March 10, 2004
(Clearwisdom.net)
Since July of 1999, Falun Gong practitioners from all around the world have mounted numerous rescue efforts to free practitioners from jails inside China and to expose the brutal persecution coming from Jiang's regime. Practitioners from Shizuoka-ken County, Japan, also wished to rescue their fellow practitioners, and they have worked together to help to clarify the truth to people that could help them.
On weekends practitioners spontaneously went to crowded areas to distribute truth-clarification newspapers, talk to people, and collect signatures supporting Falun Gong. Those who learned the truth about the persecution expressed their indignation saying, "Sooner or later the dictator Jiang will face justice from the people." Two female practitioners who speak fluent Japanese introduced Falun Gong and the persecution to the county's congressmen. The drive to meet the congressmen took two hours, but the practitioners did not mind the trip, though they had much housework to do on top of taking care of their children.
On the first few visits, there was not much progress to help rescue persecuted practitioners, but then one of the congressmen signed the rescue petition based on his understanding of Falun Dafa. He asked, "What can I do for you?" The practitioners answered, "We would appreciate it if you could help us to spread the truth about Falun Gong to more of your fellow congressmen." After that the congressman raised the issue to his fellow legislators several times. Soon there was a high tide of rescuing activities that were supported by congressmen. During that time, in May 2002, Falun Dafa practitioner Yoko Kaneko was arrested by police when she was distributing truth-clarification leaflets in Beijing. She was illegally sentenced to 1.5 years of forced labor. To help rescue her, more than half of the congressmen of the Shizuoka-ken county signed in support.
On March 2, 2004, all of the congressmen of Shizuoka-ken County attended a local conference. Practitioners arranged for Yoko Kaneko, who had very recently regained her freedom, to reveal to the congressmen the cruelty of the persecution of Jiang's regime against Falun Gong practitioners by sharing her experience. During the conference break at noon, she expressed her gratitude to the congressmen for helping to rescue her and described the facts of the persecution she suffered in the Chinese labor camp.
Everyone listened intently. Learning what Yoko Kaneko had experienced, the congressmen were shocked. They saw that Yoko was only a small woman, yet she had suffered such brutality. Finally, Yoko Kaneko appealed to the congressmen, saying there were still thousands of Falun Gong practitioners suffering in China, and she called for their support to rescue all of the practitioners.
Next, two Falun Gong practitioners living in Shizuoka-ken County appealed to the congressmen again, sharing the situation of their family members suffering persecution in China.
Wan Yingjie's maternal aunt, over 60 years old, was illegally arrested from her home because she practiced Falun Gong.
Xie Yunhuan is the brother of Japanese Chinese Hirobayashi Mitsuhiro and a student at a Japanese language school. In 1999 he went to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong and was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment on the fabricated charge that he had "distributed 1,000 pieces of reactionary leaflets." It was said that he was transferred to a coal mine, where he was forced into slave labor. Witnesses reported that he was tortured, with cuts and bruises all over his body. His family members were also targeted and abused.
The congressmen listened to the practitioners for 20 minutes. As a result they gained a better understanding of the massive human rights violations occurring in China that are harming everyone in the world.
After her talk, Yoko Kaneko bowed to the congressmen to express her gratitude, and the congressmen also expressed their respect toward her.