District of Sooke, Canada, Issues Proclamation Supporting Falun Gong Practitioners and Strongly Condemning the Persecution

Proclamation

Whereas, Falun Gong also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice deeply rooted in ancient Chinese culture. The practice is peaceful and apolitical. It consists of meditation, gentle exercises, and the guiding principle of Truthfulness-Benevolence-Forbearance: and

Whereas, the government of the People's Republic of China banned the practice of Falun Gong in July of 1999 and began a brutal and relentless crackdown on millions of Falun Gong practitioners, which has continued unceasingly up to the present: and

Whereas, according to UN International Education Department's Statement, Chinese regime's violent assault on Falun Gong practitioners is a case of "State terrorism against its own people - what she calls 'terrorism from above' - produces far more gross violations of human rights than any other form of terrorism;" and

Whereas, according to world media and human rights groups, as of January 23, 2002: At least 350 Falun Gong practitioners have died from torture and ill treatment in police custody and tens of thousand of Falun Gong practitioners have been detained, tortured, raped and brutally abused, physically and mentally, simply for being Falun Gong practitioners: and

Whereas, during the extreme violence and torture, Falun Gong practitioners have shown unparalleled forbearance, with not one practitioner having hit back or retaliated in any way, and with practitioners worldwide having used only non-violent, and peaceful means to appeal; and

Whereas, practitioners in Canada completed a 600 km. Cross-Canada SOS! Rescue Walk on November 30, 2001, that utilized relay, great Forbearance, and took 85 days to complete. And practitioners around the world have walked, biked, and traveled across countries to raise awareness, and major cities around the world continue to hold 24-hour-around-the-clock vigils to protest the illegal persecution in China; and

Now therefore, be it resolved by the District of Sooke that it is the sense and purpose of this council that full support be given to those Falun Gong members who follow the 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance' and further that harsh, brutal and repressive practice of the Chinese government against Falun Gong practitioners be condemned.

Ed Macgregor

Mayor