[Clearwisdom.net]

During the Chinese Government's persecution, Falun Gong practitioners that have steadfastly maintained their belief in "Zhen, Shan, Ren"(Truthfulness, Benevolence, Forbearance) have suffered profoundly. Some were made jobless and homeless; some were sentenced to three-years of "reform through labor", and some to more than ten years of imprisonment. According to current statistics, over 140 practitioners have died from police violence. Could the rest be living like average citizens? Obviously not. There are many other forms of persecution taking place as well.

W, a postgraduate student at a famous University, lives in the capital city of a southern province. Four times he exercised his legal right to appeal in Beijing, and for this he has been forced to leave school. Although he passed his Graduation Thesis with an "A," the school refused to issue him his Certificate of Graduation or his Diploma. In his hometown of Shandong, the suppression of Falun Gong is so intense that most people dare not offer jobs to Falun Gong practitioners, so W could not find work there unless he abandoned his belief. The government has even resorted to ancient forms of cruelty in their "conversion" attempts. Anyone associating with Falun Dafa practitioners will be punished, along with their family members. This tradition prevents a lot of workplaces and otherwise kindly people from offering job opportunities to Falun Gong practitioners. In Jiangxi Province, students have also been denied entrance to middle schools or universities if family members--even if only elderly grandparents--are Falun Gong practitioners.

Fortunately, because of his computer expertise, W was able to get a job at a computer company in a southern city. When he decided to marry, he was required to obtain a certificate from his registered residence, Shandong. This is a necessary procedure for any legal marriage. Authorities there informed him that the certificate would never be issued unless he first broke away from Falun Gong. What could be more ridiculous? A citizen of China is arbitrarily deprived of his right to get married simply for sticking to his beliefs. Stories like this make it easy to imagine what may happen to other Falun Gong practitioners. Now W is being held in a detention center for prisoners awaiting trial because he stepped forward to tell people the truth about Falun Gong. He is expected to be sentenced to three years of imprisonment for refusal to mend his ways, despite repeated "admonitions."

The darkest hour is just before the dawn. Bad men will reap the fruits of their actions, while the righteous will welcome a magnificent future!

Feb. 22 2001