European Falun Gong Practitioners Gather in Brussels, Calling for an End to the CCP’s Persecution


Brussels is the political centre of the European Union, known as the capital of Europe. On the 26th of October 2012, European Falun Dafa practitioners held a rally there to demonstrate the beauty of the practice, calling on people to stop the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) thirteen-year brutal persecution.


Group exercises at Jubilee Park

In the morning, bursts of soothing and melodious music spread from Jubilee Park (Cinquantenaire Jubelpark) to Schumann Square (Place de Schuman), where the EU headquarters are located. Hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners gathered to practise the Falun Gong exercises as a group.


Despite a slight drizzle, Falun Gong practitioners were all focused and full of energy in the damp air, attracting passers by to slow down and have a look at what was happening. Many took out their mobiles and cameras to capture this peaceful scene.



Calling for an end to the persecution at European political centre

At noon, Falun Gong practitioners from over countries across Europe held a large rally at Schumann Square, telling people how Falun Gong teaches people to be good following the principle of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance” but is persecuted by the CCP. The CCP even cruelly harvests organs from living Falun Gong practitioners for profit.


The head of the European Falun Dafa Association read out a statement at the rally: "The European Falun Dafa Association calls on the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2012, who is also China's largest trading partner, the European Union, to adopt a new approach to human rights in order to take any necessary measure. First, at various levels of contact with the CCP regime, the European Union should publicly condemn the CCP in the strongest terms and demand investigation into the inhumane crime of forcible removal of Falun Gong practitioners’ organs. Secondly, demand the CCP regime stop its defamation, conspiracy and crimes against humanity, and release all imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners."


Many Falun Gong practitioners who once suffered the CCP's persecution in mainland China were present at the rally. Some of them had had their blood sampled during their illegal detention by the CCP to test blood type and various blood parameters. Such blood tests are widely regarded as establishing the matching database for the organ harvesting that follows.


Over the past 13 years, Falun Gong practitioners throughout Europe have persisted in telling people about the injustices suffered by their fellow practitioners in China in a peaceful and rational manner. They have publicly called for an end to the persecution, attracting the attention and support of a growing number of people. Many VIPs from across Europe attended the rally at Schumann Square or sent support letters, including the Vice Chairman of the European Parliament, demanding the CCP immediately stop the persecution of Falun Gong.


Support from European VIPs

Mr. Oreste Rossi, a member of the European Parliament's Environmental Committee, expressed regret that he could not attend the rally: "Dear all who support human rights in China, unfortunately, I can not attend your event, because I need to vote at the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg. I sincerely hope I could be with you to support your efforts to seek justice."


Mr. Rossi thinks that the CCP’s organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners cannot be tolerated: "What happened to Falun Gong practitioners, and many dissidents, are crimes against humanity. Using the executed to cover up the removal of organs from those in detention is a violation of international standards and must be prohibited."

He said: "I regard it as a disgrace for the EU and its member states, knowing that the CCP violates human rights and freedom of belief, yet still viewing China as a major trade partner."


Mr. Rossi finally expressed his hope that China will soon usher in the spring of freedom and democracy.


Vice-Chairman of the European Parliament and President of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, Mr. Graham Watson, also sent a statement for the rally: "Today's rally, as well as the ongoing efforts of Falun Gong practitioners, showcased the devotion of many and the determination to support the freedom of belief. History has shown us how resolute and peaceful activists can firmly protect the freedom of all. Today's rally will inspire all ongoing efforts to promote respect for human rights in Europe and beyond. I would like to pay my respect to all of you who gathered here today and to all activists in and outside of mainland China."


Calling on the UN to send independent investigators

On the 18th of September at an international human rights seminar chaired by the President of the United Nations Human Rights Council Ms. Laura Dupuy Lasserre, the global Editor-in-Chief of the Epoch Times, Miss Guo Jun, raised the allegations of the CCP’s organ harvesting from live Falun Gong practitioners. Senator David Norris from Ireland very much hoped that the United Nations would be officially involved in the investigation: "I call on the Chinese Communist authorities to stop the ongoing organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners and respect their human rights. I also call on Ms. Navanethem Pilly, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to send a group of independent investigators to China to investigate such despicable acts."


Irish MP Ms. Maureen O'Sullivan wrote in the statement: "I would like to support the appeal by the European Falun Dafa Association to pay attention to the plight of Falun Gong practitioners in mainland China, including various human rights abuses of these practitioners. Ms. Navanethem Pilly, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, should very seriously consider the request of these gatherings. The United Nations should send a group of independent investigators to investigate this barbaric act of killing for organs."


Irish Senator Ms. Averil Power also appealed to the United Nations for an independent convoy to China to investigate the barbaric acts of organ harvesting. She wrote: "I am deeply concerned that the Chinese Communist authorities continue to detain those of faith. Meanwhile I was shocked by the report of organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners."


We cannot remain silent

Belgium Flemish MP Mr Ward Kennes said in his statement: "In the face of this crime against humanity, we can not remain silent. When the international community and the Chinese people know the truth of how the Chinese Communist regime is systematically killing Falun Gong practitioners under the huge enticement of organ trade, this dictatorship would no longer have a legal foothold."


He believes that the EU should stand together with Falun Gong practitioners: "As China's largest trading partner, the European Commission should firmly stand side by side with Falun Gong practitioners to fight for their rights, which upholds justice and conscience. So I hope that more and more people in the EU are able to stand up. I hope that one day Falun Gong practitioners are free to follow their faith, and the human rights violations in China will stop."

At 12:30 the parade started with the theme “The beauty of Falun Gong, the brutality of the persecution, and support for fellow Chinese who quit the CCP”. The European Divine Land Marching Band lead the procession with sonorous music to bring beauty and harmony, calling people to stand together to stop this thirteen-year brutal persecution.

A member of the European Falun Dafa Association said: "Coming from all over Europe, each of us lives a completely different life. We have all benefited so much from cultivation, so we came here to show the goodness of Falun Gong. But meanwhile, Falun Gong suffers brutal persecution in China, which is why we want to convey a message to the EU political leaders and people in the streets. Please help us to stop the persecution in China."


Following the band, practitioners from each country showed their support for Falun Gong. Regardless of skin colour, age or occupation, Falun Gong practitioners displayed banners of all shapes and languages to tell people: "The world needs Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance", "Falun Dafa is good".


A huge model book caught people's eyes. This book is the fundamental guide to Falun Gong practitioners’ cultivation, Zhuan Falun. The book was followed by twelve ladies dressed in ancient Chinese costumes, who conveyed beauty and goodness with beautiful music.


Falun Gong practitioners told a complete piece of history with banners. Falun Gong teaches people to be good but is subjected to terrible human rights abuses because of the jealousy of a CCP dictator. The most tragic thing of all is that Falun Gong practitioners’ organs are stolen alive for money, including their hearts, livers and kidneys.


Even though the CCP is in power now, evil will not defeat the righteous and it will eventually be eliminated by history. When the CCP is brought to justice, those Chinese who vowed under the CCP’s flag of blood to fight a lifetime for the CCP will also have to face justice along with the CCP’s demise. 


Therefore the Falun Gong practitioners who took part in the rally and the parade compassionately told all Chinese people to renounce the CCP and its affiliated organizations as soon as possible, erase the oath sworn without knowing the truth, work together to stop the persecution, and safeguard basic human morality.


Watching the parade, a passer-by Antonio Crane said: "I was deeply touched by so many people’s pursuit of a wisdom, which has nothing to do with politics. But the CCP regime made it political. I am outraged."


The parade lasted two hours and ended at Place de la Monnaie in the centre of Brussels.