News and Events from Around the World
Falun Gong Practitioners' Righteous Action in China
The People Awaken to the Truth
Falun Gong Practitioners' Personal Experiences
News and Events from Around the World
Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference Holds in Manhattan, New York
On November 21, 2004, more than 4,000 Falun Gong practitioners held a Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference at Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, New York.
At about 1:20 p.m., Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong came in person to the conference site, gave a 40 minutes' lecture to practitioners. After the lecture, Master Li Hongzhi was considerate of practitioners who wanted to meet him and who have doubts and puzzles in their cultivation practice. He explained the principles for about four hours and twenty minutes, and finished answering all questions from practitioners.
After the lecture, all practitioners stood up and enthusiastically applauded for a long period of time. Master Li Hongzhi circled the podium and made the greeting gesture to all audience. The practitioners' warm applause lasted until he left the conference hall.
More than 4,000 Falun Gong practitioners attended the New York Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference. In addition to those from North America, practitioners came from Europe, Australia, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and other countries and regions around the world.
With the help of simultaneous translation in different languages, five practitioners shared their experiences in Fa-rectification cultivation. The practitioners talked about their or their group's experiences. They especially shared their touching experiences in going all out to clarify the facts in Manhattan over the past three months.
The conference successfully concluded around 6:20 pm.
"Uncompromising Spirit:" Falun Gong Practitioners' Grand Parade in Manhattan
It was noon on November 20, 2004. Madison Avenue in Mid-Manhattan was filled with pounding drumbeats. Several big banners with "Falun Gong" in both Chinese and English led a grand parade of more than 3,000 Falun Gong practitioners from all over the world. The theme of the paradewas "Uncompromising Spirit".
It was drizzling rain that day. The parade, comprised of a number of different teams, was extremely eye-catching and brightened the cityscape. The parade included a drum team, a Falun Gong exercise demonstration team, a Falun Dafa book exhibition team, an anti-torture exhibition team to expose the persecution in China, a "Bring the Culprits of the Persecution of Falun Gong to Justice" team, an "I support Falun Gong" team and so on. Together, the parade teams extended for more than a dozen blocks. Many pedestrians stopped to watch the parade and asked for truth-clarification materials, to find out more information about Falun Dafa.
When Ms. Jones, a New York resident, saw the parade teams, she waved excitedly to the Falun Gong practitioners and clapped for them. She told us that she received Falun Gong truth-clarification materials more than a year ago. She had checked the website addresses listed on the informational materials and read a lot about Falun Gong. She believed Falun Gong was good. She said, "I think, the principles of 'Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance' should not only be followed by Falun Gong practitioners but by everyone in the 21st century."
According to the parade organizer, the parade on the 20th was one of the major activities taking place during the conference period. In the next two days, besides the experience sharing conference, practitioners will form a "Great Wall of Truth" in New York City.
Toronto: After Failure to Follow Court Order, Chinese Deputy Consul General Left Canada
Canadian diplomatic officials have verified that Pan Xinchun, the former Chinese Deputy Consul General in Toronto, has left Canada. The Ontario Supreme Court convicted Pan Xinchun of libel and ordered him to compensate for the losses of plaintiff Joel Chipkar, a spokesman for Falun Gong.
Because of Pan Xinchun's failure to comply with the court order, the court further issued a garnishment against Pan Xinchun's personal assets in the amount of $11,000, to pay for damages and legal fees. Joel Chipkar submitted an official request on November 16, 2004 through his lawyer to Mr. Pierre Pettigrew, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, in which he asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to proclaim Pan Xinchun as persona non grata.
According to Article IX of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, "The receiving state may at any time and without having to explain its decision, notify the sending state that the head of the mission or any member of the diplomatic staff of the mission is persona non grata or that any other member of the staff of the mission is not acceptable." This article allows the receiving state to expel or deny entry of such person.
Pan Xinchun has violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by committing libel; the Canadian government therefore has the right to declare him persona non grata.
A Member of Parliament said this case has sent a strong message to the Chinese government, that Chinese diplomatic officials are not granted immunity for attacking and violating Canadian citizens' freedom of belief and freedom of speech.
Although it is yet unclear whether the Canadian government has expelled Pan Xinchun, or whether he was following orders from the Chinese government by leaving Canada, it is obvious that Pan Xinchun doesn't realize it was against Canadian law to export hatred propaganda to Canada.
Irish Police Investigate Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju for Conspiracy to Commit Torture
The Deputy Commissioner of the Gardai (Irish police force) has ordered a criminal investigation of visiting Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju following a complaint made of conspiracy to commit torture with regard to Falun Gong practitioners.
The plaintiffs claim that the Vice Premier has rigorously followed former Chairman Jiang Zemin in his campaign to eradicate Falun Gong and in doing so has violated international and Irish law specifically. Under Section 3 of the Criminal Justice (United Nations Convention against Torture) Act 2000 it is a criminal offence under Irish law to conspire to commit the offence of torture.
During his tenure as the head of the Chinese Communist Party Committee in Shanghai, details of 6 Falun Gong practitioners who were tortured to death have been documented by human rights organizations. Huang Ju in his political capacity has also used every opportunity to incite hatred against Falun Gong and encouraged his subordinates to intensify their efforts to wipe out the peaceful meditation practice using whatever means possible.
The plaintiffs claim, "Huang Ju personally, and in cooperation with others, planned, instigated, ordered, authorized, incited or aided and abetted government officials and party members, the police, and other security forces to commit the abuses suffered by Falun Gong practitioners. These abuses took place as a result of his co-perpetration, aiding or abetting or conspiring in concert with others in Shanghai to eradicate the practice and membership of Falun Gong from China, by means of brainwashing, torture, unlawful arrests and arbitrary detention."
Chief Superintendent Bill Donoghue and Detective Superintendent P.J. Browne of Pearse street Garda Station are leading the investigation. So far no action has been taken by the Gardai to arrest Vice Premier Huang during his state visit. However, diplomatic immunity will not apply with regard to the crime of torture.
The plaintiffs in the case include Mr. Zhao Ming and Mr. Liu Feng, both victims of the persecution who have been rescued back to Ireland. Zhao Ming commented: "Justice has no national boundaries. I believe that good deeds meet with good returns while evil deeds are punished. Nobody is above this principle. We will continue our efforts to bring those responsible for this brutal persecution to justice."
The investigation is led by Chief Superintendent Bill Donoghue and Superintendent P.J. Browne of Pearse street Garda Station.
Su Rong Sued for Homicide and Torture - Becomes the First Chinese Communist Party Official to Be Subject of a Manhunt by Foreign Police
On November 4, 2004, a civil suit was filed on behalf of Falun Gong practitioners in China who were killed, tortured and insulted under Su's watch during his tenure as head of "610 Office" in Jilin Province, China. On November 13, Zambian police issued an arrest warrant for Su Rong for contempt of court, after he missed two court dates on Nov. 8 and 13. The plaintiffs are Falun Gong practitioners.
Su Rong, (male, born in October, 1948, native of Taonan City, Jilin Province) is currently the Chinese Communist Party Secretary of Gansu Province. He was served with a summons when visiting Zambia with a Chinese delegation led by the Chairman of the People's Congress, Wu Bangguo. Su Rong is the only one from that delegation being sued. According to a cover story of the Zambia Times newspaper, there were more than 100 members in this delegation.
Su Rong was the the Chinese Communist PaParty Deputy Secretary of Jilin Province from April 1998 to October 2001. He was the Party Secretary of Qinghai Province from October 2001 to August 2003 and the Chairman of Qinghai Provincial People's Congress from January 2002 to August 2003. He has been the Party Secretary of Gansu Province since August 2003. During his tenure in Jilin Province, he was the group head of "Jilin Province Leading Group on the Falun Gong Issue," ("610 Office"), charged with "handling the Falun Gong issue".
According to evidence collected by Falun Gong practitioners, during Su's tenure in Jilin Province, he actively supported brainwashing Falun Gong practitioners, and dismissed them from Party and public positions since the beginning of the persecution. The death toll of Falun Gong practitioners in Jilin Province is the second highest in the nation. Out of 4 verified death cases in Qinghai Province, 3 died under his watch.
Su was served with a summons by a marshal of the court on November 4, 2004.
In Zambia on Nov. 5, the Superior Court ordered Su not to leave the country until the matter is settled. All Zambian customs and immigration posts received the court order.
Su failed to appear on the Court on November 8. On November 12, the Zambia Superior Court decided to hold a hearing on November 13 about Su's "contempt of court". He failed to appear again. Contempt of court is a criminal offense, so the police issued an arrest warrant, and dispatched personnel to conduct the manhunt.
The whereabouts of offender is still unknown, but there was no record of his yet having left the country.
This is the first Chinese high-ranking official to be issued an arrest warrant overseas.
Canada: President of Hospital Employees Union Fred Muzin Writes to Minister of Justice in Support of the Lawsuit against the Former President of China
On November 5, 2004, the President of Hospital Employees Union, Mr. Fred Muzin, on behalf of the 41,000 members of the Hospital Employees' Union, wrote to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Honourable Irwin Cotler, to support a request from Canadian practitioners of Falun Gong to commence an investigation and proceedings under Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act against the former president of China, Jiang Zemin, and other top ranking Chinese officials. Below are the text and image of the letter from Mr. Muzin.
November 5, 2004
The Honourable Irwin Cotler
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
284 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H8
Dear Mr. Cotler:
Re: Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act - Persecution of Falun Gong Practitioners in China
On behalf of the 41,000 members of the Hospital Employees' Union, I am writing to support a request from Canadian practitioners of Falun Gong to commence an investigation and proceedings under Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act against the former president of China, Jiang Zemin, and other top ranking Chinese officials.
The Chinese government, and specifically Jiang Zemin, have been responsible for the systematic and widespread persecution of Falun Gong practitioners for the past five (5) years.
Their crimes against humanity include murder, extermination, imprisonment, enslavement, deportation, torture, sexual violence, persecution and other violations of sections 6 and 7 of the Act. The abuses are well documented and recognized by credible organizations such as the United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the US government.
At least 120 victims are currently living in Canada, and at least one (1) was a Canadian citizen when they were tortured in China. This violation of a Canadian citizen's rights by a foreign government specifically gives you the authority to apply the Act. In addition, Canada has a responsibility to protect all residents who may be at risk.
Prosecution under Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act would address the enormous gravity of the crimes and demonstrate to the Chinese government that the international will no longer tolerate their human rights abuses. It would also provide a strong deterrent against continued atrocities and would help to protect the victims from further violations of their rights.
We urge you to give this request the serious consideration it warrants, and to respond favorably.
Yours truly,
Fred Muzin
President
Korea: Chungcheongnam-do Legislative Assembly Passes Resolution Urging China to Release Ms. Gao Chengnu
On November 2, 2004, the Chungcheongnam-do Legislature unanimously passed a resolution requesting China to release Ms. Gao Chengnu, a Falun Gong practitioner, who is the wife of a Korean citizen Mr. Kwack Byung-ho and currently being held at the Jiamusi City Forced Labor Camp in Heilongjiang Province, China.
The resolution has been forwarded to Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Governor of Heilongjiang Province, Mayor of the City of Jiamusi, and the Head of the Jiamusi City Forced Labor Camp in Heilongjiang Province.
Resolution of the Assembly of Chungcheongnam-do
Urging the Release of Ms. Gao Chengnu, the Wife of a Korean, Who Is Illegally Detained by the Chinese Government
We, all members of the Assembly of Chungcheongnam-do, are deeply sorry for Byung-ho Kwak, a Korean, who lives in Cheonan City, Chungcheongnam-do, and whose Chinese wife Gao Chengnu has been illegally detained in a Labor Camp in the city of Jiamusi in the Province of Heilongjiang since May of 2004 solely because she is a practitioner of Falun Gong. We strongly support the activities of "Gao Chengnu Rescue Committee" for struggling to release Gao Chengnu.
We, all members of the Assembly of Chungcheongnam-do, strongly support the resolution unanimously passed by the city of Cheonan on September 13th, 2004 regarding the release of Gao Chengnu.
Out of humanitarian consideration for this couple to have a happy family, we, all members of the Assembly of Chungcheongnam-do, urge your relevant authorities to take measures to release Gao Chengnu as soon as possible.
In considering the traditional relationship of friendship between Korea and China, this situation should be resolved as at the top priority and a positive outcome will tremendously work towards further strengthening ties between two countries.
The Korean-Byung-ho Kwak's wife Gao Chengnu's life is in danger due to suffering severe torture and interrogation. We, all members of the Assembly of Chungcheongnam-do, are highly concerned over this as being a pressing situation and once again we urge your relevant authorities to release Gao Chengnu without any condition and ensure that she leaves China for Korea safely.
Head of the Assembly of Chungcheongnam-do and all Committee members,
Republic of Korea (Signature- Stamp)
United Kingdom: MP for Cambridge and Leader of Cambridge Liberal Democrats Express Their Support for Falun Gong
During Falun Dafa Week in October 2004 in Cambridge, England, Falun Dafa practitioners held a weeklong Anti-Torture Exhibition. Ms. Anne Campbell, Member of Parliament and Mr. David Howarth, Leader of the Cambridge Liberal Democrats wrote to Falun Gong practitioners in support of Falun Gong.
MP Campbell said in her letter: "Those of us who believe in the freedom of speech and expression must sympathize with the Falun Gong practitioners, who are persecuted throughout China. The UN report which draws attention to the torture of Falun Gong practitioners is deeply shocking and I would urge everyone to write a letter of protest to the Chinese authorities about their treatment of Falun Gong."
On October 21, 2004, Chairman David Howarth and the Cambridge Liberal Democrats expressed their support for the rights of the Falun Gong practitioners to hold their beliefs without fear, through a letter written by Campaign Director Kevin Wilkins.
The letter said: "David Howarth and the Cambridge Liberal Democrats
The letter also said: "In 2000, David Howarth, then Liberal Democrat leader of the Cambridge City Council, met with the First Secretary of the Chinese Embassy to discuss the situation. Mr. Howarth made clear his support for the right of people in China to hold their beliefs without fear, persecution or discrimination."
An Eyewitness Recalls the "Self-Immolation" Incident on Tiananmen Square
It was the third day of the Indiana State Cultural Festival at around 9:00 p.m. I saw five young volunteers in T-shirts with the words "Chinese Culture in Indianapolis" coming towards me. These young openly pointed out that the principles of "Truthfulness, Benevolence and Forbearance" promoted by Falun Gong were good. I started to talk with them. When I mentioned the staged self-immolation event at Tiananmen Square, one of the young men interjected, "I have to say something about this event, because I was there at that time." The following is his eyewitness description.
"It was about 2:00 p.m. The weather was bad, and very few tourists were on the square. The police forced eight of us college students over to one side of the Monument of Heroes, but we didn't know why. Shortly thereafter we heard an unusual sound less than 10 meters away, and then we saw a ball of fire. The fireball was running. Within a minute a lot of policemen suddenly appeared and put out the fire with fire extinguishers and blankets. Someone was shouting slogans, and for a while the policemen were in a tangle with the burning body. We had no idea what was happening and just craned our necks to try to see, but we were driven off a great distance by the police."
"One of my classmates said, 'Where is that strong gasoline smell coming from--' Another answered, 'Certainly it was gasoline that was burning.' As we turned back, we saw four people pass by, all drenched with gasoline. No sooner had we grasped what was happening than we heard the sound of the gasoline igniting, and all four people were on fire. Meanwhile, a large group of police rushed out suddenly from behind the monument, carrying extinguishers, fire-blankets, or boards. They quickly began to extinguish the fire and, at the same time, blocked our view with the boards. We were all surprised and exclaimed, 'They've got everything prepared; they were ready for the fire!' 'Maybe there will be some coverage on TV tonight,' commented a classmate. The police put out the fires quickly, but we saw no ambulances arriving. Some tourists, including foreigners, took pictures. The police rushed to take their cameras no matter who they were. We could not figure out what was going on and never thought to relate those burning people to Falun Gong."
"Another time an honest-looking fellow in my class was stopped by police in the underground passage near Tiananmen Square. They ordered him to read a sentence slandering Falun Gong on a piece of paper they handed him. He asked, 'Why--' 'If you don't, we will arrest you as a Falun Gong member.' He was very scared, so he read it and then ran away. When we went touring on the Great Wall, the police put the photo of Falun Gong's founder on the ground and ordered the tourists to step on it. Anyone who refused would be arrested. They clearly knew that Falun Gong people followed 'Truthfulness, Benevolence and Forbearance' and would not step on it against their conscience. They used such an insidious method to catch Falun Gong people. One of my classmates from Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province, was sentenced to 10 years for practicing Falun Gong, and he is still in jail now."
After he finished the story, he reminded me, "Be careful, man. Don't go back to the Mainland now because they will arrest you. That is true. The police there are up to no good. I know your practice and have read Zhuan Falun before."
Before leaving, they told me, "We believe in you and support you. You Falun Gong people are great, like Gandhi." They then bid us goodbye and we parted ways.
Falun Gong practitioners Are Attacked during Hu Jintao's Visit to Argentina
On November 20 and 21, 2004, the APEC 12th Informal Conference will be held in Santiago, the capital of Chile. The Chinese president Hu Jintao has been visiting four countries in Latin America since November 11, and will attend the APEC conference. Falun Gong practitioners are taking this opportunity to raise concerns to the Chinese delegation and the media of the illegal persecution against Falun Gong in China, and call for an end to this five-year persecution.
A group of Falun Gong practitioners posted banners that read, "Falun Gong is Good!" "Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance," "Bring Jiang to Justice," "Rescue Falun Gong practitioners in China," along the highway to the airport. After learning the truth of Falun Gong, police allowed Falun Gong practitioners to stay in an assigned area for their peaceful appeal.
When the Chinese delegation left the airport, people sitting in the cars and buses were all shocked to see the Falun Gong banners. Hu's car was driven very slowly. Hu Jintao saw the banners, even tilted his head to read the words. There were more than 300 people in his delegation. Some of them opened the windows of their vehicles, or waved their hands to Falun Gong practitioners.
When the group of vehicles arrived at the Hilton Hotel, they saw another group of Falun Gong practitioners protesting the persecution with banners in the garden.
Before the vehicles arrived, the Chinese Embassy Officials asked the police to force these Falun Gong practitioners to leave. According to Argentina Law, people have the right to protest, so the police only asked that the Falun Gong practitioners stay inside the garden. There were some journalists from TV stations and newspapers in the garden, as well as one man and two women who closely watched every move the practitioners made. When the vehicles of the Chinese delegation arrived, these three people tried to take the banners held in the practitioners' hands. Two more women joined them, and began cursing the practitioners. The journalists of the TV stations tried to record their behavior, but these two women quickly covered their faces, and ran towards the Chinese Embassy Officials waiting at the Hilton Hotel.
Falun Gong practitioners stayed in the garden in front of the Hilton Hotel. The Chinese delegation was about to go to the President's House. This required a U-turn, and meant they would view the banners again. Some Officials working in the Chinese Embassy were very angry. The Minister-Counselor for Cultural Affairs, Zhang Yi, shouted at Falun Gong practitioners, and even threatened to kill a practitioner.
Right before the Chinese delegation left the hotel, four or five Chinese people walked out of the hotel and tried to take the banner reading, "Bring Jiang to Justice" from the two practitioners who held it. They tore the banner. One police vehicle came, and one Chinese was arrested. Then, around thirty additional Chinese came out of the hotel, and sat in the garden. Eight or ten local police stood between them and the four Falun Gong practitioners.
About 15 minutes before the Chinese delegation left the hotel, one police officer told a practitioner, "You'll have to settle this between yourselves." Then all the police began to leave. Before the police had even left the garden, the group of Chinese began to take the banners, ripping them and cutting them with knives. In their efforts to protect the banners, the four practitioners were beaten and pushed. All the banners were stolen except for one that was badly damaged.
The group of Chinese went to the President's House right away, where another group of Falun Gong practitioners were also displaying banners. They surrounded these practitioners as well, and stole their banners that requested "Bring Jiang, Luo, Liu, Zhou to justice." By standing in front of their banners, practitioners were able to protect them and thus two banners were not taken.
On the morning of November 17, 2004, four Falun Gong practitioners from Argentina who were mistreated in front of the Hilton Hotel filed a law suit in the local Federal Court.
On the morning of November 17, several Falun Gong practitioners went to the Capitol Hill to pass out truth clarifying materials. A large group of Chinese waited there and grabbed all the materials from the practitioners. Pedestrians who saw this were very angry, and asked "how can these Chinese be so rude in Argentina." Some TV journalists tried to record their behavior, but were blocked by the Chinese with flags.
China: Ms. Wang Fang, a Survivor of the "Wanjia Tragedy", Is Tortured to Death by Harbin Women's Prison
Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Wang Fang was a survivor of the "Wanjia Tragedy," and was inhumanly tortured again in the Harbin Women's Prison. She died on September 24, 2004.
Ms. Wang Fang was forty years old, and a tailor who rented a house in the Diming Development, Aimin District, Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province. She went to Beijing to appeal on behalf of Falun Gong and was arrested, because she clarified the truth about Falun Gong to people. She was detained and sentenced to two years in a labor camp, because brainwashing sessions failed to "reform" her. She was sent to the Wanjia Labor Camp in Harbin City, and endured all types of cruel torture. She was also one of the survivors of the "Wanjia Tragedy" in 2001 and still had a rope scar on her neck.
Ms. Wang Fang continued studying the Fa and doing the exercises in the labor camp, and was locked in the small cell (1) often. She was sent to her mother's home in Mudanjiang City after her two-year term ended. She started clarifying the truth soon after she recovered from her injuries, and was arrested again.
On June 14, 2002, Ms. Wang Fang was transferred from the Mudanjiang Detention Center to the Hailin City Detention Center, where she studied and recited the Fa and did the exercises. Once after she clarified the truth to people, she was brutally beaten by Director Shan Chengqiang (male) and handcuffed afterwards.
Another time Director Shan Chengqiang found Ms. Wang doing the exercises in her cell and started torturing her. He took her to the yard and poured cold water on her from head to toes, while beating her. Ms. Wang Fang shouted, "Falun Gong is good!" As a result, she was put in handcuffs and ankle shackles. Shan Chengqiang whipped the bottoms of her feet with a plastic tube and made her roll on the floor in pain. She was disfigured beyond recognition when she returned to her cell. She was bloodied so badly that her fellow practitioners had to tear loose the clothing from her body.
On September 8, 2004, Ms. Wang Fang was sent to the Harbin Women's Prison. Policeman Jiang Yuntao and others from the Hailin Station State Security Office arrested her in Mudanjiang City. Ms. Wang endured all kinds of inhuman tortures. Police had to release her, because she was only skin and bones. She died at home on the morning of September 24, 2004, at 3 a.m., less than two months after she was released.
Firsthand Experience of the Persecution at Beijing Women's Forced Labor Camp, China
My name is Cui Peiying. I have been illegally arrested several times for practicing Falun Gong, for following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, for being a good person, for clarifying the truth of Falun Gong to others, and for appealing on behalf of Falun Gong in Beijing. On June 11, 2003, I was unlawfully sent to Daxing's Beijing Women's Forced Labor Camp. Because of severe damage to my health from the persecution, the authorities eventually had to transfer me to a hospital. On October 24 of last year, the police sent me back to the camp's Group 5 in an attempt to prevent me from disclosing the facts of the persecution to the outside world.
When I first arrived at the labor camp, the guards used all manner of
deceitful methods to try to force me to give up the practice of Falun Gong.
Failing to accomplish their goal, they then dropped any pretext of kindness and
became openly aggressive. Group leaders Chen Xiuhua and Zhao Guoxin subjected me
to forced brainwashing many times. They also tormented me physically and
mentally for more than two months, denying me use of the toilet, depriving me of
sleep and forcing me to stand from 5 a.m. to midnight or 2 a.m.. When they saw
that it was impossible for me to stand up any longer, they would draw a small
circle on the ground and force me to sit inside it, without moving.
The camp guards ordered the collaborators, practitioners who had enlightened
along an evil path and renounced Falun Gong, to take turns bombarding me with
their brainwashing attempts. They let the collaborators and the inmates
convicted of prostitution call me names and harass me. They forced to watch
videos defaming Falun Gong and read anti-Falun Gong books. For more than six
months I was not allowed to brush my teeth or wash my face, nor bathe or change
my clothes. In the cold of winter I was still wearing lightweight clothes. The
guards tried all kinds of insidious ways to make me submit and renounce Falun
Gong, but their efforts were in vain.
Among the detained practitioners at the forced labor camp was Ms. Zhang Lianshuang, about 36 years old. She was originally tall and strong. Group leaders Chen Xiuhua and Wang Qingsheng used forced brainwashing to destroy her mind. Ms. Zhang could not bear it after seven days and nights of standing up without sleep, without brushing her teeth or washing her face. Even after writing and signing the so-called "Transformation Statement," she was still persecuted. Ms. Zhang knew that she had done wrong in compromising with the evil and was grief-stricken. The camp guards kept forcing her to criticize herself in writing every day. The relentless persecution caused Ms. Zhang to suffer a severe mental collapse. She could not eat or sleep well, yet the guards still forced her to stand up for long periods of time.
In early May of 2004, the guard Wang Qingsheng was angry that Ms. Zhang Lianshuang was not eating or drinking water, so they hit, beat, and kicked her very hard. Ms. Zhang lost consciousness and had to be rushed to the hospital. Originally tall and strong, Ms. Zhang Lianshuang was reduced to emaciation and a state of mental collapse. Every day she could be seen jumping frantically on her cell bed and eating her own excrement. Only after more than a month of this mental disorientation did the forced labor camp finally let her family take Zhang Lianshuang home.
Mr. Cheng Fengxiang Near Death After Being Secretly Sentenced to 11 Years for Broadcasting the Truth About Falun Gong on Chinese TV
The Qiaoxi Courthouse in Xingtai City, Hebei Province secretly sentenced Falun Gong Practitioner Mr. Cheng Fengxiang to eleven years in prison for his role in helping broadcast the truth about Falun Gong on Chinese television. In protest, Cheng Fengxiang started a hunger strike, which has continued for over 150 days. He now suffers from back and chest pain, ice-cold hands and feet, and abnormal kidney, heart, and stomach functions. With serious dehydration and an inability to absorb the force-fed food, he is now on the verge of death.
On the evening of January 28, 2004, the director of the Yongnian County Politics and Law Protection Agency, Chen Jushan, along with some officials from Handan City, led a group of policemen to abduct Cheng Fengxiang. He was illegally detained in the police station basement of the First Group. Group leader Yang Qingshe ordered his subordinates to torture Cheng in an attempt to extort a confession.
First Group Assistant Leader Liu Boying soaked a wooden club with water, and brutally beat Cheng Fengxiang with it, until the club snapped. Cheng lost consciousness from pain several times during the beatings. Wounds to his private parts are still visible today.
Second Group policeman Wang Ailin used a plastic bag to cover Cheng Fengxiang's head to suffocate him. He used handcuffs to hang him up so that his feet were suspended above the ground, and then beat him mercilessly.
Handan City policeman Xu Zhaoliang ruthlessly beat Cheng Fengxiang, causing the eleventh rib on the right side of his chest to break. The fracture has not yet healed. He was forced to sit on an iron chair for 7 to 8 days. Wooden slats were placed over his legs, and two people jumped up and down on the boards.
Cheng Fengxiang has been tortured to the verge of death many times. He also suffered many kinds of punishment, such being deprived of sleep for 14 days, having boiling water poured on his head and hallucinogenic drugs injected into his body. His hands are still perpetually cold, numb, and stiff.
On February 11, lawless personnel sent Cheng Fengxiang, who was nearly dead, to the Fengfeng Mine Area Detention Center. Two months later, he was handed over to Xingtai City First Detention Center. On May 28, he began a hunger strike to protest the persecution. He went eight days without water, and the lawless personnel began force-feeding him. Cheng Fengxiang often pulled the tube out of his stomach.
Later, a Qiaoxi Court began prosecuting him. Cheng Fengxiang did not cooperate, and tore up the indictment in front of everyone. As the trial progressed, the bodies of Cheng Fengxiang and two other practitioners began to deteriorate from their prolonged hunger strike. The Qiaoxi Court could no longer hold them in court, so they took them to a hotel for brainwashing. The provincial "610 Office" spent a lot of money to hire people to do the brainwashing, but their efforts were futile.
In August, the extremely weak Cheng Fengxiang was transferred to the Yongnian County Hospital. At first, the hospital would not accept him. Only after five days did they finally take him in. At that time, his blood sugar level was a low 1.2, he had blood in his excrement, his heartbeat was faster than normal, and his ears, stomach, and mouth were swollen and festering.
Twenty days later, Cheng Fengxiang was taken to the Handan Brainwashing Class for repeated force-feeding. Several persons from the Qiaoxi Courthouse came to the Handan Brainwashing Class and carried Cheng Fengxiang out, and into the courthouse. They were determined to conform to the provincial government's policy on "dealing with special cases," and secretly sentenced him to eleven years in prison.
Currently, Cheng Fengxiang's family members are petitioning all levels of government to obtain his release. No official has been willing to release him.
Radio Free Asia: Canadian Falun Gong Practitioners File Lawsuit Against Jiang Zemin
Six Falun Gong practitioners in Canada filed a civil lawsuit in Ontario Superior Court against former Secretary-General of the Chinese Communist Party Jiang Zemin and four other senior officials and are seeking 20 million Canadian dollars in damages. The following is reported by Xi Hong, special correspondent of Radio Free Asia in Canada.
On Tuesday, six Falun Gong practitioners in Canada and their attorneys held a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to announce the civil lawsuit they filed in Ontario Superior Court against former Secretary-General of the Chinese Communist Party Jiang Zemin and other four senior officials.
This lawsuit charges Jiang for initiating the campaign of suppression against Falun Gong in China in 1999. As a result, the plaintiffs suffered both physical torture and mental persecution. They are seeking $20 million in damages. The other four defendants are Li Lanqing, Luo Gan, Liu Jing and Wang Maolin, who are all officials of the "610 Office", a special organization dedicated to persecuting Falun Gong.
A group of four solicitors voluntarily represents the Falun Gong practitioners in this lawsuit. Attorney Ms. Kate Kempton stated at the press conference that this lawsuit would have a great impact on the judicial circle in Canada. She said the lawsuit filed is an unprecedented and very powerful suit. She reminded people that one could prosecute a country's former or current head in any other countries if he committed crimes in his own country.
Ms. Kempton introduced that although the plaintiffs experienced the persecution in China, as Canadian citizens or permanent residents, they are now still suffering the impact brought by the persecution both physically and mentally.
Ms. Kempton said that the compensation of $20 million is just symbolic. The plaintiffs hoped to establish a precedent through this case in judicial history that will help the victims to uphold justice. At the same time, they hope to bring more attention from media and people through this case to China's (Jiang faction's) suppression of Falun Gong practitioners.
She said that the main purpose of this case is not about the compensation. No matter how much money the defendants would pay, it would impossible to compensate for the immense loss caused by this persecution.
One of the plaintiffs, Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Zhang Kunlun is a sculptor. He has won several awards in China and other countries and his name is listed in the world celebrity collection. He has been detained five times in China and was tortured in jails.
Another plaintiff Mr. He Zhili is a senior engineer. He won the Gold Medal Prize for China's National Outstanding Engineering Design. He had been imprisoned in China for three years and six months.
Before this lawsuit, Falun Gong practitioners in Toronto and Vancouver filed similar lawsuits charging crimes against humanity and genocide with the Ontario Supreme Court and the Canadian Chief Prosecutor.
The above is reported by RFA correspondent Xi Hong from Canada.
Irish Times: Arrest of Chinese Vice-PM Sought Over Torture Claims
November 17, 2004
The Garda Commission has been asked to investigate allegations against the Chinese [Vice] Premier that he has been implicated in torture by Falun Gong practitioners.
Lawyers for five members of the group living in Ireland asked the Garda Commissioner at the weekend to investigate and arrest Mr. Huang Ju, who is on a three-day official visit to Ireland, and discussions were still taking place between the lawyers and the commissioner last night.
Diplomatic immunity does not apply to allegations of torture. It is understood that late last night lawyers representing the Chinese group were also considering other avenues of pursuing their objective of having Mr. Ju [Huang] Arrested.
During his visit, Mr. Ju will meet Government leaders as well as leaders in Irish academia and business. Mr. Ju yesterday met the President, Mrs. McAleese, before meeting the Taoiseach, Mr. Ahern, and other Cabinet ministers at Dublin Castle last night. Issues for discussion between Government representatives and Mr. Ju include: Eu-China relations, including human right issues; international political affairs; trade and investment; education, tourism and culture.
Labour party spokesman for foreign Affairs, Mr Michael D. Higgins heavily criticized the visit of Mr. Ju because of the lack of a press conference during the three-day visit Mr. Higgins said: "No superpower is entitled to operate in such a matter as effectively censors the press from asking reasonable questions, and in this instance there are many reasonable questions."
The National Union of Journalists has also heavily criticized the lack of opportunity to ask legitimate questions on China's human rights track record. The union has condemned as a censorship the manner in which the Chinese Vice-Premier has been able to operate whilst in Ireland.
A spokesman said: "There is an important distinction to be made between propaganda and news, and it would be particularly alarming if the Irish Government or any representative of the Irish State agreed to facilitate what is a form of censorship."
Falun Gong is a spiritual movement which is persecuted in China.
Canada Newswire: Chinese Vice-Consul General Leaves Canada After Failing to Pay Court Judgment
Canada Requested to Declare Pan Xinchun Persona Non Grata
TORONTO, Nov. 17 /CNW/ - An official at Foreign Affairs Canada has confirmed that Pan Xinchun, the former Vice-Consul General of the People's Republic of China at Toronto, who was found liable in a Canadian court for defaming Joel Chipkar, a Toronto spokesperson for Falun Gong practitioners, is no longer in Canada after failing to satisfy the judgment against him.
On February 3, 2004, Justice Harvey T. Spiegel of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice found Mr. Pan liable for calling Joel Chipkar a member of a "sinister cult" in a local newspaper. Justice Spiegel accepted that Mr. Pan could not claim consular immunity. Mr. Chipkar alleged that the libel formed part of a campaign of hatred and persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by officials of the People's Republic of China in Canada. Pan was ordered to pay damages of $1,000 (a symbolic amount requested by the plaintiff) and $10,000 in legal costs.
On July 14, 2004, after payment was not received, the Superior Court issued a Notice of Garnishment against Mr. Pan. Mr. Pan's bank, the Chinese government-owned Bank of China, stated that it could not satisfy the Notice of Garnishment due to the status of Mr. Pan's account.
On Tuesday, November 16, Mr. Pan failed to attend an examination under oath after notice of the examination was served at his Toronto residence and upon legal counsel for the People's Republic of China. The examination was to be conducted to identify assets with which the judgment could be satisfied.
"It is my opinion that after continuously disregarding the Ontario court, Mr. Pan left the country rather than comply with his obligations under Canadian law," said Mr. Chipkar. "He should not be allowed to come back into Canada."
Chipkar said it is obvious that the People's Republic of China knowingly participated in Pan's departure and that Canada must ensure that China's regime is held accountable for its conduct and that of its agents. "These officials should not be free to come here and violate the safety and rights of Canadians and then run away and ignore our Canadian court rulings," he said.
Chipkar has requested Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs to declare the former Vice-Consul General of the People's Republic of China at Toronto persona non grata according to article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
Mr. Chipkar has been represented throughout the action by Peter A. Downard of Fasken Martineau, a national Canadian law firm.
Leicester Mercury (United Kingdom): Refugee in plea to free his father
November 15, 2004
A man who fled China to escape torture and imprisonment is appealing for help to
free his father.
Li Heping spent nearly two years in a forced labour camp, where he was locked in
a dark cell until he lost all sense of time and was injected with terrifying
hallucinogenic drugs.
Mr Heping, who is now studying at Leicester University, said he was targeted
because he practices Falun Gong, which is illegal in China. Also known as Falun
Dafa, it is a style of meditation and exercise similar to t'ai chi and was
banned by the Chinese government in 1999.
The father-of-one said he was first arrested when his daughter was born three
years ago, and was held for two days.
On his daughter's first birthday, he was arrested again and sentenced to two
years in a forced labour camp.
He was tortured, made to sleep in a tiny cell with up to 10 other inmates and
forced to work 10-hour days for months on end.
He was only allowed to see his family five times in 22 months.
The 34-year-old, from the city of Hangzhou, in Zhejiang province, said: "My
wife visited the camp and asked why they wouldn't let her see me. She didn't
want my daughter to forget what her father looked like.
"From the window I could see them - my wife and daughter - but the police
wouldn't tell me they were there."
Fearing for his safety when he was released from the camp in August, he came to
Britain and applied for asylum.
He wants to bring his wife and daughter over, but now his father has been
arrested. He has not heard from him since March, when the 61-year-old was
sentenced to a year's hard labour for having a Falun Gong book.
Mr Heping is now worried he may be tortured or killed.
He said Falun Gong had 100 million practitioners in 1999, but that the Chinese
government saw it as a threat.
A spokesman for human rights charity Amnesty International said Mr Heping's
story matched reports it had received from China. She said: "[...]
Thousands of followers have been arrested. Many have been tortured and there are
reports of people being tortured or beaten to death."
Mr. Heping has started a petition to raise awareness of his father's plight and
that of other Falun Gong practitioners.
[...]
The Australian: A Catalogue Of Cruelty In The Hidden China
November 15, 2004
Some days, looking past the new gleaming apartment blocks and ritzy shopping malls, China looks like a mountain of human misery.
Prominent on the misery mountain are city intellectuals and officials who want the system to change. At best they are disillusioned, at worst they are locked up.
There are the tens of millions of migrant workers who flood to the cities in search of work to be either underpaid or not paid at all. There are the child beggars and petitioners who travel to Beijing from all over the country, seeking to have their complaints heard by the central complaints office but regularly, brutally, rounded up by the police and sent home.
At the bottom of the misery mountain are the rural peasantry: powerless, isolated and at the mercy of mendacious local party operatives.
And then there is the Falun Gong, the spiritual movement whose [practitioners] have been the subject of a vicious persecution campaign since it was [...] outlawed by [Jiang's faction of] the Chinese government in 1999.
A woman from Shandong province named Wang Lixuan and her eight-month-old son, Meng Hao, were detained on October 22, 2000 while travelling to Beijing, where Wang Lixuan was planning to petition on behalf of Falun Gong, the advocacy group, Human Rights in China, reported.
The mother and baby both died at the Tuanhe Forced Labor Dispatch Division in Beijing less than three weeks later on November 7, 2000. The coroner's examination determined that Wang Lixuan's neck and fingers were broken, her skull was fractured and she had a needle stuck in her lower back. Her baby, Meng Hao, was found to have deep bruises on his ankles and head and blood in his nose.
It is believed that little Meng Hao had been hung upside down by his ankles.
Ming Ouyang, Falun Gong practitioner and brother of Australian citizen Yu Ouyang from Melbourne, was arrested in China in early 2001 and sentenced to forced labour for a year. He was rearrested in May 2002, suffering from tuberculosis as a result of torture, according to the Falun Dafa Association's senate inquiry submission.
In January 2003, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade sent its Chinese counterpart a list of cases of concern including that of Ming. During the annual human rights dialogue in July that year the Australian delegation was told that the Chinese side could not identify the people on the list including Ming. The following month Ming was tortured to death.
Falun Gong Practitioners' Righteous Action in China
Pure Compassion Shocks and Frightens the Evil Factors
By Lian Hua, a Falun Gong practitioner in China
Jiang's regime started the nationwide persecution of Falun Gong on July 20, 1999. How could a practitioner who benefited so much from Falun Gong ignore it-- Twice I went to appeal in Beijing. With the power of Falun Dafa, I never wavered in my faith in front of the evil, regardless of the tricks and tactics they tried on me. I firmly believed it is never wrong to practice "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance." I was never afraid in front of the police.
One day in July 2003, someone reported me to the police while I was distributing fact- clarification flyers. The police interrogated me with different tactics, but I refused to cooperate with them and calmly told them the facts about Falun Gong. When they asked my name, I simply replied, "Falun Gong practitioner." After five hours of interrogation by four policemen, they found out nothing from me.
In the evening they sent me to a detention center. In the detention center I joyfully told the facts about Falun Gong to every inmate in the cell. They told me that it seemed strange that I was so worry free while they felt each day in the detention center was like a year. The detention center deputy asked, "How can you be released without telling us your identity--" I smiled and told them, "I will leave here after all of you understand the facts." The detention center deputies all laughed.
I truly experienced the power of Falun Gong as well as the blessing and protection of Teacher. Out of 50 people in the cell, only 2 or 3 of them did not accept the facts and interfered with my practice. But they were soon transferred to another cell. The police station twice sent someone to ask me whether I had thought it over. I told them, "I already told you, my real identity is a practitioner with resolute faith in Falun Dafa. The righteous task that I am doing is to tell everyone the facts about Falun Gong." The deputy jokingly said, "You treated me as a friend yet you won't tell me your name." I smiled and replied, "I will tell you after I leave the detention center." He nodded agreeably. The next morning the deputy called for the "Falun Gong practitioner" to gather personal belongings and prepare to be released. Several inmates came to me to say goodbye, "You must be extra careful after getting out. We all believe Falun Gong is good."
After 13 days, I walked out of the detention center with righteous thoughts and rejoined the effort to clarify the truth about Falun Gong.
Clarifying the Truth to Customers While Doing Business
By a Falun Gong practitioner in Jilin Province, China
I manage a small store and meet many customers every day. Since November 1996 when I began practicing Falun Gong, this store has always been a good place to promote Falun Gong and clarify the truth. Especially after July 20, 1999 when Jiang's regime started to persecute Falun Gong practitioners, we have used this small store more to clarify the truth to customers.
There are several Falun Gong practitioners who work at my store. Every day, we take clarifying the truth and saving people as our main priority. Facing different customers, we can mention the topic from different angles to tell customers the facts about the persecution of Falun Gong. Some say a few words and some answer the questions customers raise. One time, there was a customer who went away at once when we started clarifying the truth to her. When we realized this, we sent forth righteous thoughts immediately. She came back later and bought the items she originally came in for, and at the same time she listened to us.
People continually come and learn about Falun Gong, and more and more customers have come to a good understanding. They also tell others: "This store belongs to people who practice Falun Gong. They follow Truth, Compassion and Tolerance. The produce is of good quality and the price is also reasonable." One time, right after a customer entered the door, she said: "This is the first time I have come here to buy things. Others have told me that the products here are good." We understood that she also came here to listen to the truth.
I had an idea that if we opened another store, we would be able to save even more people and resolve several Falun Gong practitioners' employment problems. Later on we opened another store, where we clarify the truth to the customers from the countryside.
Because few people close to the new store know us, we have been losing money there. Once the store began losing money, my attachment to money came up and I thought: "How can I lose money like this?" I realized immediately that this was a bad attachment and selfish. The fact that I opened this store to be able to save more people was good. When my righteous thoughts came out, the bad thoughts disappeared at once. Now my new store has new customers every day. Most of them did not know the truth about Falun Gong, and several practitioners in the store coordinate together to best clarify the truth to people everyday.
Clarifying the Truth to People Face to Face While Helping Farmers in Their Fields
By a Falun Gong practitioner in China
Both my husband and I make a living by helping with farm work. We help with farm work for farmers of the village where we live in and we also travel to other villages. It is customary that a farm helper should get one pack of cigarettes a day besides being paid, but we of course don't take them, because Falun Gong practitioners do not smoke. We just want the opportunity to tell the facts of Falun Dafa to the farmers; we're not concerned about how much money we make. These are opportunities that Master Li has arranged for us to clarify the truth.
Lunchtime is when we clarify the truth. We talk about how our whole family has been healthy both physically and mentally since we started to practice Falun Gong six or seven years ago. We talk how we were persecuted, extorted for large sums of money and harassed by Jiang's regime since the persecution began on July 20, 1999. We talk about the fallacies in the staged self-immolation on Tiananmen Square, and how the murder cases are all contrived to deceive the public and to give the authorities an excuse to persecute Falun Gong. We explain that Falun Gong teaches people to be good and kind and to elevate their moral character, and we let them know that many good people have been sent to forced labor camps illegally and many good people have been tortured to death, simply because they wanted to speak out for justice.
Many people, after listening to our talk, said, "Before, I thought that there must be some reason why Jiang Zemin does not allow people to practice Falun Gong. Now I understand the truth after listening to you."
For every family we went to, we talked about the truth. When I was clarifying the truth, my husband sent forth righteous thoughts; when he was clarifying the truth, I sent forth righteous thoughts. We cooperated with each other and achieved very good results.
Working Together as One Body to Rescue Our Fellow Practitioners
By a Falun Gong practitioner in Jilin Province, China
The Jilin Prison has been persecuting Falun Gong practitioners very severely. At least three practitioners have died there due to the persecution. They are: Liu Chengjun, Wei Xiushan, and Zhang Jianhua.
During the past few years, practitioners in Jilin City have been trying to rescue jailed fellow practitioners. We participate in activities such as sending forth righteous thoughts in nearby locations, telling the facts about the persecution directly to the prison officials, calling and sending mail to each office in the prison, printing and distributing local versions of truth-clarification materials, and distributing investigative reports on the local policemen issued by the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong.
Recently we heard that an unknown practitioner was persecuted to death in a local hospital. Later we learned that the practitioner was Cui Weidong. We also received information that there were more practitioners in Jilin Prison whose lives are in danger due to the persecution. When they were sent to a hospital for emergency treatment, the prison strictly blocked all information. Facing this situation, we immediately held a few meetings and reached a common understanding. First we published the latest persecution facts on the Clearwisdom website to expose the evil deeds to the world. We also made a flyer that said, "All Citizens in Jilin City, Please Pay Close Attention to the Falun Gong Practitioners Who Are Dying Because of the Persecution." Over the next three days, local practitioners posted more than a thousand flyers all over the hospital and the city to expose the persecution.
The day after we published the news on the Clearwisdom website, October 11, 2004, the hospital received many phone calls from all over the world. The employees who answered the phones claimed that they didn't know any details about the dead practitioner. They said that the practitioner who died in the hospital was sent in when he was almost dead, and Jilin Prison didn't disclose any detailed information about the prisoner to the hospital. The doctors and nurses didn't know the true story until they got the phone calls or read the flyers. Thinking back over the incident, the doctors and nurses realized that something must have been wrong, because while the practitioner had died over a month ago, the prison still hadn't allowed the relatives to see the body. After the case was exposed, Jilin City's Changyi Police Department ordered the hospital to not allow any visitors to see the practitioner's body without permission from the police department. The doctors and nurses discussed it all over the hospital. Many people felt that the prison must have done something very bad, otherwise they would allow the relatives to see the body.
Changyi Police Department also ordered the hospital to catch and detain the practitioners who were distributing and posting truth-clarification flyers. The officials, doctors, and nurses who had realized the truth abhorred the behavior of the police. Even after more than 10 days, many flyers exposing the cruel persecution of practitioners in Jilin Prison were still up on the walls, and nobody took them down.
For a long time the policemen in Jilin Prison had tortured practitioner Li Zhiyong from Changchun City, and Mr. Li was dying. Local practitioners exposed the persecution facts on the Clearwisdom website many times. His parents were also actively involved in the rescue. They went directly to Jilin Prison to ask top prison officials to release Mr. Li Zhiyong. After they were refused without any reason given, they went to the Jilin Province Prison Management Bureau, the provincial Judicial Department, and the provincial "610 Office," demanding that they release their dying son. At last, Mr. Li Zhiyong was released without unconditionally. On October 13, 2004, Mr. Li was returned to his home safely.
During this event, practitioners from both inside and outside of China formed one body. Some made phone calls, some stood up to clarify the facts on a one-to-one basis, some went to the prison to send forth righteous thoughts, and some distributed truth-clarification flyers. Many practitioners joined in. Everyone involved felt how great the power was when practitioners worked together.
In this rescue effort, we identified the correct goal from the very beginning. Our fundamental goal was to save people by exposing the evil and clarifying the facts. The rescue action exposed the wickedness of Jilin Prison to ordinary people. We also helped people realize the evil nature of the persecution against innocent Falun Gong practitioners.
The People Awaken to the Truth
More People in Manhattan Request Truth Clarification Materials
Sunday, November 7, 2004, was a bright, sunny day. The temperature in New York City's Manhattan rose. A marathon made this day even better and brighter because it brought tens of thousands of people to the Falun Gong practitioners.
A practitioner gave out truth clarification materials in the subway and he pointed at the "Truth, Compassion, Forbearance" on the poster to explain the facts to a person on the train. Many people on the train also took truth clarification materials. A person said to him, "He wants one too--and she also wants one!" Several people sitting next to that person took the materials, as well. The practitioner continued to clarify the truth. Over the past three days, there was always someone saying, "We will help you distribute these. We will tell others about this after going back and help the truth get out to more and more people."
Yesterday, right after two practitioners gave materials to a person and before giving him an explanation, people next to that person also requested materials. After the flyers were all given out, they had to give out truth clarification VCDs. The VCDs were still insufficient and they had to give out bookmarks with a simple introduction of Falun Dafa. Even the bookmarks were all gone. After getting off the subway, one person still wanted to get a VCD from the practitioners.
A Tour Guide Clarifies the Truth
On the day of setting up "The Great Wall of Courage," a double-decker touring bus drove through Union Square. After the tour guide on the bus saw "The Great Wall of Courage," he spent a long time talking about it to tourists on the bus, and he talked about the contents on all the posters. His explanation continued until the traffic light turned green.
A practitioner holding flyers always smiled at people passing by. Many people passed by and came back to ask for a flyer.
"I really worried which one of my products from China was produced in the labor camp."
Yesterday, at the site outside the painting exhibition by artists who practice Falun Gong, practitioners also arranged an anti-torture exhibition. On the site, a German practitioner was handing out materials. Suddenly he heard some people honk their car horns to request a flyer, so he gave a person riding in a luxury car a truth clarification newspaper. That person was about 40 to 50 years old. After listening to the practitioner's introduction of the persecution happening now in Chinese labor camps, he said, "All of the products that our company uses come from China, and I am very concerned about the present situation in China. This is so inhumane and inconceivable! If this is the present situation of their human rights, then I am really worried whether any of the goods bought by my Chinese partner come from labor camps-- When I return, I will certainly ask her to find out the sources of those products."
An American Changes his Attitude Upon Learning the Truth
An American who was about 50 years old witnessed the appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners at Zhongnanhai on April 25, 1999. But the time of his stay in China was precisely the height of slandering and suppressing Falun Gong by Jiang's regime, and his mind was also all filled with rumors and lies. He had never talked to Falun Gong practitioners in the past five years. In Manhattan, however, Falun Gong practitioners have been persistent in clarifying the truth of Falun Gong and exposing all kinds of abuses and tortures used in the persecution, so his view of Falun Gong began to change. He also came to the anti-torture exhibition site on 79th Street, and a practitioner had a long conversation with him. The practitioner started from the story that his uncle was one of five representatives invited to meet the former Chinese premier, and then talked about the damage to humankind and society resulting from persecuting a group of good people believing in "Truth, Compassion, Forbearance." He said that people's attitude toward "Truth, Compassion, Forbearance" is related to the future of humankind, and so on. The notion and mentality of that person gradually changed, and his tone became softer and softer. In the end, he finally decided to carefully read the details in the truth clarification newspaper. He also signed a petition expressing his opposition to the persecution.
China: A Joint Venture CEO Asked Employee to Learn the "Spirit of Teamwork of Falun Dafa"
A CEO of a joint venture that employed tens of thousands of people has the proper understanding of Falun Dafa. Truth-clarification by practitioners in China as well as the real situation he had seen during trips overseas helped him to see the truth.
Recently, he gave a speech in a meeting for over 300 mid-level managers in his company. When he talked about promoting work ethic, he said, "On this issue, I hope everyone will learn from Falun Dafa. We shall learn from the spirit of teamwork they exhibit. They are willing to sacrifice their lives for their beliefs." He then added, "I admire their Teacher very much."
A Falun Gong practitioner's husband used to be a manager in another company before it went bankrupt. A few days ago, he went to this joint venture to look for a job. He introduced himself and talked to the CEO about a job. The CEO hired him and requested to meet his wife. Upon finding out that this practitioner was both trustworthy and capable, he put her in charge of a special project.
Falun Gong Practitioners' Personal Experiences
A Veteran Who Joined PLA in 1947 Regains His Health after Practicing Falun Gong
I am a veteran who joined PLA in 1947. I have received high awards from the military.
I used to suffer from over 10 different diseases.
In December 1990, I took a turn for the worse because of a major heart attack. After I was rescued, I had to remain hospitalized for four years. During my hospitalization, I had medical emergencies many times. I could not live without medication and oxygen.
In October 1994, I had a heart bypass operation. After the surgery, my heart only had one-quarter of the functions a normal heart has. One year later, during a checkup, it was found that two of the vessels in my heart were clogged, which could lead to sudden death.
In May 1997, I was transferred from a military hospital to a local civilian hospital for treatment. During the examination, I was found to have severe leukemia and a large tumor on my leg.
At that time, I suffered a complete mental collapse; I had lost the courage to live. I just wanted to end my life. I wrote my will and arranged my funeral.
However, just as I was in despair, I got a copy of the book, Zhuan Falun, from my brother. In the beginning, I didn't pay much attention to it since I knew nothing about cultivation. I was simply flipping through the pages while receiving an IV in bed. However, as I kept reading, the contents became more and more interesting. Then I sat up to read. Later I got off the bed and sat in a chair and read. At first I was still wearing my glasses. Then I felt the glasses were unnecessary, so I took them off. To my surprise, I found I could see even more clearly without glasses. This way I kept reading the book for several hours. Before I could finish the book, I suddenly came down with what felt like stomach flu. I went to the bathroom several times that day, but I didn't feel tired at all. Instead, I felt more energetic. At that time I truly felt this book was so miraculous. As long as I could calm down to study the book, positive changes were bound to happen.
Later my brother called to check on my health. I said emotionally, "Thank you so much for giving me this book!"
When I began to read the book for the second time, I requested to be discharged from the hospital. The doctors listed numerous reasons why I could not be discharged, but I simply insisted. The doctors told me that I would be responsible for any potential consequences myself. I signed my name on the discharge form without hesitation. The next morning, with the help of an assistant, I went to the park to look for a Falun Gong practice site. The second day, we were able to find one.
Starting September 8, 1997, I formally began to participate in the group exercise and study. Every morning I got up at 5:00 and went to the practice site to do exercises. I felt in high spirits and my health improved gradually. I was also calm and peaceful. I felt like I had changed to a completely different person. My illnesses disappeared one by one. In no more than one month, I stopped taking medication and I no long needed my assistant to accompany me to the park to practice. I also got rid of the oxygen tank. From the bottom of my heart I felt the power and might of Falun Gong and I realized the true meaning of human life.
I am a veteran serviceman. I had been doing political work in the army for many years. I used to believe only in modern science and often held a suspicious view of qigong, cultivation of the human body and supernormal capabilities. In the past, whenever I heard someone else talk about these things, I would think they were ignorant and superstitious. After I took up the practice of Falun Gong, I came to understand that there is a boundless Great Law in the universe unknown to humankind, and that there are so many heavenly secrets to be experienced by humankind. Take myself as an example. The many illnesses that modern medicine had diagnosed as incurable were all cured by Falun Gong. My personal experience firmly proves that Falun Gong is a true science, not superstition. Moreover, many other people who suffered terminal illnesses have regained their health after practicing Falun Gong. All this suggests that Falun Gong is a true science.
Without Falun Gong, I wouldn't be alive today. I received a second life from Falun Gong. I will let more people know about my personal experience and tell them that Falun Gong is the universal Law that can truly save people.
My Migraine and Heart Disease Are Cured, My Husband Quit Smoking, Drinking and Gambling
My name is Lin Meili. I am a practitioner from the Back Port practice site in Singapore. I have practiced Falun Gong for five years and benefited greatly in both my mind and body. Below I will talk about the changes cultivation in Falun Gong has brought about in me.
Before I started to practice Falun Gong, I suffered from many illnesses, with migraine and heart disease being the most prominent. When I had a heart episode, it was very difficult to breathe. I could feel my heart stop beating and my life had come to an end. This often happened at night and it was excruciating. When the headache came, it would hurt so much that I trembled all over and could not fall asleep. These two illnesses afflicted me for most of my life.
Since I attained the Fa on May 1, 1995, I have practiced the Falun Gong exercise every day. Because I had no schooling in my whole life, I couldn't recognize a single word. I could not finish one full sentence in Zhuan Falun, let alone understand the underlying Fa principles. Nevertheless, I made up my mind that I must study the Fa well because it's the Great Law of the universe. When I studied the Fa at that time with fellow practitioners, I remembered one character after another while listening to them. It was quite amazing that I could read the whole book of Zhuan Falun after one year. The Fa gave me wisdom, and now I also have a very healthy body and look younger and younger. All of my past illnesses have gone away.
I would also like to talk about the huge changes in my husband after cultivation. My husband's parents had expelled him from their home when he was a teenager because he would not go to school, didn't listen to his parents and had become addicted to smoking and alcohol. His parents were unable to teach him. After we were married, his old habits still remained, and he was also prone to gambling. He would smoke three to four packs of cigarettes a day. I tried all kinds of ways to help him get rid of those bad habits in vain. He was hot-tempered and often fought with others or verbally abused them. He often shouted at me as well, so our children were afraid of him.
After we started to practice Falun Gong, I could hardly believe how he had changed to a completely new person. He quickly got rid of his 40-year-old smoking habit and became a kind-hearted and gentle person. Falun Gong removed his bad habits in a very short period of time. He no longer smokes cigarettes, does not gamble or drink alcohol, and no longer fights with others or verbally abuses them. He has really become a good father and a good husband. Our children said, "Father has changed. He has changed into a different person after learning Falun Gong." Our family has become harmonious. Falun Gong has saved our family. I am grateful to our Master, who has given me a happy family.
Since the persecution in China began, newspapers in Singapore have reported the news from China. I know that Falun Gong is a righteous cultivation way. Considering the positive change in our family, how could Falun Gong not be good-- Master teaches us to be good people with high moral standards and I am a beneficiary from the cultivation, so I have kept on practicing. I distribute literature about Falun Gong on my way to and from work so that more people may learn the truth about Falun Gong and benefit from it, like my family and I have.