The republic of Slovakia is
a young
country. The former Czechoslovakian Republic broke away from the
communist
system. Czechoslovakia said good-bye in a friendly way to the Slovakian
people
and became two independent countries. Slovakia called itself "the
Slovensko"
republic. The new-born "Slovensko" is relatively unknown and the
people are unfamiliar with it. Outside Europe, people hardly know about
it. Some
do not know where it is; some cannot distinguish the names for the two
countries, "Slovensko" and "Slovenia." Eight years ago, I
came to Slovakia for the first time. While buying a ticket, I could not
even
tell the ticket collector its capital fluently, or my destination,
Bratislava.
However, in this country, there is a group of practitioners of Falun
Gong.
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The people of Slovakia are happy to lead a simple, virtuous life and not compete with others; they have a deep love for nature and value life. They advocate peace and disdain violence. This is a people with a strong religious consciousness. They believe in God and revere the spiritual life. Regardless of the level of education, position and identity, most people in Slovakia are highly morally improved, well-mannered, modest, kindhearted and simple. They pay attention to decorum and behave well. They have less of the communist customs left. Slovakia's society is stable and peaceful. There are rarely natural and man-made calamities, nor turmoil and violence.
It should be easy for such people to accept Falun Gong, which teaches people about "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance." However, the spread of Falun Gong in Slovakia is quite a difficult process.
In contrast with Western Europe and North America, Falun Gong arrived later here, after July of 1999 when rumors about Falun Gong spread by the Chinese Communist Party passed into the country. The Slovakian people's initial understanding of Falun Gong was formed by the vicious propaganda which the CCP had spread. Thus they had serious doubts about Falun Gong. The Chinese here generally believed the fabricated propaganda of the CCP and resisted Falun Gong and treated practitioners badly. For several years, in spring and autumn, under the burning sun and in the snow and the cold wind, only a few people practiced Falun Gong consistently. Although they were few, they still practiced the exercises, studied the principles of Falun Gong, clarified the truth to people and the media, engaged in protests and petitions at the Chinese Embassy and the United Nations, and participated in European Falun Gong conferences.
The power of Falun Gong cannot be withstood. After a few years' efforts, the Slovakian people have gradually come to understand Falun Gong. Falun Gong practitioners in Slovakia have passed the most difficult period. In 2001 they set up a website. In 2003 the Falun Gong Association was established with the approval of the government. In 2004 the Slovakian edition of the introductory book Falun Gong was translated and published. In 2005 the Slovakian edition of the main text Zhuan Falun was translated and published. The number of people who practiced Falun Gong increased. In cities other than the capital, Bratislava, there were also practitioners and practice sites. More and more people in Slovakia wished to learn about Falun Gong and about the persecution that is taking place in China.
The view of the Chinese toward Falun Gong is changing gradually as well. In the past few years they have seen for themselves that Falun Gong practitioners are honest, kindhearted, and healthy--completely different from the CCP's lies. Some began to accept the leaflets about Falun Gong distributed by practitioners. Some liked to talk to the practitioners. Some employers hired practitioners to work for them. Some parents asked practitioners to teach their children Chinese. Some cared about the safety of the practitioners and reported all sorts of mean conduct by personnel of the Chinese Embassy against practitioners. Some people who used to practice other exercises transferred to Falun Gong and formally joined the ranks of practitioners. Some began reading Zhuan Falun and said that they would soon participate in group exercises.
Falun Gong practitioners in Slovakia have established good relationships with the people, police, the media and government of this country. At present, Falun Gong practitioners in Slovakia have a very good practice environment. Whenever Falun Gong practitioners take to the streets to introduce the practice and tell people about the persecution, many people sign their names to show support, ask for materials and provide refreshments and beverages. Sometimes the police would talk to practitioners to learn about the truth after they finished their duty. Practitioners toured cities in the whole country regularly every year to spread Falun Gong. Local media would report. Some reporters even learned the exercises on the spot. Some mayors showed up to greet practitioners and signed their names to show support. Some mayors received practitioners in City Hall. Some mayors wrote letters to express support afterwards. Some congressmen wrote articles, made speeches to condemn the persecution of Falun Gong by the CCP.
Falun Gong practitioners in Slovakia often go to other countries to show support, in addition to spreading Falun Gong in Slovakia. They have been to the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Western Europe, North America, and along the Baltic Sea. Certainly, Falun Gong practitioners in Slovakia have received a lot of help from practitioners in other countries. Practitioners in the Czech Republic, Austria, Great Britain and Germany have come to Slovakia to spread Falun Gong many times so that Falun Gong practitioners in Slovakia could pass the most difficult period.
A three-day International Health Exposition was held at the Saint Petersburg International Exhibition Centre. With the theme of "caring, assistance and compassion," the objective of the Expo was to take advantage of the opportunity to urge people at all levels of society to care and assist the elderly and disabled. Falun Gong practitioners in St. Petersburg were invited to participate in the Expo, which opened on February 16. They held two seminars to introduce Falun Gong, along with a demonstration of the five Falun Gong exercises. The demonstration was highly acclaimed by the organizers and the public.
 Listening to an explanation about Falun Gong |
 Demonstration of the Falun Gong exercises |
Mayor of St. Petersburg said, "You are welcome to visit my office."
Mayor Valentina Matviyenko attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony in person and showed the VIPs in attendance around all the booths in the Exposition. The Falun Gong booth was set up in the centre of the exhibition hall. Practitioners took advantage of this opportunity to present a leaflet, as well as a copy of the "Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party" to the Mayor in person and expressed their wishes to visit her at a later date. The Mayor was pleased to accept the material and replied, "You are welcome to visit my office."
City Mayor Ms. Valentina Matviyenko visits every booth in the exposition
"I finally found what I have been looking for all my life"
On the first day, our Falun Gong exhibition booth was first set up in a remote corner. Practitioners thought it would be good if the booth could be in a more central location to let more people come to know about Falun Gong. It was amazing that thinking righteously worked so quickly. Within half an hour, an organizer came to our booth. After reading the material we were displaying, he agreed to our relocation to the centre of the exhibition hall for free.
Display boards depicting the popularity of Falun Gong and the fact that Falun Gong has received over two thousand awards and other forms of recognition in various countries around the world attracted a lot of people's attention. Jishi and Pudu music filled the atmosphere with compassion and tranquil beauty. Many people came to visit the booth. Those who were attracted by the music said, "The music is amazing. It seems that there is some energy to attract me here." Looking at our display boards, many people said, "I finally found what I have been looking for all my life."
During the three-day exhibition, over three thousand people took leaflets or copies of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. After hearing about the Chinese Communist regime's cruel persecution of Falun Gong in China, many condemned China's despicable human right abuse as well as its immoral and inhuman atrocities.
 People asking for leaflets |
 Sailors posing for a group picture in front of the Falun Gong booth |
Before the Expo concluded, the organizer awarded a citation to Dafa practitioners, in appreciation for their enthusiastic participation and bringing Falun Gong's magnificence to the general public.