Melbourne: Symbolic Trial on Jiang at the City Plaza Move Numerous Spectators (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) On the afternoon of April 24, 2004, in order to allow more people to learn about facts of the nearly five-year persecution, more than 60 Falun Gong practitioners from Melbourne, Australia went to the City Plaza in Downtown area to expose the Jiang's group's ruthless persecution of Falun Gong through a symbolic trial on the perpetrator Jiang Zemin.

At 3 p.m., the symbolic trial began. The judge announced the 10 monstrous crimes including genocide and crimes against humanity committed by Jiang. Four witnesses successively gave testimony in the court. They directly and specifically exposed the inhuman crimes and deceits with their personal experiences.

Symbolic trial on Jiang

On the left-hand-side of the tribunal, a simulated jail demonstrated the persecution of Falun Gong happening in China. Jail guards tortured three practitioners. One was hung on the roof; one was locked in a small cell, and another was tied on a "tiger bench"⁽¹⁾. At the same time, the jail guards ceaselessly beat them with electric batons and a whip in an attempt to force them to renounce their belief in Falun Gong. One who portrayed a persecuted practitioner introduced to passersby after the performance, that he was arrested in Beijing in 1999 simply because he spoke up for Falun Gong. Because he refused to give up his belief in Falun Dafa, he suffered all kinds of tortures. What he demonstrated today was only one of the numerous methods of tortures applied on Falun Gong practitioners in China's jails or labor camps. He also told people that the atrocities are still going on in China.

Simulated tortures reflect the brutality of the persecution of Falun Gong in China

On another side of the plaza, many practitioners held up signs that read, "Stop killing women and senior people!" "Stop the persecution of Falun Gong," large photos (evidence of the persecution) and various-size wreaths (commemorating the practitioners who died from the persecution). At the rear side of the plaza, practitioners unfurled eye-catching banners that read, "Bring Jiang Zemin to Justice," "Persecution is going on in China," "Falun Dafa is great," and "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance" in both Chinese and English to display the theme of this event to spectators.

Spectators are deeply moved

Truth-clarifying display boards

The City Plaza is located at the intersection of Collin and Swanston streets in Melbourne downtown. It was opposite to the Melbourne City Hall. Numerous people came and went. Some of them stopped to watch, some took pictures with their cameras, and some took the initiative to ask for information about Falun Dafa. Passengers on buses passing by also watched the scene through the windows. They did not want to miss this solemn event.

The symbolic trial was repeated five times in a row. Many passersby watched the entire trial. Seeing the atrocity displayed before eyes, many Chinese students did not turn around to avoid encountering practitioners like what they usually did in the past, this time, they sincerely accepted the truth-clarifying materials.

During the court interval, an Australian young man introduced to other passersby who watched the tribunal with him that he knew about the persecution long time ago. He said that this was the most evil and inhuman persecution and Falun Gong practitioners were simply seeking their very basic rights: belief and practice. He said that Falun Dafa is practiced in more than 60 countries around the world and China is the only country that bans the practice. He questioned, "How could such a country, where fundamental human rights are not ensured, be allowed to host the Olympic games? If it is indeed allowed, how many Olympic athletes who have beliefs would be locked in China, this huge jail?"

A tour group from China also stopped to watch. One of them who looked like a cadre asked a practitioner by the roadside, "How much money do you make to do this kind of anti-government thing?" The practitioner replied, "In China, Falun Gong practitioners have only request to stop the persecution, and enjoy the freedom to practice Falun Gong as people in other countries do. We are just voluntarily speaking out for them because they are not allowed to voice their wishes themselves. We can not just listen to one-sided stories, instead, we should look with our own eyes and think with our own mind." His heartfelt words touched this group of tourists. One after another, they asked for the truth-clarifying booklets, newsletters and video CDs. They also used the last two pieces of film in their camera to shoot the large background scene. We hoped they would record what they had seen and bring the photos to their families and friends.

An Australian Christian said to a practitioner after watching the tribunal, "Although I believe in Jesus, I admire you, practitioners of Falun Dafa, because your are peacefully fighting for your fundamental rights under violence and dangers. In face of threat, you still resolutely uphold your belief."

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(1) Tiger Bench: Practitioners are forced to sit on a small iron bench that is approximately 20 cm (6 inches) tall with their knees tied together. With their hands tied behind their backs or sometimes placed on their knees, they are forced to sit straight up and look straight ahead. They are not allowed to turn their heads, close their eyes, talk to anyone or move at all. Several inmates are assigned to watch over the practitioners and force them?to remain motionless while sitting on the bench. Usually some hard objects are inserted underneath the practitioners' lower legs or ankles to make it harder for them to tolerate this abuse (see illustration on <http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2001/11/24/16156.html>)