Falun Gong Practitioners Invited to Speak at the 40th Annual Amnesty International Meeting

[Minghui Net] The 40^th Annual Amnesty International Meeting was held from April 20 to 22 in Nashville, Tennessee. Falun Gong practitioners from California, Georgia and Tennessee were invited and attended the meeting. Dr. Oscar Arias Sanchez, the 1987 Nobel peace prize holder, attended the meeting and gave a speech during the opening ceremony. The theme of this year's annual meeting was: "Stop Torture!" Professor Zhang Kunlun was invited to give speeches both in the general assembly and the small group meetings. In his morning speech at the general assembly, Professor Zhang described all sorts of tortures he had suffered in China simply because he would not give up practicing Falun Gong. Professor Zhang further unveiled the mental torture implemented by Jiang Zemin's criminal group. In a nearly completely isolated environment, the evil group used deceitful methods to torture and manipulate Falun Gong practitioners around the clock until they suffered mental collapse. Professor Zhang pointed out that this kind of mental torture is more difficult to endure than physical torture. Professor Zhang also declared that, for the tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners who are still suffering physical and mental torture, he must step forward and reveal the truth to the world. Professor Zhang's speech stunned the entire audience. They all stood up and gave a long applause, many of them in tears. In the past month, Professor Zhang was invited to give speeches in many countries, including Switzerland, Sweden, England, Germany, France, Holland, Denmark, Belgium and the United States. By sharing his story, he is effectively exposing the crimes of Jiang Zemin's group in the brutal suppression of Falun Gong. During a meeting recess, a reporter from Tennessee, the largest newspaper in Tennessee, interviewed Professor Zhang and the news report was published the next day. Regarding his field of study, Professor Zhang believes, "Only with a pure and peaceful heart can you create art that shines with a sacred spirit." Through cultivation, Professor Zhang truly feels the sublimation in art. In the afternoon group meeting, Professor Zhang Kunlun described the bitter experience of Falun Gong practitioners who were detained in the same prison. A female Falun Gong practitioner spoke about the brutal persecution and abuse of female Falun Gong practitioners by Jiang Zemin's accomplices. During the meeting, attendees and meeting organizers came to shake hands with Professor Zhang from time to time, expressing their sympathy, admiration, and gratitude. They also invited and welcomed Professor Zhang and other Falun Gong practitioners to participate in their future activities, so more people will pay attention to torture in various places of the world. Let's join together to stop the torture! By Falun Gong practitioners who attended the 40^th Annual Amnesty International Meeting on April 21, 2001