Clearwisdom Weekly

News and Events from around the World -- July 24, 2005

Content

Clearwisdom correspondent reports from Washington DC: In order to expose and condemn the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) brutal persecution of Falun Gong, and to call for an end to the persecution, at noon on July 21, 2005, on the western lawn of Capitol Hill, three groups - Freedom House, Friends of Falun Gong and the Falun Dafa Association - jointly held a "July 20" anti-persecution rally. More than a thousand Falun Gong practitioners from around the world participated, and several US Congressmen and renowned human rights organization leaders also came to support Falun Gong.

On July 20, 1999, former Chinese president Jiang Zemin's communist regime launched a persecution campaign against Falun Gong in China. It has now been six years. Under the pressure from the international community, the malevolent party's persecution of Falun Gong has also changed its tactics, from a large-scale public persecution, to one that appears relaxed on the surface, but that has actually intensified. In fact, the brutality of the persecution has not changed a bit. As in previous years, Falun Gong practitioners gathered in front of Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on the anniversary of the persecution, calling for the international community to continue paying attention to the malevolent CCP's inhuman persecution against Falun Gong practitioners' basic human rights.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, Vice Chairman of the Board of Freedom House, Mark Palmer hosted the rally. He pointed out that China is approaching modernization, but the Chinese people still do not have even basic human rights, and they are deprived of their freedom of belief. He praised Falun Gong practitioners for their persistent pursuit of freedom of belief, and for abiding by the principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. He also expressed that the U.S. government and citizens would stand together with Falun Gong practitioners to help bring about the end of the persecution. Mr. Palmer also believed that China's political system is actually not a true system, but that it consists of only one or two dictators. He said that it is necessary to bring those guilty ringleaders to justice.

Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Congressman Rush Holt come together to take part in the rally

Every year, at this rally held by Falun Gong practitioners in front of Capitol Hill, a certain congresswoman comes to make a speech. She is Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen first thanked everyone for coming to the rally under the scorching sun. She expressed that she was glad to be together with everyone, to appeal for those who are suffering the CCP's brutal persecution for their belief. Ms. Ros-Lehtinen denounced the CCP's persecution of harmless, innocent people, calling it an act of cowardice.

Joining Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen was Congressman Rush Holt. He said that he was honored to be present with Falun Gong practitioners from around the world, to appeal for an end to the persecution. He believed that Falun Gong is a peaceful exercise practice, not at all as what the CCP falsely claims it to be. The CCP should not restrict and persecute such a peaceful group. He said that the U.S. has the responsibility to say "No" to the CCP's persecution.

Executive Director of the International Coalition for Religious Freedom, Mr. Dan Fefferman stated that China is a great country, and that it has a splendid civilization. Now, China is becoming a big economic entity, having the largest population of the world. He said that if China wants to become a member of the great countries of the world, it must abide by the basic principles of the international community and respect freedom of belief.

Representative of the human rights group, Jubilee Campaign, Bob Turner penetratingly pointed out that the fact that the CCP persecutes Falun Gong practitioners who believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, indicates that the CCP itself does have these good qualities at all. Mr. Turner encouraged everyone to loudly say "No!" to the CCP's persecution, and help all people who have lost their freedom to regain their freedom.

Executive Director of Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington (IFC), Rev. Clark Lobestine's grandfather was a missionary in China between 1898 and 1935. He had a good impression of the Chinese people's kindness and simplicity. He expressed that the persecution against Falun Gong's beliefs is the persecution against every one of us.

Senior Scholar of Hudson Institute, Michael Horowitz believed that the resistance of Falun Gong practitioners in the face of persecution, is a sacrifice made for the future of China. He said that all people will thank Falun Gong practitioners for all that they have done.

Congressman Chris Smith also attended the rally for the second time. He stated that July 20 this year marks the sixth year of the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong. In the 2004 U.S. State Department Human Rights Report, a large proportion of the content was about the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong. Thousands of people have died as a result of the persecution, many more people have been tortured, incarcerated in mental hospitals and imprisoned in forced labor camps. The Beijing authorities must immediately stop the persecution of Falun Gong, and respect Falun Gong practitioners' right to belief.

Chairman of Religious Freedom Coalition, William J. Murray pointed out that the CCP is an evil religion that uses violence to solve all of its perceived problems.

Rev. Keith Roderick, Washington representative of Christian Solidarity International praised the Falun Gong practitioners' courage and said that it demonstrates the glory of human nature. Falun Gong practitioners' resistance will win more support from the international community.

Hans Hogrefe, Director of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, representative of Senior Congressman Tom Lantos, stated that the Congressional Human Rights Caucus is the earliest organization that paid attention to the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Besides torture and rape, the CCP also used its entire propaganda machinery to slander Falun Gong. But the Congressional Human Rights Caucus clearly knows the tricks of the CCP, and will not be deceived by the CCP. Congressman Tom Lantos and other members of the caucus will continue paying attention to the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong.

A Representative from World Organization for Human Rights USA also came and made a speech. He stated that the World Organization for Human Rights USA is standing together with Falun Gong practitioners to launch legal actions in the U.S. and other countries to bring to justice those CCP officials who have seriously violated Falun Gong practitioners' human rights over the past six years. The World Organization for Human Rights USA will continue making efforts to stop the persecution of Falun Gong.

On July 21, 2005, when Party Secretary of Henan Provincial Party Committee of the CCP Xu Guangchun led a delegation to visit San Francisco, he was met with a criminal lawsuit lodged by the World Organization for Human Rights. The organization accused Xu Guangchu of committing crimes of torture and genocide during his tenure against Falun Gong practitioners. So far, 95 Falun Gong practitioners from Henan Province are verified to have died as a result of the persecution. The actual death toll is likely to be much higher.

Falun Gong practitioners support the lawsuit against Xu Guangchun in front of the San Francisco City Hall

According to U.S. law, people who commit the crime of torture outside the U.S. can be punished inside the U.S. The U.S. Customs and Immigration Law also prohibits people who committed the crime of torture and violated human rights from entering the U.S. One of the plaintiffs is a Falun Gong practitioner who is now living in Mainland China. He was forcibly sent to Henan Province's No. 3 Forced Labor Camp and suffered torture there. He was forced to renounce his belief and give up cultivation. He was also forced to do slave labor, producing exported products for the Rebecca Hair Product Company.

A lawyer from the World Organization for Human Rights pointed out that CCP officials who have participated in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners will also be served with civil and criminal lawsuits one day in their own country. The international community will no longer tolerate those who use torture and commit the crime of genocide against their own people.

Prior to this case, several senior CCP officials, including Jiang Zemin, have been sued in many countries for persecuting Falun Gong practitioners.

On July 17, 2005, Sunday morning, Falun Gong practitioners gathered in a park in Seoul to hold a large-scale parade. The goal of the activity was to tell more people about the persecution of Falun Gong that began on July 20, 1999, so that they can help to end the persecution.

The activity began with a practitioner reading a statement to call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. The statement said, "Jiang Zemin gave an order six years ago to implement a policy of 'defaming their reputations, bankrupting them financially and destroying them physically' in dealing with Falun Gong practitioners. He promised to eliminate Falun Gong within three months. He also used one quarter of the nation's financial resources on the persecution of Falun Gong, but the persecution has failed." The statement urged "the Chinese Communist Party to publicly apologize to Falun Gong practitioners for violating their human rights in the past six years, and make reparations to Falun Gong practitioners and their families who have suffered in the persecution."

At 1:30p.m. the parade procession set off. The one-kilometer long procession slowly marched into the city center, led by a big sign with the words "Falun Gong" and a model of the book Zhuan Falun. The procession was spectacular and eye-catching. Seen among the colorful flags were exercise demonstrations, waist drums playing and elegant and graceful dancing. This wonderful sight, which has not been seen often in Korea, quickly caught the locals' attention.

Beautiful float

Model of Zhuan Falun

Exercise demonstration

The Tang Dance, in particular, attracted attention from passersby. Practitioners donned costumes of the Tang Dynasty, the most powerful and splendid era in Chinese history and culture, matched with items from the Xinluo Era in Korea, displayed the extraordinary splendor of ancient oriental culture.

Right behind the Tang Dance group was the anti-torture exhibit. The simulated scenes on a truck exposed the torture and abuses used by the CCP against practitioners in the past six years. During the parade, practitioners also reproduced the Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful appeal on Tiananmen Square and the brutality of the Chinese police.

The scenes of the police's ruthless beating and arrest of practitioners left a deep impression on people passing by. The practitioners only wanted to stop the suppression and to request a peaceful cultivation environment and the freedom to display banners reading "Falun Dafa is good." The absurd suppression exposed the CCP dictator's jealousy and fear of what is good and kind.

Practitioners in white held portraits and a list of names of Falun Gong practitioners who have died as a result of persecution. People who saw them looked solemn and respectful. Practitioners also distributed to the spectators truth clarification materials about Chinese practitioner Gao Rongrong, who was recently tortured to death by Chinese police. Many passersby who saw the parade were shocked and very much concerned. They requested informational materials and wanted to learn more about the day's activities.

Though simulated torture displays cannot fully exhibit the brutality happening in China, each one deeply touched those who witnessed them.

That day, there were many tourists at the destination of the parade. Tourists from China looked surprised and alarmed at seeing the parade procession. In the beginning, they seemed to be at a loss. After learning about the truth, however, they are sure to tell their relatives and friends about the spectacular parade when they return to China. Due to the wicked party's brainwashing, the people in Mainland China are being deeply poisoned and kept from learning the truth, and every effort is being made to help them.

In the past six years, the persecution of Falun Gong has never stopped, but has only been hidden from the public eye. The CCP has deployed a large number of spies outside of China and used Chinese embassies and consulates to slander Falun Gong, threaten practitioners, and interfere with truth clarification activities.

Six years ago, when the dictator of the wicked CCP gave the order to suppress Falun Gong, the evil was everywhere in Mainland China. However, over the last six years, with the practitioners' tireless efforts, Falun Gong has been introduced to nearly 80 countries and well received. The chief perpetrators involved in the persecution have been sued in dozens of countries.

Falun Gong practitioners from around the world and kind-hearted supporters will continue their efforts until the persecution is completely stopped.

On July 17, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners in Vancouver took to the streets under a scorching sun to tell the public about the facts of Falun Gong and to call for an end to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) brutal persecution of Falun Gong.

Practitioners held a series of activities in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery. They set up banners on the art gallery steps. The banners read, "Falun Dafa is Good," "What is Happening in China?" and, "Please Help Stop the Persecution of Falun Gong." On both sides of the steps were dozens of photo display boards with such subjects as, "Falun Dafa's Glorious Journey," and "Rescue Orphans of Persecuted Falun Gong Practitioners." In the center of the plaza at the bottom of the steps, practitioners demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises. Among the practitioners, the oldest was more than 70 years old, and there were also very young, little practitioners. In the front of the plaza was an anti-torture exhibition, reenacted by practitioners to expose the malevolent party's brutality in the persecution of Falun Gong. Practitioners stood along the street to hand out truth clarification materials and collect signatures on postcards to rescue the children of persecuted Falun Gong practitioners.

People who have learned the truth sign postcards to support the campaign to rescue orphans of persecuted Falun Gong practitioners

In front of the photo displays about rescuing orphans, people passing by stopped and read carefully and listened to the practitioners' explanation. They were shocked, and kept asking, "Why?" Many people asked about how to help rescue these children. People who learned the truth all signed the postcards supporting the rescue efforts. A group of students listened to the truth clarification, discussed among themselves earnestly and then signed the postcards.

A Chinese man from Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province in China said that one of his colleagues in China has been sentenced to eight years in prison for practicing Falun Gong. He also said that in Mainland China, people have no easy way to learn the truth of Falun Gong under the current persecution.

During the six-year persecution of Falun Gong, the malevolent CCP has exported its hate propaganda outside of China. The slander against Falun Gong has poisoned the minds of many people outside China. Some people told the practitioners that when they searched for information on the Internet about Falun Gong, there is much negative information. Now, however, people have learned the truth after seeing it with their own eyes. Recently, the Edmonton Police Department in Canada confirmed that the Chinese Consulate officials distributed materials to them that slandered Falun Gong, an action that has broken Canadian hate propaganda laws. Falun Gong practitioners called for the Canadian people to pay attention to the significance of this case, which clearly shows that the CCP's deceitful methods of inciting hatred are unacceptable outside of China.

Two Westerners learned about the brutal torture that Falun Gong practitioners suffer in Mainland China and said that they have been to China and knew that the CCP is brutal.

A Canadian woman who had lived in East Germany said that she understood that in Communist countries, people have no freedom of speech. She believed that any act of depriving people of their freedom of thought and freedom of speech is wrong. She felt that using the means of the anti-torture exhibition to tell people about what is happening in China is very important and necessary. She was glad that the Chinese people have begun withdrawing from the party. She believed that the CCP will definitely be like East Germany, where the Berlin Wall collapsed one day.

A woman from Edmonton stayed around for nearly an hour. She earnestly talked with many practitioners in order to learn about the persecution of Falun Gong. Later, she learned the five sets of exercises from practitioners at the event site.

Many Falun Gong practitioners hurried over to join the truth clarification activities in front of the art gallery after participating in their local activities in the early morning. Several little practitioners also walked with their mothers for three kilometers to demonstrate the exercises.

One of the practitioners who played the role of a practitioner in China suffering torture expressed that she was very sad to see that some Chinese people believe the malevolent party's propaganda even though they have lived abroad. The CCP has caused the deaths of 80 million innocent Chinese people over the course of its history, and now its persecution of Falun Gong has lasted for six years, and has still not stopped. She said that we should not hold any illusions about the CCP.

On July 20, 1999, former Chinese president Jiang Zemin initiated a nationwide campaign against Falun Gong. Six years since then, the persecution is still going on. Each July 20, Vancouver practitioners hold various activities to clarify the truth. They have been sincerely conducting these activities, clarifying the truth and exposing the evil, so that more people who have been deceived by the malevolent party's lies can learn about the brutality of the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners, see through the CCP's facade and join together to stop the persecution.