Denmark: As the Persecution of Falun Gong Enters its 15th Year, Peaceful Resistance Continues

Nearly a thousand Falun Gong practitioners and supporters from all over Europe gathered at the Parliament Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, on the morning on July 20, 2013, to condemn 14 years of persecution in China. They held a rally and a grand march to showcase the beauty of Falun Gong and raise awareness of the Chinese communist regime's gross violation of human rights, including organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners.

After nearly 100 million people in China took up the practice of Falun Gong, exceeding the number of Communist Party members, the regime launched a vicious campaign to eradicate the peaceful meditation practice. Since July 20, 1999, hundreds of thousands of practitioners have been detained in China's forced labour camps and prisons, and thousands have been tortured and killed for their faith.

Over the past 14 years, practitioners in Europe and all around the world have held various events to peacefully resist the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong in China, urging the international community to get involved and help stop human rights abuses of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Practitioners in Denmark began the day by doing the Falun Gong exercises together. As the soothing music accompanying their movements spread from the speakers, many passersby stopped by to learn about the practice and sign a petition to call for the end of the persecution in China.

Danish members of public sign the petition to support Falun Gong and condemn the Chinese regime's persecution.	Students stop by the event to learn about Falun Gong, as practitioners demonstrate the exercises.

Public Support
The events in Copenhagen drew wide public attention. Many Danish citizens and tourists were shocked to learn of the Chinese regime's brutality against Falun Gong practitioners, and most gladly signed the petition to condemn the persecution and organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners.

Among the viewers were many Chinese tourists. They eagerly observed the scene, taking pictures and videos to share with their families and friends back home.

Ms. AnitaVilladsen, seen here next to practitioners holding wreaths to honour those killed by the Chinese regime, signed the petition to condemn the persecution.	Writer Yang Guang (right) commended the Falun Gong practitioners' spirit.

Ms. AnitaVilladsen signed the petition to call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

“People should do this,” she said. “Perhaps we won't see the result immediately, but we must do it anyway. There will come a day when we will see the result.”

Upon learning of the regime's horrid crime of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners for profit, another Danish citizen also signed the petition right away.

Writer Yang Guang, who does not practise Falun Gong, decided to support practitioners' efforts by holding a poster that said, “The CCP never tells the truth but only lies. Its words must be understood in reverse.”

"I would like to join any event as long as it relates to exposing the CCP's darkness, corruption, live organ harvesting, persecution of Falun Gong, and whatever else they've done to harm Chinese People,” said Mr. Yang. “I think it is a thing one must do as a person with righteous thought.”

“Over the years, without fearing about the CCP's persecution, Falun Gong has carried out a perseverant effort against it all around the world, which is commendable, and also demonstrate the power of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance. We must speak out. I believe that our protesting must be able to overcome the CCP rogue group.”

“Without the Communist Party in China, a new China can be born,” he added.

Having read the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, which exposes in detail the crimes committed by the regime throughout history, Mr. Yang noted that people should not harbor illusions about the Communist Party, as it cannot be good.

Anyone Can Practise Falun Gong
Practitioners from all walks of life participated in the events in Denmark, sharing their stories of how they have personally benefited from the practice.

Swedish practitioner Anders said the reason he participated in the grand march was to "to let more people know about the CCP 's persecution of Falun Gong.” Noting that Copenhagen is a big city with many Chinese tourists, he expressed hope that Chinese people will see the beauty of Falun Gong and come to realize that people of all nationalities all over the world are benefiting from the practice.

“I hope that Chinese people can understand Falun Gong through their own observation and reading, rather than blindly listening to the CCP's defaming propaganda. They should think for themselves to see who, in the end, is right and who is wrong,” he said.

Vietnamese practitioners Pham and Hoomg at the grand march.	German Falun Gong practitioners Dima (right) and Stephan, members of the European Divine Land Marching Band.

Many Vietnamese practitioners currently living in Europe also joined the march. Most of them were new practitioners, owing to the fact that the number of Falun Gong practitioners in Vietnam has greatly increased in recent years.

Pham started to practise Falun Gong 16 months ago. Before practising Falun Gong, he was in poor health. After seeing other Vietnamese people benefiting both physically and mentally from the practice, he decided to give Falun Gong a try.

"If there is anything physically uncomfortable, doing the Falun Gong exercise can immediately help," he said from his experience.

Hoomg came to Copenhagen with Pham. He said the reason they came was "to tell the people around the world about the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong."

German Falun Gong practitioners Dima and Stephan joined the grand march as members of the European Divine Land Marching Band, which is composed of Falun Gong practitioners. They have travelled with the band all across Europe to showcase the beauty of Falun Gong and expose the persecution in China.

"We want to show people here the beauty of Falun Gong, and also to bring focus to China's human rights issues. Falun Gong practitioners [in China] have suffered the persecution for 14 years. We would like the people in Copenhagen to pay attention to this issue," said Dima.

Dima learned about Falun Gong from his father and began to practice at the end of 2005. He has benefited both physically and mentally from the practice and hoped that more people could experience the same.

Dima especially hoped that Chinese people who've been deceived by the communist regime's slander and lies could come to understand the truth about Falun Gong. “[They] should not just listen to the CCP's propaganda,” he said. “If they go abroad, they should get more objective information to understand what Falun Gong really is.”

Stephan started to practice Falun Gong three years ago because he liked the idea of following Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the guiding principles of Falun Gong. One and a half years ago, he joined the European Divine Land Marching Band.

Not only does he enjoy playing the music, said Stephan, but more importantly, he feels fortunate to be able to spread the beauty of Falun Gong and raise awareness about the persecution in China.