News and Events from around the World -- June 28, 2005


Issued by Clearwisdom Net

Content



  • Switzerland: Protesting at the Chinese Embassy to Condemn the CCP for Murdering Gao Rongrong

  • Korea: Practitioners Gather in front of the Chinese Embassy to Protest against the Killing of Ms. Gao Rongrong

  • Taiwan: Mid-Taiwan Practitioners Hold Candlelight Vigil in Memory of Ms. Gao Rongrong and Demand Punishment for the Murderers

  • The First Global "Journey of Falun Dafa" Photo Exhibition Held in Korea

  • Taiwan: Falun Gong Exercise Demonstration at Community College Achievement Presentation



  • Switzerland: Protesting at the Chinese Embassy to Condemn the CCP for Murdering Gao Rongrong

    After hearing the shocking news that Gao Rongrong was tortured to death, Swiss Falun Gong practitioners gathered at the Chinese Embassy in the capital city of Berne on 21st June. They protested against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for the brutal killing of Gao Rongrong and condemned the CCP's inhuman persecution of Falun Gong practitioners that has now lasted over six years.

    Practitioners held banners reading "Bring the murderers of Gao Rongrong and other Falun Gong Practitioners to Justice", "Bring the Executioner Luo Gan to Justice" and "CCP: Stop Persecuting Falun Gong". They also showed passers-by the photo of Gao Rongrong's horribly disfigured face after seven hours of continuous electric shock torture by the Chinese police.


    Banner reads, "Chinese communist regime: Stop the persecution of Falun Gong

    Falun Gong practitioners hold protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in Switzerland

    According to Falun Dafa website reports, Falun Gong practitioner Gao Rongrong was illegally imprisoned, and in May of 2004 she was electrically shocked for seven continuous hours at Longshan Forced Labor Camp. Her face was horribly disfigured and even her cellmate in the same prison was unable to recognize her. After photos of her face were publicized, Gao's case received a lot of attention in the international community. However, the 610 Office lead by Luo Gan did not repent or stop, but instead aggravated the persecution of Gao Rongrong.

    With the help of other Falun Gong practitioners, Gao Rongrong successfully escaped, but she and those who helped her escape were later arrested and suffered even more severe torture. Three months after Gao Rongrong was arrested again, on 16th June 2005 she was tortured to death.

    A statement from Falun Gong practitioners to the Berne Chinese Embassy presented various kinds of inhuman persecution suffered by Gao Rongrong. Practitioners also read an article entitled "Gao Rongrong's Death Reveals the CCP's Bloodthirsty Nature", focusing on three former Chinese officials who recently defected from the CCP and stayed in Australia. Practitioners sincerely hope the staff of the Chinese Embassy can make the correct choice, step forward to expose the CCP's atrocities of persecuting Falun Gong and be an upright person with a conscience.



    Korea: Practitioners Gather in front of the Chinese Embassy to Protest against the Killing of Ms. Gao Rongrong

    The entire world is shocked at Ms. Gao Rongrong's death. On the morning of June 24, 2005, Korean Falun Dafa Association held a press conference in front of the Chinese embassy to condemn the Chinese communist regime's atrocity of killing Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Gao Rongrong. Practitioners urged the Chinese authorities to immediately stop the suppression of Falun Gong and punish the murderers. They also called upon all Chinese consular and staff members in the Chinese Embassies and Consulates to follow diplomat Mr. Chen Yonglin to quit the Chinese Communist Party and stop assisting CCP to do evil.

    Press conference

    In July 2003, 610 Office agents arrested Ms. Gao Rongrong and imprisoned her in the Longshan Forced Labor Camp simply because of her practice of Falun Gong. At about 3 p.m. on May 7, 2004, deputy captain Tang Yubao and captain Jiang Zhaohua from the No. 2 Brigade of the labor camp took Ms. Gao to their office where they continuously electrically shocked on her face with electric batons for six to seven hours. The torture completely disfigured Ms. Gao's face.

    In October 2004, with help from people who have a sense of justice, Ms. Gao Rongrong successfully escaped from the labor camp. The 610 Office was paniced at Ms. Gao Rongrong's escape. The police did not go after those who were responsible for mistreating Ms. Gao, instead, they named the Ms. Gao's escape as the "No. 26 case". Under the 610 Office's head-in-general Luo Gan's personal dictate, the Politics and Law Department of Liaoning Province, the Procuratorate, Judicatory and public security department the province collaborated and arrested numerous Falun Gong practitioners who participated in rescuing Ms. Gao Rongrong. They once again abducted Ms. Gao on March 6, 2005 and carried out even more severe torture on her, which eventually caused her death. When Ms. Gao Rongrong, only 37 years old passed away, she was badly emaciated and her internal organs failed.

    After the three defected Chinese officials in Australia exposed the regime's persecution of Falun Gong, the international society was shocked and began paying more attention to the persecution of Falun Gong. Ms. Gao Rongrong's death once again exposed the inside stories of the brutal persecution of Falun Gong.


    Taiwan: Mid-Taiwan Practitioners Hold Candlelight Vigil in Memory of Ms. Gao Rongrong and Demand Punishment for the Murderers

    Upon learning that Mainland Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Gao Rongrong was disfigured and tortured to death, people around the world who enjoy democracy were shocked. Activities in memory of Ms. Gao Rongrong and to protest against the persecution have been conducted around the world. On the evening of June 25, 2005, more than 200 Falun Gong practitioners from Mid-Taiwan gathered in the Stone Park in Yunlin County to hold candlelight vigil to mourn for Ms. Gao Rongrong and strongly protest the Chinese communist regime's killing of Falun Gong practitioners. They also urged to bring the murderers Luo Gan, Tang Yubao and Jiang Zhaohua who are directly responsible for Ms. Gao's death, to justice.

    Candlelight vigil to commemorate Ms. Gao Rongrong

    The vigil site was decorated solemnly. Photos of Ms. Gao Rongrong were displayed in the front. One photo showed her original pretty face, the other one showed her disfigured face after 7-hour-long continuous electric shock torture.

    Honored guests including Mr. Chen He-shan, Supervisor of the Linnei Town, Yunlin County, legislator Mr. Chang Shuo-wen's sister Ms. Chang Ying-chuan and Principal of Guilin Elementary School Ms. Chen Ying-tsong delivered speeches. Supervisor Mr. Chen He-shan said that he has practiced Falun Gong for nearly four years. In addition to upgrading his xinxing, he also abandoned his attachments to smoking and alcohol. The illnesses that he had suffered before, including high blood-pressure and sciatica, disappeared. Therefore, under all kinds of situation, he always strongly recommends to people that Falun Dafa is good. He feels sad and indignant toward the Chinese communist regime's ruthless persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. He wishes that the entire world would pay attention to the Chinese communist regime's human rights violations.

    Legislator Mr. Chang Shuo-wen who always maintains a sense of justice and cares about vulnerable people was unfortunately hospitalized and unable to attend the vigil in person. He asked his sister Ms. Chang Ying-chuan to represent him to deliver the speech. In it, she said that Ms. Gao Rongrong's death will definitely awake more worldly people's attention to the Chinese communist regime's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Because of people's attention, the communist regime has to restrain its cruel measures to eliminate people whom they don't like. Otherwise, how would the Chinese communist regime be able to continue luring foreign investments? Therefore, although Ms. Gao Rongrong was only a vulnerable lady, her death has brought the CCP pressure that as heavy as Mountain Tai. Here through candlelight vigil in memory of Ms. Gao Rongrong, we call upon the Chinese leaders to respect people's lives and demand those murderers manipulated by CCP to immediately put down their butcher knifes, otherwise, what awaits them will be trials in hell.

    Ms. Chang Ying-chuan choked with sobs and talked about her feelings: Last November at the Falun Gong anti-torture exhibit held at the religious expo in Yunlin, I played the role of Ms. Gao Rongrong who was tortured through the method called, Tiger bench. As soon as I sat on the "Tiger bench", tears streamed down my face. At that point, I felt that my heart was connected to Ms. Gao Rongrong and I could deeply feel the piercing pain that Mainland practitioners have been suffering. Unfortunately, only six months later, Ms. Gao Rongrong is now dead from the persecution. It is really hard to accept this fact.

    Principal Ms. Chen Ying-tsong introduced Ms. Gao Rongrong's plight: Mainland practitioner Ms. Gao Rongrong went on hunger strike to uphold her freedom of belief. Unfortunately, she died on June 16, 2005 in the emergency room at the No. 1 Hospital affiliated with the China Medical University in Shenyang City. She was only 37 years old. Ms. Gao was the 2575th Falun Gong practitioner who was verified to have died from the persecution. It was reported that Luo Gan, head of the 610 Office, a secret police organization dedicated to the persecution of Falun Gong, personally directed the murder of Ms. Gao Rongrong. In addition, the Chinese communist authorities exerted pressure to Ms. Gao's family members in attempt to cremate Ms. Gao's body in a hastate so as to eliminate the evidence of their crimes. In fact, the photos showing Ms. Gao Rongrong's disfigured face were released a year ago and shocked the international society. Ms. Gao's case was listed as the first case in the "2004 United Nations Reports on China's Persecution of Falun Gong".

    The candlelight vigil held by practitioners was solemn. In addition to condemning CCP crimes, calling upon people to pay attention to the tragic killing and protesting against CCP for owing another blood debt, practitioners also expressed their deep condolences upon the death of Ms. Gao Rongrong who steadfastly upheld her belief in Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance even after suffering all kinds of tortures.


    The First Global "Journey of Falun Dafa" Photo Exhibition Held in Korea

    The 8-day-long photo exhibition of "The Journey of Falun Dafa" started at 1:00 p.m. on June 21, 2005 in Daegu City. A total of 140 photographs describe the spread of Falun Dafa during the past 13 years, demonstrate the grace of Dafa, and expose the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s persecution of the practice.

    Dr. Lu from a general assistance station in Daegu City said in his speech at the opening ceremony, "The aim of the exhibition is to spread the universal principles of 'Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance' that Falun Gong practitioners follow. During the last six years, the CCP has lied to the world's people and conducted a brutal persecution against Falun Gong practitioners. Dafa practitioners worldwide are holding anti-persecution activities with steadfast courage. To help end the CCP's crimes, practitioners are holding a series of peaceful appeal activities, including a march, a rally, a press conference, an anti-torture exhibition, and an art performance. Today we hold these activities and record them into history."

    Professor Pak from Daegu Catholic University was invited to give a speech at the opening ceremony. He said, "As a professor studying religion, I learned about Falun Gong via the Internet. The CCP persecutes Falun Gong but does not have any basis to do so. The CCP receives worldwide pressure requesting an end to the persecution and protection of human rights and freedoms. The photo exhibition of "The Journey of Falun Dafa" demonstrates Dafa's spread. Exposing the persecution helps us learn the brutal facts about the CCP's inhuman persecution. I hope that Korea embraces Falun Gong and contributes to an alternative way to understand human beings." His professional expression won warm applause from the audience.

    The director of the art museum also made a speech, and he said that it was the first time in his 34 years of working in art that he had such strong feelings about an exhibition. He said he was shocked by the facts of the persecution, and he hoped that more exhibitions like this would be held.

    The photo exhibition caught the attention of visitors from all circles. One was a renowned senior monk. He came to attend the opening ceremony in a wheelchair, as he could not walk.

    Ms. Pak, a local resident, said, "I saw Falun Gong practitioners when I climbed a mountain. After a friend's introduction, I have come to view the exhibition. I am shocked after viewing the CCP's atrocities described in the paintings. I think Falun Gong is very good. I will pay more attention to Falun Gong."

    A practitioner in charge of explaining the paintings to visitors said, "I hope this photo exhibition will have the same effect as the 'Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance' International Art Exhibition in arousing people's conscience."

    The photo exhibition is held until June 29, 2005 and will be held in other places in future.


    Taiwan: Falun Gong Exercise Demonstration at Community College Achievement Presentation

    On June 26, 2005, the San-chong Community College and San-chong National Elementary School in Taipei County, Taiwan jointly conducted the Spring achievement presentation. Falun Gong practitioners were invited to attend the event and demonstrate the exercises.

    Community colleges provide local citizens with opportunities to study. They usually provide multi-subject courses and a friendly study environment as well as colorful community activities so as to have education rooted in the communities. The colleges also become service centers for local citizens to further educate themselves. Falun Gong practitioners have been in close contact with local communities so as to allow more people to learn about Falun Gong, a cultivation practice that is suitable for modern people.

    At the beginning of the achievement presentation conference, Falun Gong practitioners were invited to demonstrate the exercises. They explained the practice while demonstrating the Falun Gong exercise movements. People attentively watched the elegant exercise demonstration and were attracted by the gentle, slow and smooth movements as well as the melodious music. Visitors went to the practitioners' booth to request more information and many asked where they could learn and practice the exercises.


    Introducing Falun Gong before the demonstration

    Falun Gong exercise demonstration

    A lady who came to San-chong from the Three Gorges in China told practitioners that several years ago, someone gave her a copy of Zhuan Falun. She also knew about the practice site but never practiced the exercises. Through practitioners' explanations, she said with surprise, "Wow, it turns out that Falun Gong is so wonderful!" She said that she would like to go to the practice site to learn more about the practice, and that she will carefully read the book Zhuan Falun after going home. Some people said, "You Falun Gong practitioners really have a good nature."

    After the presentation conference, leaders of the community college said they hoped to set up a Falun Gong club at the college after school begins next semester.