(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in Singapore held a rally on July 17, 2013, in Hong Lim Park, calling on people from all walks of life to pay attention to and help stop the 14-year-long persecution of Falun Gong in China, particularly the forced organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners.

Falun Dafa practitioners in Singapore demonstrate the five exercises in Hong Lim Park

Falun Dafa practitioners in Singapore hold a rally in Hong Lim Park to protest the Chinese regime’s persecution of Falun Gong

Falun Dafa practitioners in Singapore hold a candlelight vigil in Hong Lim Park in memory of practitioners who died as a result of persecution

Falun Gong practitioners spoke at the afternoon rally. Others displayed banners and demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises.

As evening came practitioners lit candles and sat quietly, paying solemn tribute to the practitioners in China who have died in the persecution. At least 3,697 practitioners are known to have died due to the persecution. The actual number of practitioners killed in the persecution far exceeds this.

Many passersby asked practitioners for fliers with information about Falun Gong and the persecution. They signed the petition demanding an immediate stop to the persecution. Most of them were shocked and angered by the fact that the Chinese regime removes practitioners’ organs while they are still alive and sells them for profit.

Passersby carefully read the materials with information on the persecution

Passersby listen to the practitioners explain the facts of the persecution

Forced Organ Harvesting Should Be Immediately Stopped

Financial consultant Aymeric stopped by the Falun Dafa table. He said he’d heard about the persecution in China, but this was the first time he learned about the organ removal from practitioners while they were still alive. He said, “Even if relations between China and western countries has improved, the human rights issue in China has not. It’s an issue that has been neglected. Every country tries to avoid the issue in order not to offend China. Unfortunately in foreign relations, business interest is always the priority.”

When Ann, a pharmacist from France, learned that the Chinese regime is behind the live organ removal scandal, she was in disbelief. She said, “It’s unbelievable that a government could commit such a crime. I'm shocked! I thought only gangsters would dare to do such a thing.” She said that she knew about the persecution but did not realize that it was so brutal and inhuman. She immediately signed the petition to stop the live organ removal.

Evan is a college student from Canada. He admired practitioners' peaceful and persistent efforts. He studied social science in school and learned from the practitioners that the Chinese Communist Party is not China and does not represent the Chinese people.

Jay is a computer engineer from South Africa. He signed the petition to protest the live organ removal. “Organ removal from living people is just wrong. Such a heinous crime should be immediately stopped,” he said.

Persecution Launched on July 20, 1999

Ms. Zhou recalled her reaction 14 years ago when the Chinese regime began the nationwide ban on Falun Gong. “It hurt, I couldn’t help crying. Why couldn’t they allow such a wonderful practice? This persecution is totally wrong.”

Ms. Zhou became a practitioner 15 years ago in 1998. Before she began practicing, she was tormented by various ailments and was hospitalized many times. After she started practicing, she could walk and ride her bike as fast as she wanted and became completely healthy.

“After the persecution started, many of the practitioners I knew were arrested. Some were forced to leave home to avoid further persecution, some lost their jobs, and some were divorced by their spouses because their families could not stand the pressure,” remembered Ms. Zhou.

“Seeing that many people were deceived by the propaganda and lies of the Chinese regime and had wrong ideas about Falun Dafa, I decided that I wanted to tell them what happened. I have not stopped informing people of the truth for even one day after I went overseas.”

Benefiting from Practitioners’ Persistent Effort in Truth Clarification

Mr. Wang is 66 years old. If practitioners had not clarified the truth about the persecution of Falun Dafa every day, he wouldn't have become a practitioner. “I read on the news the false reports on Falun Gong. Many times I came across practitioners on the streets clarifying the truth. I tried to tell them not to do this so they wouldn't be harassed. At the time I had no any idea how great Falun Dafa is.”

“Two years ago, I got fliers from practitioners again. After I went home I read them. I was so inspired by practitioners' stories. I had practiced something else and could never get rid of the pain in my head and chest. The pain was so intense that I felt I was close to death, and the hospitals couldn't find what was wrong. Even though I've only practiced Falun Dafa for a few months, the pain is going away. I will not practice anything else but Falun Dafa for the rest of my life,” said Mr. Wang.