Belgium: Activities Held to Protest the Persecution

In July 2009, Falun Gong practitioners held activities in Brussels at La Bourse Plaza, in front of the Chinese Embassy, and in Chinatown, and in Antwerp in Chinatown to protest the 10-year-long persecution.

Candlelight vigil

Signing to support Falun Gong

On July 11, practitioners held activities in Chinatown in Antwerp, the second largest city in Belgium, to protest the persecution of Falun Gong.

On July 17, practitioners held an activity with the theme "Stop the Persecution Together" at La Bourse Plaza in Brussels.

Practitioners hung up banners proclaiming "10 Years of Peaceful Resistance against the Persecution" and "Dissolve the CCP and End the Persecution." Mr. Nicolas, representative of the Falun Dafa Association in Belgium, briefly explained the facts of the persecution and the history of practitioners' resistance.

On July 17, Belgian Parliament Member Bart Staes made a public announcement, strongly supporting practitioners' peaceful resistance.

At the rally, practitioners passed out a lot of leaflets. Reuters, Agence France Press, and other local media covered the event.

On July 20, practitioners held a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Embassy in memory of those who were tortured to death during the persecution.

Ms. Dominique de Mees, a representative from Amnesty International in Belgium, came to the candlelight vigil. She said that practitioners always take the peaceful way and she didn't understand why the Chinese Communist Party would continue the brutal persecution. She said practitioners are not dangerous, they just abide by their beliefs.

Mr. Qu, who started practising Falun Gong in 1996, told his own story of being persecuted in China. His friend was tortured to death. He was arrested and jailed because of his belief in Falun Gong.

Nele, another practitioner, said that more and more people have learned the truth about Falun Gong as a result of practitioners' efforts. She said practitioners will win eventually.

On July 25, practitioners held activities in Chinatown in Brussels, encouraging Chinese people to quit the communist party. Practitioners displayed materials in four languages: Chinese, French, English, and Dutch. They hung up banners reading "Dissolve the CCP and End the Persecution" and "Support Withdrawing from the Party." They also displayed materials exposing the brutality of the persecution.

Many people took materials. Ms. Pan, the organiser of the event, said, "In China, people don't know the truth about Falun Gong or the evil history of the CCP. We need to let people know. The persecution is not just toward Falun Gong; many Chinese people are being suppressed. Only dissolving the CCP can stop the persecution."

Many Western and Chinese people were drawn to the event. They signed their names to support Falun Gong and left comments praising practitioners and encouraging them in their efforts.