(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners held a rally to peacefully protest the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 23-year-long persecution in Auckland, New Zealand on July 16. 

Several practitioners shared their personal experiences of being persecuted and called on the international community to recognize the true nature of the CCP. They hoped that the government at all levels in New Zealand would take action to pass legislation against tyranny and help stop the CCP’s persecution.

Practitioners held a rally on Queen Elizabeth Square on July 16. Passersby sign a petition calling for an end to the persecution 

The CCP Cannot Tolerate Truth

Chen Weijian, Editor-in-Chief of magazine Beijing Spring, addressed the rally. 

Chen Weijian, a pro-democracy activist and editor-in-chief of Beijing Spring, came to support practitioners. He said in his speech, “Today marks the 23^rd year of the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong. For the past 23 years, I have accompanied Falun Gong friends along the way and witnessed their protest against tyranny, their perseverance in the belief in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and their outstanding contributions to the promotion of Chinese culture. 

“Many of my friends have read Zhuan Falun and started practicing Falun Gong. Falun Gong is a way of self-cultivation, a way to improve mental and physical health and a way to be a person of noble character. When they clarify the truth and encounter some people who are misled by the CCP’s propaganda speaking ill of them, they never get upset. The good deeds of the practitioners in our society are obvious to all.”

He pointed out, “The reason that the CCP persecuted Falun Gong was because it cannot tolerate truth and peace. The CCP controls China with lies and violence. The persecution of Falun Gong is the worst human rights abuse of the CCP’s multiple rounds of persecution of dissidents in the past.” 

He said, “The 610 Office that is in charge of the persecution clearly states that killing Falun Gong practitioners would not be punished. Therefore, all kinds of tortures against Falun Gong practitioners are used to the extreme. The most outrageous is the CCP’s organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners. This crime against humanity shocks the international community.”

Human Rights Lawyer: New Zealand Should Pass Legislation to Help Stop the Persecution

Lawyer Kerry Gore addressed the rally. 

Human rights lawyer Kerry Gore said at the rally, “Today we mark the Chinese Communist Party’s 23 year- long persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China. It is an unprecedented persecution, one which is implemented at every level of society in China.

“Over a period of some 23 years, this persecution has been well-documented by respected and independent organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), The Office of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, the Congressional Executive Commission on China, the United States Department of State in its Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, and the United States Committee for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to name only a few.”

He pointed out, “The New Zealand government ought to condemn this persecution and call for its immediate cessation. In the meantime, New Zealand would do well to introduce Magnitsky Act style legislation where persecutors are denied visas enabling them and their immediate family members to travel to this country. Importantly, that legislation also provides the government with the ability to freeze any assets which persecutors may have located in this country. In this way those implicated in that persecution will be made to understand that there is indeed a price to be paid for engaging in acts of persecution.”

New Zealand Writer: The CCP Is Evil

William Thomas

William Thomas is a freelance writer and photographer. He watched the rally and said, “I really appreciate what they (Falun Gong practitioners) did today. I know what the CCP has done is very bad, it should respect people’s beliefs and not try to suppress them because they don’t fit its theories. 

“We shouldn’t trust many media, because we don’t know where the news comes from. We need to think for ourselves instead of listening to the CCP, which is very evil. Unfortunately, many people have been deceived and brainwashed. Falun Gong practitioners should not be persecuted for their belief.” 

He also said, “(Maintaining) the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is the purpose of coming to this world as a human being. I do a lot of charity work, help many people, and accumulate a lot of good karma. 

“But some people do bad things and accumulate a lot of bad karma, When things go wrong around them, they don’t know why. That’s karmic retribution. They think they can get away with it. That’s impossible. Falun Gong practitioners are doing well. They have never given up (the struggle). I hope they will continue to work hard.”

New Zealand Soldier Admires Falun Gong Practitioners’ Inner Peace

Alex Pere 

Alex Pere is a member of the New Zealand Navy. She praised the peaceful scene of Falun Gong practitioners doing the exercises. “It’s an inner peace; it’s a connection with the spiritual world,” she said.

She said, “My family and I were saddened after hearing the speeches of the practitioners. The CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is really terrifying, and it continues to this day. 

“However, this information has been deliberately covered up. The CCP just wants to control people. They want to control what people think. They even control the media to make the world see what they want the world to see. When I hear that Falun Gong practitioners are persecuted for their belief, I feel sad.” 

Yoga Teacher: the CCP Is Against Goodness

Yuna, a yoga teacher who studied Chinese medicine, knows that Falun Gong is a spiritual practice. She said, “Falun Gong practitioners’ speeches moved me to tears. The CCP’s persecution is too terrifying, but it doesn’t surprise me at all, because I have never had a good impression of the CCP and everything the CCP does is against goodness. Communism is atheistic and doesn’t have anything in the spiritual realm. They don’t have any religious beliefs. I really don’t understand why they do that.”

She continued, “Spiritual practice can help people find true happiness. We can’t change the external world, but we can change our inner world. Kindness is something that our children should all learn. I admire Falun Gong practitioners for being able to speak out. They are so brave. I am so happy to see so many people supporting them. It’s impressive. Their events are well organized.” 

New Immigrants: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Are the Most Important Principles

Csaba Gal and his wife Ameko

Csaba Gal and his wife Ameko recently immigrated to New Zealand from Hungary. They said they know the (CCP) dictatorship very well. Ameko said, “The dictatorial government is always full of lies. The people cannot have their own opinions and have no choice. 

“Falun Gong is so peaceful, and it is so evil of the CCP to persecute such a group. Today we are very happy to see Falun Gong practitioners standing here to protest the persecution. We were deeply touched. They are beautiful, thoughtful, and very kind. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are the most important principles in people's lives. I sincerely thank them. Hopefully, they continue to do what they are supposed to do.”