April 25, 2021, was the 22nd anniversary of a peaceful appeal by Falun Dafa practitioners in Beijing in 1999. Practitioners in Switzerland held activities in Bern, Zurich, and Geneva to mark the occasion.
Rally and Exercise Demonstration
Practitioners held a press conference at 10 a.m. on April 24 in front of the Chinese Embassy in Bern and read a statement to the Chinese authorities.
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| Practitioners peacefully rally at Kornhausplatz in Bern. |
The letter recounted the peaceful appeal 22 years ago. After several practitioners were illegally arrested in Tianjin, about 10,000 practitioners went to the State Appeals Office in Beijing on April 25, 1999, to request their release. Appealing to government officials is a basic right guaranteed by the Chinese Constitution. That entire day, practitioners stood quietly. They did not shout slogans, disrupt traffic, or speak loudly. Before they left, they cleaned the entire area, even removing the cigarette butts discarded by police officers.
The letter expressed the hope that Chinese officials can break away from the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) lies. By embracing traditional values, rejecting the CCP, and supporting innocent practitioners, they will have a better future.
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| Practitioners peacefully rally at Kornhausplatz in Bern. |
In the afternoon, practitioners gathered at Kornhausplatz, a plaza in the Old City of Bern. They demonstrated the exercises and introduced the practice to the public. They also explained how practitioners have been mistreated in China for their belief since July 1999, including being arrested, detained, imprisoned, tortured, and having their organs harvested by force.
Due to the improved pandemic situation, some restrictions on the stay-at-home policy in Switzerland have been lifted. Several restaurants and other facilities in Bern are now open. People came out to enjoy the warm weather and several accepted materials. Many people signed the petition calling to stop the persecution in China.
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| Practitioners demonstrate the exercises. |
On the same day, practitioners also went to the Chinese Consulate at Zurich to raise awareness of the persecution in China. Besides demonstrating the exercises, they explained to passersby how practitioners in China are mistreated simply for doing the exercises and being good citizens by following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Yoga Instructor: Everyone Needs to Know This
Jojo, a Yoga instructor, talked with practitioners for a long time after signing the petition. This was the first time she had heard about Falun Dafa, and she liked it very much. She said, “It's important to keep one's mind and body balanced. This not only helps oneself but also benefits others.”
She was indignant when she heard about the 20-year-long persecution that practitioners have endured and said, “Such harm and violation of people's dignity can no longer continue.” She was shocked to learn about the state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting from living practitioners in China. “Where will this lead us?! It is too frightening!” she exclaimed.
She feels the persecution affects all of us, and that is why everyone needs to know what’s going on in China. This would help not only Falun Dafa practitioners but also society. “We are like one big family. When someone gets hurt or is ignored, every one of us will be harmed in the end,” she explained. “We all need to do something and stop those vicious people.”
“The CCP not only kills people but also destroys civilization,” she continued. She was glad practitioners held activities and shared the information with the community. Before she left, Jojo wished them well.
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| Signing a petition to end the persecution. |
Lawyer: Organ Harvesting is a Hideous Crime
A lawyer said she saw practitioners’ activities when she traveled in Taiwan, and she also read about it. When she saw practitioners raising awareness in Switzerland, she immediately signed the petition. She said she hopes this will help end the persecution in China, “I just cannot understand the suppression in China – these practitioners do not bother anyone.” She said, “The forced organ harvesting is a hideous crime.”
She was impressed by the gentle exercises and said Falun Dafa is very good and she plans to look into it.
Paul, a teacher, had practiced a qigong in the past. He stopped to talk with practitioners and signed the petition. He said, “I could feel positive energy here. I really like it.”
He hopes these signatures will generate more support and improve the situation in China. “I hope to see more events like this,” he added.
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| Practitioners demonstrate the exercises in Zurich on April 24, 2021. | Practitioners demonstrate the exercises at the Rose Garden in Bern on April 24, 2021. |
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