Poland: Activities Held to Commemorate the April 25, 1999 Peaceful Protest

(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners held activities in Warsaw to commemorate the peaceful April 25 appeal in Beijing 26 years ago. There were many tourists that day and people came to the Falun Dafa booth to learn more about Falun Dafa and sign the petition to call for an end to the persecution in China.

Groups of tourists, one after another, read information about Falun Dafa and watched as practitioners demonstrated the exercises. Some people learned the exercises on the spot while others bought copies of Falun Dafa’s main book Zhuan Falun. Many Chinese people talked with practitioners and signed the petition with their real names to oppose the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) brutal persecution.

Practitioners demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises during an event in Warsaw’s old town.

A Polish woman bought Falun Dafa’s main book Zhuan Falun.

Practitioners told tourists and local residents about Falun Dafa and the persecution in China.

Practitioner Provides Background on April 25 Beijing Protest

Marcin, a practitioner, explained why practitioners held the event, “On April 25, 1999, due to constant harassment in China, over 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners went to the State Appeals Office in Beijing to call for the release of practitioners who had been arrested in Tianjin. They also asked that Falun Dafa books be published, and the right to practice cultivation freely. The matter was resolved that day.

“According to media reports in China at that time, this was a peaceful appeal. The media outside China also called it a beginning of peaceful interaction between the government and citizens. Not only was this the largest peaceful appeal in China’s history, it was also praised as a moral example by practitioners who upheld Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

“This peaceful, rational undertaking by Falun Dafa practitioners impressed the world. Yet, a few months later, the CCP claimed that practitioners had ‘besieged Zhongnanhai,’ and the CCP launched a large-scale, inhuman suppression. It was later learned that the regime even resorted to live organ harvesting, an unprecedented evil on this planet.”

Marcin added, “We hold activities to remember April 25 because we want to expose the lies and restore the truth. We want to pass on the spirit of April 25 and uphold the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Despite the CCP’s most evil persecution, Falun Dafa is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. More and more people have joined us in practicing cultivation, and this trend is still growing. It shows that the CCP’s brutal persecution is a failure.”

Pawel, a Polish practitioner, began to practice Falun Gong in 2012. When he learned of the April 25 Beijing protest, he said, “I was shocked, and filled with admiration. You must understand that the CCP is an autocratic party that does not tolerate any different voices. Yet, Falun Dafa practitioners who put Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance into practice did it. This is a turning point for democracy and freedom in China. It shows that Chinese people are awakening.”

Alex, who began practicing two years ago, said he admired practitioners who participated in the April 25 Appeal, “This is a brave act based on firm conviction in the values of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. It is the dawn of justice in China. Their courage, dignity, and calm touched me and the whole world.”

Alex continued, “I decided to take part in today’s activities to commemorate April 25 to express my support to the world, and particularly Falun Dafa practitioners in China. People’s dignity, belief, and freedom should not be trampled on. I also want to take this opportunity to tell everyone once again, ‘Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good’.”

People signed the petition calling for an end to the atrocities during activities in Warsaw.

Mr. Jeton from Germany thoroughly read the Falun Dafa flier and Minghui Weekly. He copied the Falun Dafa website to his mobile phone, and said, “I’m a doctor. There are many illnesses that cannot be treated by modern medicine, but Falun Dafa can do so, and this is extraordinary. Shouldn’t we seriously look into and study how Falun Dafa benefits people and society? Why does the CCP want to suppress such a wonderful practice?

“I admire you. If not for your persistence then, without the courage of 10,000 Falun Dafa practitioners and peaceful communication with the government, I would not have the opportunity to know about Falun Dafa today.

“I just saw on the Internet that sickness is related to one’s moral character, I’m very interested. I believe behind this is a door to a different world. I must read Zhuan Falun and all the Falun Dafa books. Thank you. Keep up the effort.”

After chatting with a practitioner for over an hour, reading the materials, and checking the website, Jeton signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution.

Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Helped Me See Hope

A man from China signed the petition with his real name. He said, “I was brainwashed by the CCP in the past and I had a lot of misunderstandings about Falun Dafa. The deepest impression I had was ‘besieging Zhongnanhai’ and ‘the Tiananmen Square self immolation.’ Every day before the children’s programs were shown, the CCP broadcast shows that demonized Falun Dafa. It was annoying. Even if you disliked it, you had to patiently wait for it to end.

“Now that I’ve left China, I was astonished to learn the truth about Falun Dafa. I discovered how terribly wrong I was. The CCP’s brutal torture and taking organs from practitioners is horrifying. Your suffering is great, the CCP should have stopped long ago. I sign this petition with my real name to support Falun Dafa.”

Mr. Zhang from Hong Kong also spoke to practitioners for a long time, and said, “I know that 10,000 people appealed in Beijing 26 years ago. Today Falun Dafa is so brutally persecuted, yet you continue to follow your faith—it makes people respect you. The power of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance is so great—it attracts me.”

After he signed the petition, he said, “I understand now, peace of mind is where one’s hometown is, Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance has made me see hope.”

Another Chinese man working in Poland talked to a practitioner hoping to learn about Falun Dafa. When he heard the facts and saw the photos, he realized the CCP’s claims that practitioners “besieged Zhongnanhai” and the “Tiananmen self immolation” were lies. He signed the petition without hesitation to show his support for practitioners’ peaceful protest against the persecution. Before leaving, he thanked practitioners with hands clasped in front of his chest.