(Clearwisdom.net) On June 30, 2009 at Martin Place, the center of Sydney, Falun Dafa practitioners set up truth-clarifying display boards to introduce Falun Gong and expose the persecution of Falun Gong in China.
Group exercise demonstration |
Torture re-enactment to expose the brutal persecution of Falun Gong |
Condemning the persecution of Falun Gong in front of the Supreme Court |
Signing petition to end the persecution |
Reading the display boards |
Martin Place is the center of Sydney, surrounded by financial centers, the central post office, law firms, headquarters of the National Bank, TV stations and offices of various organizations. It is a bustling commercial area with high traffic of locals and foreign visitors.
On June 30, Falun Gong practitioners started the activity with a group exercise practice. The golden yellow exercise suites were bright and eye-catching. A lot of people sat along the outdoor stage and enjoyed the peaceful and harmonious moment.
After the exercises, the rally started. Hostess Kay Rubachek introduced Falun Gong to the audience: Falun Gong is a high-level cultivation practice guided by the characteristics of the universe--Truthfulness, Benevolence, and Forbearance. It has five sets of easy-to-learn gentle movements and meditation. The practitioners follow the characteristics of the universe to be good people in all circumstances and to improve their morality.
Participating practitioners also set up an information table to display and pass out truth-clarifying materials. A large screen TV continuously played a video of how Falun Dafa has spread to the world and exposed the persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party.
In the afternoon, a re-enactment of torture methods used by the CCP against Falun Gong practitioners shocked many Australians. Ms. Wang Chunying, a 70-year-old Falun Gong practitioner, was one of the actors. When asked what she felt, the old lady replied in tears, "Participating in this reminds me of the memory of my son and daughter. It was the time when the police put my son in a forced labor camp in Hong Qiao District Tianjin City. From the gate to cell, it was only 50 or 60 meters, but it took him two and a half hours, because the policemen were beating him all the time. They knocked him down and kicked him. When he finally stood up, they beat him down again. Blood filled his nose and mouth, and his head and body were bleeding."
Ms. Wang called on all kindhearted people to step up and help to end the persecution and let the world see the beauty of Falun Dafa and "Truthfulness, Benevolence, Forbearance".
Rebbecca watched the torture re-enactment for a while and took several photos with her cell phone. After learning the facts about the persecution, she said that she would do all she could to help end the persecution.
Bonnie and Samantha are two college students majoring in journalism. After reading the display board and seeing the torture re-enactment, they were shocked, "It's scary that such things are happening to people in China." They took photos and said that they would write a story to submit to the media and distribute to their friends.
Mr. Fan Ping is from Beijing. "I respect what Falun Gong (practitioners) have done." He said, "I have a few friends who practiced Falun Gong and I know they are all good people. I wanted to learn the exercise too but I was too busy working. I don't like the Communist Party's doings and I support you. Some time ago when I was visiting Canberra, I saw that Falun Gong was protesting in front of the Chinese Embassy and passing out fliers to visitors. I joined them to hold the banner and later helped to pass out some fliers. This is what I can do."
"I believe that if all the world know the truth, people will go against the inhuman persecution. I hope that the world will step up to help end the persecution."
According to Ms. Zhao, head of the Falun Dafa Association in Sydney, the persecution has lasted almost ten years since July 20, 1999. Around July 20, a series of activities will be organized including discussion forums, parade and rallies. She hoped that the activities will raise awareness of the persecution of Falun Gong in China from the Australian government, media and the public. She said that more and more people are practicing Falun Dafa in Australia.
At the other end of Martin Place, Falun Gong practitioners were rallying in front of the Supreme Court. The case of Australian Falun Gong practitioner Zhang Cuiying suing former Chinese President Jiang Zemin will have another hearing on July 20 at the Supreme Court. The case has been ongoing for five years and it has received great support from Australians. In a few months, she received over 8,000 signatures supporting the case.
Ms. Zhang said, "Many Australians have wished us success and some lawyers wanted to practice Falun Gong. More and more people have learned the truth. I wish to bring Jiang Zemin to justice, as he is the main culprit of persecuting Falun Gong, and to end the persecution as soon as possible."
The activities ended at around 6 p.m.