(Clearwisdom.net) "I am a beginner. Many movements may not be accurate but I feel great," Asele said happily after learning Falun Gong's five exercises. She would have never imagined, at the Asian Festival of Berne, Switzerland on July 26, 2008, that she could learn a traditional Chinese cultivation practice, Falun Gong, from an elderly German lady.

Asele learns the exercises

Asele signs petition to support Falun Gong

Demonstrating the exercises

Signing petition to support Falun Gong

Clarifying the truth

Asele said she lived in Kyrgyzstan, near China. This was the first time she'd heard about Falun Gong. She said she would continue with the practice, "I have never heard about it before. Now I know this practice is banned in China. So I want to know a bit more. I want to continue next week."

Since she came from a former Soviet country, she knew how the Communist Party represses the freedom of belief and speech. "I came from the Soviet Union. At that time the Communist Party was very strong. People did not have freedom of expression. Fortunately in my country, this situation has come to an end. But it is still the case in China."

Finally she said she would let her colleagues and friends in her country know the truth about Falun Gong. She also signed the petition calling for a stop to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) atrocities of organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners.

"Why does the CCP persecute Falun Gong?"

"Why does the CCP persecute Falun Gong?" Having seen Faun Gong's exercise demonstrations on stage, a middle-aged man with a child put forth his question when passing Falun Gong's stand. It was a common question. "Falun Gong practitioners follow the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance," a practitioner answered, pointing at the three big letters on the leaflet, "The CCP, however, spreads lies and instigates fights so that people will hate each other. This way, people have no trust or concern for one another. For fear of hurting themselves, people dare not speak their mind or even have their own thoughts. In this way the CCP maintains control over these people, even their thoughts." The gentleman nodded.

The practitioner continued, "For example, my mother was an accountant in China. She also practices Falun Gong. As such she definitely would not 'cook the books,' as it goes against Truthfulness. But nowadays in China many statistics have been manufactured. If a lot of people practiced truthfulness, the CCP would not be able to fabricate the data it wants to see."

Having heard what the practitioner said, the gentleman understood that Falun Gong practitioners follow the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, which is what distinguishes Falun Gong from other qigong methods, and the main reason why the CCP persecutes Falun Gong. When he learned that he could sign to help stop the persecution, he signed and also happily accepted the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, and said he would read it.

"Everyone should sign to stop the persecution"

"(Signature collection) is a good thing. You are doing really well. Everyone should sign. The persecution happening in China deprives people of their rights and dignity. It is a hideous crime." Ms. Margot Abbühl said after signing.

With regards to CCP's organ harvesting, she said, "I think this organ harvesting is terrible. Falun Gong practitioners or those dissidents are locked up in concentration camps and killed through organ harvesting. I cannot understand the regime. People should be able to freely express their viewpoints. I wish you great success. Please continue."

As the head of a train crew, Ms. Abbühl first heard about Falun Gong on a train. She saw a lady in a top with "Falun Dafa" written across it. She asked what it was. The lady introduced her to Falun Gong and gave her informational materials. She started reading after getting home and looked for more information about Falun Gong. As to the practice itself, she said, "I think it is excellent. Last year I also bought the Falun Gong books. I can feel energy moving to help me keep balanced."

Ms. Abbühl's daughter Jasmin, who attended the Asian Festival with her, also signed the petition to help stop the persecution. She said, "Like my mum said, their (CCP) treatment of those people (Falun Gong practitioners) is barbaric indeed. I was thinking what if that (persecution) happened to me... So I'm very happy to sign. If nobody stops this inhuman crime, things will get worse and worse. We should adopt some measures. Signature collection like this is a good thing."

Falun Gong practitioners' stand at the Asian Festival of Berne attracted many people. Quite a few asked where they could learn the practice. Even the busy owner of the stand opposite came over to ask for information on the practice sites. She said that seeing practitioners practice, she felt very good. So she wanted to learn as well.

Having seen the exhibits and read the informational materials, an older gentleman asked practitioners whether he could sign the anti-persecution petition. He also wanted to donate money, which was turned down by practitioners. He was told that Falun Gong does not accept money, and even learning the practice is free. He asked immediately, "Then how can I help you?" "You can tell more people about the truth of Falun Gong, which will help the practitioners a great deal."

During two days of Asian Festival activities, more people learned the truth of Falun Gong. The practice site at Berne's Rose Garden will see many new faces.