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Sydney, Australia: March Protesting the Persecution of Falun Gong Wins Support (Photos)

July 25, 2009 |   By Luo Na and Yuan Li

(Clearwisdom.net) At noon on July 19, 2009, Falun Gong practitioners held a grand march and rally in Sydney. Its theme was: "Disintegrate the CCP to stop the persecution".

Grand march to peacefully resist the persecution

The march started at Sydney's City Hall with the Divine Land Marching Band in front. The procession consisted of three sections illustrating, first, how Falun Dafa has spread around the world, next, the journey of peaceful resistance to the CCP's persecution, and the movement to quit the CCP inspired by the book "Nine Commentaries of Communist Party". The march called on kindhearted people to help stop the CCP persecution of Falun Gong.

The procession followed the main streets of downtown Sydney and ended at Sydney Entertainment Center square next to Chinatown. The grand march caught the attention of passersby that paused and watched. Afterwards, the practitioners held a rally on the square.

The Divine Land Marching Band

Falun Dafa around the world

Falun Dafa around the world

Exposing the CCP persecution of Falun Gong

Commemorating fellow practitioners who were tortured to death by the CCP

Spreading the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and supporting the Quit the CCP movement

The Divine Land Marching Band played "Falun Dafa Is Good," "The Fa Rectifies the Universe," and "Buddha's Grace." Following the band were hundreds of practitioners holding banners with the words "Falun Dafa Is Good," "Truth-Compassion-Forbearance," and "Falun Dafa Is Practiced All Over the World."

The only float in the procession was a reenactment of the tortures used by the CCP on Falun Gong practitioners. Following were hundred of practitioners dressed in white and holding photos of fellow practitioners who were tortured to death by the CCP.

The third part of the march was the procession to support the movement to quit the CCP, pointing out that the CCP is falling apart and that more people need to learn about the true nature of the CCP and join the movement.

Mr. George Barros a reporter from London was present for the event. After seeing the march and learning the facts about the persecution, he was very sympathetic and encouraged the practitioners to continue. He said he would write articles on the event and send them to newspapers in England and Australia. He stated in his article that, since World War II, 80 million Chinese people have died as a result of the CCP's political movements: "The number is equal to the total number of deaths in World War II. This week, Chinese in Sydney exposed the ongoing persecution and tragedy taking place in China today. These issues are easily overlooked, but they are issues that everyone should be concerned with. The genocide is continuing. Stopping it is everyone's responsibility."

A tourist from Malaysia told the reporter, "The CCP's persecution of Falun Gong is also a persecution of all religious groups. The persecution has lasted so long. It is time to end it."

An Australian couple told the reporter, "The CCP always suppresses the Chinese people. Last year, the CCP suppressed the Tibetan people. This year, it suppresses Uighurs. We have heard of the persecution of Falun Gong. We support the march protesting the persecution. We hope the CCP is disintegrated as early as possible and the persecution is stopped.

Rally protesting the persecution

Protest rally venue

After the grand march, the practitioners and others held a rally in front of Sydney Entertainment Center, which attracted many local residents to pause and watch. Democracy activist Pan Qing, former Chinese diplomat Chen Yinglin, and former instructor Yuan Tiemin of Northwest Political and Judicial University spoke at the rally to support Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful resistance to ten years of persecution. Member of Parliament (MP) Tony Windsor, MP Ian Cohen of New South Wales Provincial Parliament, and Council member Nhan Tran of Fairfield and Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese Community in New South Wales Province sent supporting letters to the event.

MP Windsor stated in his letter that Falun Gong practitioners' efforts during the past ten years are a milestone of peace. He hopes that practitioners in China will be able to practice freely in the near future and the day will not be too far away.

City Council member Nhan Tran stated in his letter: "I fully understand and support your reminding us and people around the world. I strongly request that Chinese rulers immediately stop the persecution of Falun Gong, stop the live organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners, respect the basic rights of Chinese people, and stop the persecution of journalists and human rights advocates. I am pleased to know that 56 million Chinese people have quit the CCP, which indicates that the CCP regime will disintegrate.

Mr. Yuan Tiemin, former instructor of Northwest Political and Judicial University, who holds an honorary Masters Degree of Law from Sydney University, said at the rally: "The atrocity is led by the CCP, which controls all state machinery to eliminate Falun Gong practitioners physically and mentally. Their means are so cruel and on such a large scale that no similar record in the world history of atrocities can be found. This cannot be tolerated by the modern civilized world." At the rally venue, nearly one hundred Chinese people and students quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. Volunteer Ms. Zhao said that a few senior Chinese immigrants at first could not understand why the practitioners were protesting the persecution. She and a few other volunteers explained the facts to the Chinese and told them that the CCP and China are not one and them same. Disintegration of the CCP is good news for Chinese around the world. Later, the three senior Chinese agreed to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations.

Ms. Zhao of the Sydney Falun Dafa Association recounted the series local events to mark the ten years of resistance to the persecution. The Truth-Compassion-Forbearance Art Exhibition was held on July 13, a candlelight vigil was held on the night of July 19, and on July 20, a court hearing on the lawsuit against Jiang Zemin was held. The Falun Dafa Association also sent a joint statement from 41 Falun Dafa Associations around the world to Prime Minister Rudd, asking him to help stop the persecution.

Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a traditional Chinese spiritual discipline for mind and body. The practice involves slow, gentle movements and meditation. It is easy to learn, enjoyable to practice, and free of charge. Its principles are based on Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The practice began in China in 1992 and quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China and then beyond. Its beneficial effects in uplifting an individual's physical health, spiritual well-being, and moral character, not to mention its positive influence in the community and society as a whole, have been undeniable. In fact, Falun Gong is practiced by over 100 million people in 60 countries. The main works of Falun Gong are available in over 30 languages.

On July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a brutal persecution of Falun Gong. Since the start of the persecution, Falun Gong practitioners throughout the world have been constantly speaking out about the truth of Falun Gong and exposing the CCP's crimes in a tireless effort to end the persecution.