Statement by Practitioner Liang Ye-Ning at Her Trial on January 12, 2000

I'm standing here as an accused, simply because I am a Falun Gong practitioner. I want to tell you that I do not regret my actions. I have been practicing Falun Gong for five years. I have greatly benefited from it both physically and spiritually. Many of my family members and friends have also benefited from practicing Falun Dafa.

Falun Dafa has changed me from a selfish, narrow-minded person to an upright, unselfish person. I have always believed that Falun Dafa is not an "evil cult;" Instead, it is a great practice that has enabled millions of people to become good citizens. As a matter of fact, all I am doing now is trying to say a few unbiased, true words about Falun Dafa. To be truthful, I can give up my future, my youth, and even my life for Falun Dafa. I only hope that more and more people will get to know the truth about Falun Dafa; more and more people will know that Falun Dafa is innocent, and that Mr. Li Hongzhi, who without charging even a penny has saved millions of people from physical and mental suffering, is innocent. Mr. Li Hongzhi once said, "I want nothing from you except seeing your heart towards kindness." I really want to tell you that Mr. Li is noble and unselfish. He deserves respect from everyone in the world! The TV reports in China are false. The decision to label Falun Dafa an "evil cult" is wrong! It is the shame of the Chinese people! It is the shame of the ending period of the 20th Century!

I have been in Beijing since July 20, for the purpose of asking the people's government: who dares to remove the word "People?" Aren't 100 million persons "people?" We all have families and relatives. My son is just two and half years old. Today, we are forced not to say what we want to say; we have no place to plea for our innocence; we have homes but we are not allowed to return to them. We are 100 million! But are the implicated people altogether just 100 millions?

Today I had the chance to see my family and friends. I could have stayed home and spent the time quietly. I would go to work during the day, read Zhuan Falun in the evening, and follow the principles of Falun Dafa to become a kind person. However, the government does not give us the right to be a good citizen! Such a good practice is labeled an "evil cult!" Whoever pleads innocent is arrested and beaten! The government, out of its unnecessary fear of having its power challenged, would rather sacrifice the happiness of 100 million people! Don't you fear losing the hearts of the people? No matter how many sheep there are, they are still sheep. Isn't it true that the more kind people the better? What is there to worry about? If you are out to condemn someone, you can always trump up a charge. Dear government, with what you have done, can you convince us Falun Dafa disciples? Can you convince all of those implicated? Can you convince all of the people of China?

As we all know, animals eat, sleep, and survive. Why are they not regarded as human beings? It's because they don't have the moral standards of human beings. Can a person be called human if he does not have the virtue that a human being should have? Can a country have a bright future with its people filled with happiness if the government does not govern with virtue, if the government does not uphold justice, and if the government does not distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong?

I love my homeland. I love my country. It is because of my love that I have said what I just said. Please think about it! Today, on behalf of all of those Falun Gong practitioners who have been detained, I would like to appeal to the government once again:

* Restore the good reputation of Falun Dafa!

* Remove the arrest order for our Master!

* Release all of the detained Falun Dafa practitioners!

* Allow Zhuan Falun to be published legally!

* Allow a legitimate environment for practicing Falun Dafa!

Today, let me say that, if Falun Dafa were not restored to a virtuous practice, I would give up everything in my life! Even if you sentence me to 20 or 30 years in prison, I will still go to Beijing to appeal once I'm released. I will not go home until justice is restored! I'm not alone. There are millions of Falun Dafa practitioners like me!

If and when I get the chance, I will salute all those practitioners who have lost their lives to guard the Law! I will salute all those who have lost families and jobs to go to Beijing to appeal! I will salute all those practitioners who are currently detained, yet determined to practice Falun Dafa! I will salute all those practitioners who have given up their comfortable lives abroad to return to China to guard the Law!

During my nearly three months of detention, I was warned many times by the guards that I would be reported to the court and get a longer jail sentence because of my open practice of Falun Gong. Let me tell you that, as our teacher says, a person should be open and aboveboard and with dignity! In the future, no matter where I'm jailed or where I live, as long as I'm alive, I'll follow what Mr. Li Hongzhi says and be a good person that assimilates to the supreme principle of the universe, "Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance". People's hearts can't be suppressed! Paper can't wrap up fire! Gold will glisten! I believe the day will come when Falun Dafa spreads to every corner of the world!

Falun Dafa will pass from generation to generation! If time could be reversed and if I were given the choice, I would still choose Falun Dafa, and I would still do the same thing, and do it even better! I hope my family and friends won't feel sorry for me. I believe that the price I've been paying is worthwhile. To be able to practice Falun Dafa and do something for Falun Dafa is the happiest thing in my life.

Therefore, I'm not defending myself today. However, I do defend Falun Dafa. Falun Dafa is innocent! Mr Li Hongzhi is innocent! Falun Dafa practitioners are innocent!

I will use the rest of my life to say: Falun Dafa is great! Falun Dafa has been wrongly accused!

(Translated Apr. 8, 2000)