(Clearwisdom.net) On July 20, 2009, the tenth year of Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful resistance to the persecution, practitioners in Queensland held a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate in Brisbane to mourn the more than 3,000 practitioners who have lost their lives, and at the same time call for an end to the persecution.
Practitioners hold candlelight vigil to mourn practitioners who have been killed in the CCP's persecution
People read Falun Gong truth-clarification display boards
People sign a petition calling for an end to the persecution
People sign the petition in support of efforts to end the persecution
Many local people felt indignant at the CCP's atrocities. They said, "The CCP is really too bad!" "I don't think that the CCP can hold many more years!" Many people who have learned the facts signed the petition in support of Falun Gong practitioners' efforts to end the persecution.
Three Chinese overseas students had learned of the CCP brutality, and announced their withdrawals from the CCP Young Pioneers and Youth League on the spot. One said that he wanted to quit the CCP organization using his real name.
A Falun Gong practitioner said that he hoped the governments and people in western society would stand up for justice, and uphold righteousness and conscience so as to end the persecution soon.
Alma from Taiwan started practicing Falun Gong seven years ago. She said that she found the real meaning of life when she took up Falun Gong. As the persecution has persisted for ten years, what she most wanted to say was, "There should not have been any persecution of Falun Gong in China, it should be stopped immediately!"
During the event, a Chinese Falun Gong practitioner in her sixties recounted her experience of being persecuted when she was in China. Since she started practicing Falun Gong in 1999, for refusing to give up her belief in Falun Gong, she was arrested twice, and was extorted out of 10,000 yuan. The CCP agents ransacked her home twice, and confiscated a computer, a laptop computer, a cell phone and other items.
Falun Gong practitioners said that since July 20, 1999, when the CCP regime launched the violent persecution against Falun Gong, tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been subjected to inhuman and brutal torture, and thousands have lost their lives, only for pursuing the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. These innocent practitioners have had their families torn apart, and their loved ones killed in the persecution. Over the past ten years, Falun Gong practitioners have remained fearless in the face of violence and hardship, steadfastly clarifying the facts about Falun Gong to the public, rain or shine. Their kindness and compassion have awakened countless people's conscience and kind thoughts.
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.
