(Clearwisdom.net) On March 14, 2009, the International Society for Human Rights (IGFM, Internationale Gesellschaft Fur Menschenrechte) held its annual conference in Bonn, Germany. The purpose of the conference was to discuss the current human rights situation around the globe. The attendees were from various countries and areas. Falun Dafa practitioners were invited to speak at the conference again.
During the press conference at noon, Falun Dafa practitioner Mr. Guo Jufeng spoke as a witness to the persecution of Falun Gong in China since 1999.
| Falun Dafa practitioner Mr. Guo Jufeng |
Mr. Guo said that he had experienced at least 30 different kinds of tortures and was jailed four times for his belief in Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. During his last detention, he was jailed in three different forced labor camps for a total 454 days. He was forced to work, tortured, and locked in solitary confinement two times. For attempting to protect the rights of other practitioners, he was handcuffed for 100 days. In the end, he went on hunger strike to protest the inhuman torture for 24 days and finally was released.
The reporters and human rights workers listened respectfully and appeared deeply moved.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, a small group discussion on human rights in China started. The topic focused on human rights situation in China before and after the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Two councilmen introduced the current human rights situation in China.
Mr. Guo spoke at the group discussion again. He said, "I have believed in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance for 14 years. But belief like this and a speech like the one I gave today is dangerous in China because one would be facing the risk of illegal detention, torture and even death. Nine Falun Dafa practitioners with whom I was acquainted were persecuted and tortured to death in the past nine years. Some of them were very young. The youngest was only 27 years old. Five of them left behind young children."
The attendees asked Mr. Guo if he saw a psychologist after experiencing the tortures. He said, "After I regained my freedom after the torture, there was a hatred in my heart and I easily lost my temper or had difficulty to control my feelings. Later, after I read the Falun Gong books again, rationality, tolerance and peace came back to me."
Mr. Guo also talked about the Olympics in China. He said that although the Beijing Olympics was over, the persecution continues. Before the end of December 2008, a lot of Falun Gong practitioners were sentenced to heavy prison terms. "In my hometown, 13 Falun Gong practitioners were sentenced to prison terms, altogether 88 years, including three female practitioners who were over 60 years old. As a matter of fact, there are still many Falun Gong practitioners who were jailed in forced labor camps, labor institutes, and mental hospitals before the Games, but have not been released.
"They need help. I hope all the practitioners in China can regain their freedom like me."
The annual conference allowed more people learn the truth about the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of Falun Gong.
Category: Rallies & Protests
