(Clearwisdom.net) June 26, 2004, marked the 7th United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The World Organization to Investigated the Persecution of Falun Gong and Friends of Falun Gong conducted a "Persecution Meets Principles"anti-torture exhibition. They called on people to pay attention to the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China and to stop torture in the 21st century. In front of the downtown art museum, Vancouver Falun Gong practitioners reenacted the tortures endured by fellow practitioners in China.
 Live torture reenactment |
 Passersby sign a petition calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. |
 Spectators watching the torture reenactment |
 Spectators watching the torture reenactment |
 Onlookers shocked at what they see |
In the plaza in front of the downtown art museum, seven methods of tortures were reenacted: "Hanging up and beaten," "Tiger bench," "Tightly tying," "Digging bamboo sticks underneath practitioners' fingernails," "Force-feeding," "Death bed," "Confined in a small cage." The side of each reenactment gave detailed description of each torture method and the real cases of practitioners who suffered it. Some practitioners unfurled large banners with words, "Falun Dafa is great!" "Today is International Day in Support of Victims of Torture," and "What's happening in China," which were very eye-catching. Other practitioners took turns to demonstrate the Falun Gong exercises, send forth righteous thoughts, distribute truth-clarifying materials and collect petition signatures.
Local citizens were shocked at the tortures endured by Falun Gong practitioners in China and expressed their indignation. Many asked questions. Some asked, "What can we do to help you?" Some said, "I will write to Parliament Members and ask the government to urge China to stop the persecution."
Some said that people should not invest in China or financially support a government that persecutes its own people. An elderly Chinese gentleman told this reporter, "Although I don't quite know about Falun Gong, I completely believe the persecution of Falun Gong in China is true, because I escaped from that den of demons and I know too much about the Party." He also expressed his desire to practice Falun Gong in the future.
Practitioners who participated in the live demonstration understood more about the persecution encountered by fellow practitioners in China. Mr. Zhang, who had been practicing for less than a year, said, "It feels terrible sitting on the 'Tiger bench'. After just a while, my legs and hands started feeling numb and painful. Later, my entire body seemed to lose feeling. When I felt that I was unable to bear it, I thought that this would let more people understand, and I was therefore able to go on. In fact, what practitioners in China have endured are ten times, hundreds of times and even thousands times worse than what we demonstrated here."
Ms. Cao, another re-enactor, said that, as long as she could reduce the pressure on fellow practitioners in China, whatever she endured was worth it. "It really felt terrible, but I maintained righteous thoughts in my heart and I was able to keep it up no matter how hard it was."
The persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China is brutal. What the practitioners reenacted only symbolized the actual torture. Even so, they said it was hard to endure and hard to imagine how much pain practitioners in China have endured.
Green Party Parliament Member candidates Don Perry and Dana Miller, as well as the president of Friends of Falun Gong Ms. Sadie Kuehn, attended the press conference for this anti-torture exhibition and delivered speeches. They mentioned that the Canadian government should put human rights above economic interests and urge the Chinese government to immediately stop the killing of Falun Gong practitioners. Don White from Amnesty International also sent a fax, saying that all those who have tortured Falun Gong practitioners should be brought to justice.
Category: Rallies & Protests
