Germany: Berlin Practitioners Protest at the Singapore Embassy

Despite freezing cold weather, Berlin Falun Gong practitioners met outside the Singapore Embassy on Wednesday January 24th 2007. They were there to protest against the lawless and roguish actions of the Singapore authorities used against peacefully demonstrating Falun Gong practitioners in Singapore. During the afternoon, two practitioners entered the Embassy to present a letter of protest and to tell the staff about the incident. The first secretary welcomed them personally, listened to their concerns and promised to forward the letter.

Some interesting discussions ensued while practitioners distributed leaflets. Immediately after the beginning of the distribution of the leaflets, two tourists from England came to talk to practitioners. As soon as they realised that Berlin practitioners were unfurling a large yellow banner with the words “Falun Gong” in German and Chinese, they stopped and accepted a flyer. Once we realised that they didn’t know German, a practitioner explained the reason for the protest at the Singapore Embassy to them in English. They were very outgoing and listened attentively to the explanation.

The tourists heard about how the Chinese Communist Party harvest organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. “Organ harvesting is atrocious,” said one of the ladies from England. “Yes, to remain silent is the worst anyone could do. The only thing one can do is to expose this situation,” continued her friend. Before leaving they asked if they could take pictures. They appeared to be deep in thought and deeply moved.

A young woman approached one of the practitioners and was keen to receive more information about Falun Gong. This was the first time she had heard about the practice. She was very sympathetic, once a practitioner had told her the reason for the protest at the Embassy. She listened attentively and accepted with great interest the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and the Report into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China.

She said that she could clearly comprehend the possibility of such human rights abuses as she had also lived in Poland when it was a communist country. She said, “People in that country were also persecuted during the communist rule without any legal grounds.” Before leaving she asked how she could help. She insisted on doing something that would bring an end to these injustices. She continued, “The minute I hear about things that have evolved into such horrible circumstances, I just have to do something.”

Background of the Singapore Incident

Six Falun Gong practitioners appeared in court in Singapore. They had protested peacefully at the Chinese Embassy in Singapore against human rights violations suffered by Falun Gong practitioners in China. They also had displayed banners exposing the systematic organ harvesting committed against Falun Gong practitioners. The Chinese Embassy staff were affronted by these activities.

The Singapore court began court proceedings against the six practitioners on Monday, January 22nd 2007. The judge attempted to hold closed hearings, forbidding the public to attend. The trial was held in the smallest room available, with a seating capacity of eight. The accused practitioners asked days ahead of the trial for a larger room, which was denied. The six accused practitioners protested against this almost secret trial by turning towards the wall. Shortly after, the judge convicted the six practitioners to a two-day prison term.

Originally published in German at http://clearharmony.de/articles/200701/36024.html.