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Practitioner Lisa accepting interviews
Before setting off, Sydney practitioners held a brief press conference in front of the Chinese Consulate. One of the four practitioners participating in the rescue trip, Lisa said in her speech, "To rescue my younger sister, Ms. Tang Wenyi and other Falun Gong practitioners who are persecuted in China, fellow practitioners held hunger strike in front of the Chinese Consulate. They also walked on foot thousands of kilometres under the baking sun from Sydney to Brisbane to raise the awareness..... Unfortunately, Jiang Zemin's effort in persecuting Falun Gong has never been relaxed. At present, lawsuits against Jiang have been filed in courts. Under the pressure from the public voice over the world, my younger sister was finally freed on August 23. However, in the same month, an Australian citizen and resident of Melbourne, Mr. Ouyang Yu's brother lost his life in China's Hubei Province as a result of the persecution. At present, there are still more than a dozen Australian citizens' family members illegally imprisoned in China's jails. To rescue our family members and to call for an end to the persecution, today, we once again embark an SOS urgent rescue car trip."
Another practitioner Helen displayed one of her younger sister's photos which evidently showed wounds on her body after she was brutally beaten up. Helen introduced, that last year, she and her younger sister who did not practise Falun Gong went to visit Tiananmen Square. Her sister simply unintentionally lift her arms, she was immediately arrested by more than 10 police officers. When Helen went up to argue with the policemen, she was arrested as well. While she was detained in the detention centre, she was interrogated and tortured. After 9-hour detention, she was released. Her request of meeting with Australian Consul was refused.
Participants of the car tour also includes a western practitioner who had been to China in November 2001 and went to Tiananmen Square to peacefully appeal for Falun Gong. She personally experienced the nightmare-like persecution encountered by Falun Gong practitioners in China. She said that over the past four years, Falun Gong practitioners' appeals received supportive response from all circles in Australian society. Mr. Anthony Albanese, the representative of her district set up a petition signing desk in front of the Parliament. More than 120,000 petition signatures have been received and more are continuously coming.
On the afternoon, the car tour team arrived at a small town, Mittagong. Together with local practitioners, they practised the exercises and introduced Dafa to the local people. A westerner showed his great interest in learning Falun Dafa. In the evening, he went to a Mittagong practitioner's home to join the Fa-study [principles and teachings of Falun Gong contained in the book Zhuan Falun]. At 6 am the next morning, he joined the group practise in a park.
Because Mittagong practitioners contacted media in advance, when the car tour team reached the small town, local newspapers' reporters already waited there. Reporters took many photos and attentively listened to practitioners' relating the persecution facts as well as the progress in suing Jiang.
Helen, who participated in the SOS rescue walk two years ago, sighed with emotion, "Two years ago, we also took this route. At that time, black clouds covered the sky and few people understood about the facts of the persecution. Today, when I once again took this route, I felt very familiar with it. Two years have past, and now the chief perpetrator is sued in many countries. I have more confidence to persist until the end."
In a small city Yass, practitioners obtained local government's approval to hold group practise and to introduce Falun Gong at the Memory Hall in downtown area. A lady said, "It is great that you come here. I support your effort in calling for justice. But that is not enough for me. I hope that I can practise with you everyday." Practitioners sent truth-clarifying materials to many shops and the shop owners were very happy to receive them.
After passing Yass, the rest stops were places that practitioners had seldom visited before. Most people never heard about Falun Dafa. But in these places, people are all very pure and simple. On Saturday, practitioners arrived at Gundagai. They distributed truth-clarifying materials door to door. After seeing the posters on our cars, a road construction worker came toward us and said, "You are doing a great thing!" When we distributed the materials, a elderly lady said, "I hope that I can do something for you."
Practitioner went to the Gundagai Museum and asked if they could leave some literature there. The warm-hearted staff took the pamphlets and put them at the most eye-catching place.
Practitioner Lisa expressed that this car tour provided a good opportunity to improve Xinxing (heart nature). Before they set off, they encountered some interference. When they started off, high wind blew strongly. Practitioners encouraged each other and they were not moved by the bad weather. During their car trip, practitioners studied the Fa, sent forth righteous thoughts and practised the exercises every morning and evening. Every practitioner was doing several different things.
The rescue car tour team will arrive at Melbourne next Friday, September 12.
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