(Clearwisdom.net) In response to escalating reports of deaths of Falun Gong practitioners in China from the persecution, Sydney Falun Gong practitioners held a candlelight vigil on Monday evening, January 12, 2003, in front of the Chinese Embassy, calling for an end to the killing.

Since November 2002, the Falun Dafa Information Center has received individual reports of 43 Falun Gong practitioners being beaten and tortured to death by authorities in China. Twenty two of the deaths reported actually occurred after November 1, while remaining cases occurred prior to November 2002. Because information regarding the deaths of Falun Gong practitioners is strictly blocked, it is sometimes months or even years before details can be fully known.

"If you turn a blind eye to dictatorships...they can get away with literally murder" explains Brian Coleman, a member of the London Assembly. "In China, they're currently getting away with persecuting thousands of Falun Gong practitioners. Hitler got away in the 1930's with persecuting the Jewish community...that turned into Genocide in the 1940's."

A press conference regarding this global appeal activity will be held Tuesday in front of the Chinese Embassy.