(Minghui.org) On the afternoon of April 25, 2012, practitioners in Singapore held a rally in Hong Lim Park to commemorate the 13th anniversary of the peaceful April 25 appeal. They called for an end to the persecution and for the primary perpetrators to be brought to justice.
Practitioners at the rally venue
Practitioners doing the exercises
Practitioners doing sitting meditation
A passerby learns the facts about Falun Gong from a practitioner
Dr. Huang Weiqiang, chairman of the Singapore Falun Buddha Society said at the rally that over the 13 years of brutal persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Falun Gong practitioners have remained peaceful and rational in clarifying the facts about Falun Gong to people from all walks of life.
Unceasing Efforts to Raise Awareness about Falun Gong and the Persecution
Mr. Zhang's entire family began practicing Falun Gong in May 1999. He said, “The first time that we heard about Falun Gong was from the extensive media reports on the April 25 appeal. We got on the website and read about Falun Gong, and we found the coordinator of a practice site nearby, and then started to practice.” Mr. Zhang continued, “Prior to the practice, my wife suffered from nearly 20 illnesses, such as neurasthenia, cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), and endometritis (inflammation of the inner lining of the uterus). She took a handful of pills regularly, but there was no effect. She also suffered a lot of mental stress. But after practicing Falun Gong for a month, all her illnesses disappeared. We personally witnessed the tremendous effects of Falun Gong on improving people's health.” Over the past 13 years, Mr. Zhang's family has remained steadfast in their belief and never stopped clarifying the facts about Falun Gong.
Ms. Chen told the reporter how her mother in China had changed for the better after she began practicing. She went from not understanding her mother to admiring her. “After the persecution started, my mother was illegally detained for more than two years only because she said 'Falun Dafa is good.' She suffered a lot in prison. I once thought she was foolish. As I grew up, learned more about Falun Gong, and witnessed my mother's physical improvement and her way of dealing with things around her, I gradually developed respect for her.” Recalling what her mother has done over the past more than ten years, Ms. Chen said, “The persecution is still going on, but my mother has never stopped clarifying the facts about Falun Gong to people. I admire my mother, and know how great Falun Gong practitioners are.”
People Seek the Truth
Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful exercises, together with truth clarification photo displays and several paintings done by practitioners, attracted the attention of local residents and tourists from China, Sweden, Germany, New Zealand, India and Australia.
People stopped to look at the display boards, asked about Falun Gong and the persecution, and took flyers. Many people took pictures, some wanted to learn, and some wanted to buy Zhuan Falun. Others announced their resignation from the CCP and its affiliated organizations. Some people's prior misunderstanding of Falun Gong was dispelled, and many people expressed shock and indignation at the brutal and inhuman persecution.
Mr. Ou from China works in Singapore. He said that he had received a flyer about this activity days before, and decided to come see Falun Gong practitioners' rally. “The CCP's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is so cruel!” said Mr. Ou. When he was in China, he often circumvented the blockade and visited the Epoch Times and New Tang Dynasty TV websites, where he learned a lot about the facts. He had also registered on the Epoch Times website to withdraw from the CCP organizations. “The CCP system is too dark, and is the root cause of all problems in China,” said Mr. Ou.
A German tourist was curious upon seeing practitioners doing the exercises and asked a lot of questions. He was surprised at the CCP's suppression of Falun Gong. He said that he would return home soon, and would definitely learn more about Falun Gong.
A Indian worker kept shedding tears while listening to a practitioner talking about the persecution. He lingered at the scene for a long time.
Many people asked, “How can such a persecution take place?” An Indian man dared not believe that Falun Gong practitioners had their organs harvested while they were still alive. After a practitioner's patient explanation to him about the CCP, its political campaigns and its persecution of all kinds of religions, he eventually said that he understood and left with informational materials about Falun Gong. Another Indian woman had a long conversation with a practitioner and said that she wanted to read Zhuan Falun.
A man working in a nearby building thanked a practitioner for sharing with him the facts about Falun Gong. He said it was the first time that he had seen such a peaceful scene. “I feel you're righteous and kind,” he said.
A man passing by told a practitioner that he had no idea what Falun Gong was before. Although he had heard about the persecution, he didn't have a positive impression. Today he finally understood that Falun Gong is good. It is cultivation practice.
A local Singaporean told a practitioner, “You've done a great job!”
Category: April 25 Events
