(Clearwisdom.net) On April 25, 2007, Falun Gong practitioners from Japan held a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Embassy to commemorate the "April 25" Appeal and protest the persecution of Falun Gong.

The candlelight vigil

Calling for the Chinese government to punish the murderers Jiang Zemin, Luo Gan, Zhou Yongkang and Liu Jing

Practitioner Mr. Zhang Yufu said that Falun Gong practitioners were not afraid of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and went to appeal for their rights, which manifested their courage. He said that the practitioners did a great thing, a fact that needs to be remembered. Mr. Zhang said, "Since April 25, 1999, Falun Gong practitioners have been clarifying the truth of Falun Gong, calling upon people to stand up to end the persecution, and holding anti-persecution activities almost every day. So many practitioners have said that every day is April 25 to them."

Some Chinese people thought that if Falun Gong practitioners hadn't gone to appeal, then the CCP would not have launched the persecution. Mr. Zhang Yufu pointed out that the April 25 Appeal is not the cause of the persecution--the CCP persecutes Falun Gong due to its evil nature, because it cannot tolerate the belief in "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," the principle teaching of Falun Dafa. Mr. Zhang pointed out, "Before the April 25 Appeal in 1999, the CCP had already tried to ban Falun Gong. We know that it is a citizen's right to appeal and express their concerns. Appealing is legal and normal. Why did the CCP launch the persecution? It is due to its evil nature. In history, it has launched many movements, trying to control people's thoughts. The belief in "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" is different than communism, so the CCP cannot tolerate it. I hope that more people will stand up to speak out for Falun Gong, and end the persecution."

Ms. Zhou Jinhua, whose sister is jailed by the CCP because of practicing Falun Gong, called for the end of the persecution. She said: "I had clarified the truth of Falun Gong to the policemen who arrested my sister. I explained to him that Falun Gong is good and told him that Falun Gong has spread to about 80 countries in the world. But he didn't listen to me. On April 17, they sent my sister to Masanjia Labor Camp, which is notorious for torturing Falun Gong practitioners. They didn't even inform my family members. My sister is just one of millions Falun Gong practitioners who are being tortured in China."

Ms. Zhou felt sad that many Chinese people have been deceived by the CCP and have lost their conscience. She felt sad that many Chinese people don't know what justice is, what compassion is and what righteousness is, so that they even collaborate with the CCP, helping it to do evil.

Ms. Zhou said that the April 25 Appeal was a magnificent feat by Falun Dafa practitioners, as they clarified the truth to the government peacefully and rationally. It was a magnificent manifestation of Dafa practitioners' broadmindedness. She said that people will remember forever what practitioners have done for human conscience.