Radio Gothenburg [Sweden] interviews Practitioners Outside Chinese consulate

Gothenburg, Sweden
20 August 2001

Reporter

Falun Gong practitioners have gathered here today, outside the Chinese consulate in Gothenburg, to protest against China’s treatment of Falun Gong practitioners. At the moment, there are 130 people being held in a labour camp in China because they are active in the movement…And the demonstrators outside the Chinese consulate, plan to continue their protest until they are released. They have permission to demonstrate until October. One of the demonstrators is RJ K who lives in Sweden, but was born in China.
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R J K, Falun Gong practitioner

Yes it’s trying, I can only say from my heart how it feels... it really hurts, in my heart. Previously, I have always been proud of the fact that I am Chinese, and that we Chinese have such a wonderful culture and everything, but now when I think about what they are doing to people... to practitioners there in China… many innocent people are dying as a result of their faith. They believe in Truth, Compassion, Forbearance. I just feel pain in my heart. I am ashamed of the regime.

Reporter

We are standing outside the Chinese consulate here, how does it feel?

R J K, Falun Gong practitioner

It´s important! This is what we can do, we are doing as much as we can to make more people understand what is really happening in China. The truth will be revealed. There are people who are dying. We can´t just watch, without doing anything, while other people are dying. Even if no one at the consulate comes out to speak to us, it is, nevertheless, very important for us to be here.

Reporter

Why is this so important for you?

AE, Falun Gong practitioner

Because I myself follow these principles: Truth, Compassion, Benevolence. I really feel it is a terrible wrongdoing that people are being killed as a result of their following such good principles.

Reporter

AE is one of the protesters outside the Chinese consulate. He himself practises Falun Gong. Falun Gong is a kind of meditation which consists partly of sedentary positions and partly of a series of slow movements. The movement [Falun Gong] is considered dangerous in China, and its followers are persecuted, imprisoned and tortured by the Chinese regime. The most likely reason for why they are doing this, is that the movement has become a mass-movement in China; and that in itself is seen as a threat against the leadership…

Reporter

Can one be safe, can one feel secure as a Falun Gong practitioner in other parts of the world? Is it only in China that it is dangerous to be a Falun Gong practitioner?

AE, Falun Gong practitioner

It is only in China that it is prohibited. It is practised in about forty countries. But the Chinese consulates and embassies have harassed Falun Gong practitioners in other countries; in the United States, among others. On occasion, they have even started to assault practitioners. I hope that the surrounding world reacts quickly in order to stop this persecution.