40 – and international conference on sustainable living and innovative solutions, as part of a state visit to Northern European countries. During the Premier's visit, Falun Gong practitioners from Sweden and Denmark held an event at Mynttorget, a public square between the Swedish Royal Palace and the Swedish Parliament. Various activities were conducted to introduce Falun Gong and expose the nearly 13-year persecution of Falun Gong in China to local and foreign visitors. Practitioners displayed banners worded, "Falun Dafa is good" and "Bring Jiang Zemin's rogue group to justice." They demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises and set up a display of information boards to introduce Falun Gong and expose the CCP’s crimes of persecuting the peaceful practice, including the atrocities of organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners.
Falun Gong practitioners call for bringing Jiang Zemin and his followers to justice
Member of Swedish Parliament, Mr. Finn Bengtssonzai interviewed by media at the event
Swedish people read the poster boards to learn about Falun Gong
People sign the petition to show their support for Falun Gong
Students from Turkey sit beside the Falun Gong practitioners to protest the CCP's persecution
People from all walks of life support Falun Gong’s efforts in protesting the persecution
The informational banners, as well as the peaceful exercises drew the attention of visitors from various countries. A young woman artist from Russia learned the first set of the exercises. Many tourists had their photos taken with the Falun Gong banners and the exercise demonstration. People who learned about the persecution condemned the CCP’s atrocities and signed the petition to stop the persecution.
A large group of young Turkish students stopped by the event. A western practitioner who could speak Turkish talked to them about Falun Gong and told them about the persecution in China. After learning about what is happening in China, most of the students sat down alongside the Falun Gong practitioners to protest the CCP’s persecution and to call for bringing Jiang Zemin and his rogue group to justice.
A number of Swedes have already heard about the CCP’s brutal persecution of Falun Gong and other dissidents. One woman gave the thumbs up and said, "You're doing the right thing!" Several reporters from various Swedish media also came to the event to conduct interviews.
Members of Swedish Parliament take note of the persecution
The practitioner's event drew the attention of a number of Members of the Swedish Parliament. MP Finn Bengtssonzai said in an interview that it was incredible that the CCP regards Falun Gong, such a peaceful practice, as a threat. He stated that the Swedish people absolutely did not tolerate any persecution of Falun Gong and political dissidents, adding that nowadays, in China, the persecution of [such people] has gotten worse. MP Bengtssonzai that the issue must be brought up in high level meetings with the Chinese government.
MP Fredrik Malm was stirred upon seeing the peaceful atmosphere of the event and said, "I wish to see that in the future Falun Gong will be able to organize similar activities in both Beijing and Shanghai." He expressed his wish that China could become a country with freedom, openness and an elected government. He added, "In addition to economic development, a government should respect human rights. This is very important."
Calling on the Chinese people to awaken quickly
That day, Falun Gong practitioners had two opportunities to face Wen Jiabao’s motorcade. Though Chinese Embassy officials tried hard to block the peaceful protest, Wen Jiabao's motorcade still could see clearly the Falun Gong banner worded "Bring Jiang Zemin's Rogue Group to Justice" and hear the practitioners' calls of "Falun Dafa is great" and "Bring Jiang Zemin and Zhou Yongkang to justice.”
Practitioner Malin Nordstrand of the Swedish Falun Dafa Association said, “The CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong has been going on for nearly 13 years, and it has been an unjustified persecution. Jiang Zemin's rogue group had committed heinous crimes against Falun Gong practitioners. Jiang’s group must be brought to justice. What we want to do here is to let more people know about Falun Gong, and we wish that all the people in China can awaken as soon as possible, have a clear understanding of the CCP’s nature, and distance themselves from the CCP in their hearts.”
Category: Rallies & Protests
