UK: Righteous Officials in York do not bow to Pressure from Jiang Regime - New Year Celebrations go Ahead!

"Are you still coming?" asked a York based official, concerned about the snowy weather conditions. He'd had to stay at home that day due to blizzards threatening in the area. "Oh maybe it will clear up,” I replied. "Anyway we'll come even if it does snow!"

This same kindly official led us, on arrival at St Sampson's Square in York city centre, to changing facilities in the upper room of a nearby restaurant. He had also arranged that we be generously provided with refreshments that were served by the very pleasant staff on duty. He went on to support us constantly throughout the day with his presence, often wishing us well and hoping we would join other events planned in York. He graciously accepted a VCD revealing the truth about the persecution of Falun Dafa and a copy of the latest "Compassion" [a journal of Falun Dafa around the world] magazine as tokens of our appreciation.

The dancers in lovely red oriental satin costumes, hair resplendent with silk flowers, performed a traditional Chinese Fan Dance, created and choreographed entirely by Falun Dafa practitioners themselves. Their cheerful faces and enthusiastic smiles won the hearts of the passing shoppers who stopped and gathered round. They were captivated by the serene music and the large pink fans quivering delicately before the western and Chinese dancers.

One practitioner echoed the sweet Dafa tunes on a flute while another accompanied the joyful renditions on piano. Songs composed by Dafa practitioners were performed in both Chinese and English. A practitioner who is a former UMIST student made an appeal for the assistance of all good people in the rescue campaign to free his innocent girlfriend from a Chinese labour camp. She has been illegally imprisoned along with thousands of others by Jiang Zemin's regime merely for defending the humanitarian and universal principles of Truth, Compassion, Tolerance, which Falun Gong upholds. Sympathising wholeheartedly with their plight, many members of the public kindly signed the Family Rescue petition. Large numbers of citizens received our fliers in both English and Chinese. Many that stopped to talk were told about the international organisation newly set up to investigate the abuses of Falun Dafa practitioners and the indictment of Jiang himself for his heinous and shameful crimes against innocent people. They also studied the boards depicting the terrible torture he orders daily against practitioners and contrasted these with the beautiful exercises and performances that they were witnessing in York.

The wonderfulness of Falun Dafa was shown in the graceful practice exercises and radiated directly from the hearts of those taking part. This was a tangible radiance remarked upon in some detail by more than one member of the public. One man in particular remarked that as he was passing he sensed "peace" and "light". He had not known what the event was about but the depth of what he sensed had made him stop to find out! The York organiser who had originally invited us was drawn back to the site often saying she was attracted by the profound sense of unity she felt between us and she praised us for having our own equipments and being so self-sufficient.

This moving celebration had taken place despite the following background developments, explained for the local people in a pre-recorded interview with a practitioner broadcast on the morning of the event by BBC Radio York.

It had all started with a warm invitation for Falun Gong dancers and their support team from a member of the York based organisation co-hosting a project with the York CSSA (Chinese Student and Scholars Association) to present Chinese New Year events. Only after extensive preparations and rehearsals had been completed did the CSSA try to exclude the fan dancers! This was against the original invitation and under the poisonous influence of the state propaganda against the peaceful movement whom they falsely slandered as "political". The person who had originally invited us, defended our right to take part with a valiant and eloquent email to the CSSA. She was, however, forced to withdraw from the events due to the stress on her health caused by the disgraceful pressure the propagandists had put upon her. The CSSA tried to blackmail the York based organisers by threatening to withdraw from events if Falun Gong was allowed to take part! The York organisers refused to succumb and feared an "international incident". They were so concerned that only after consulting the Foreign Commonwealth Office in London and their own MP, did they echo government support. They held a meeting asking the CSSA to be reasonable, but explained that they would not and indeed had no right to, exclude Falun Gong practitioners who were of both Chinese and western origin. The CSSA refused to listen, forcing the cancellation of the whole project much to the disappointment and gross inconvenience of all concerned and potentially robbing the people of York of their promised event!

Undaunted and on the advice of the York organiser who stated that he and his colleagues were furious at the interference from the Chinese government, we re-booked the space in the name of Falun Gong and a wonderful day was had by all! The honourable conduct of the York association personnel, the FCO and the local MP are a credit to them and their city. We thank them very much for their upright behaviour and wish them a bright future.

We send all the York CSSA members our every good wish and hope they can wake up to the dreadful reality of the persecution of their fellows in China and see through the lies Jiang Zemin tells about those upholders of Truth, Compassion, Tolerance. We hope that they can improve their position before it is too late. The writing is on the wall, Jiang is indicted for Genocide…who would wish to be tarred with this infamous brush?

As to the uncertain weather - there was beautiful cool sunshine all day long with clean spring air and clear blue skies.

Blizzards? What blizzards?