Finnish People Support Falun Gong during Luo Gan's Visit

Practitioners went to Rovaniemi in Lapland on the day that Luo Gan was due to visit. Luo Gan is directly responsible for persecuting Dafa practitioners and is the driving force behind many of the heinous crimes committed against Falun Dafa practitioners in China. It was wonderful that so many practitioners went to Rovaniemi and let the people of Lapland know about Falun Dafa and Luo Gan’s crimes.

In the morning, many practitioners went to the centre of Rovaniemi. Some also went to Santa Claus Village, which Luo Gan would visit later that day. At the square, people curiously looking at practitioners’ exercise demonstration. During this time, practitioners handed out flyers and had banners reading “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance”, “Falun Gong” and “Luo Gan, a Gestapo-like leader, is visiting Finland". Another banner informed people about the lawsuits against Jiang Zemin. In their leaflets, practitioners also informed people about the crimes of Luo Gan.

Practitioners also told people about the terrible persecution in China. An elderly man approached practitioners several times wanting to know more about the persecution in China. He said; “We Finnish people think there must be something wrong in China because they (the regime) persecute Falun Gong”. He continued: “For sure one day the righteous will win.” Before leaving he shook practitioners’ hands and said “God Bless You”!

In the afternoon, practitioners went to the airport and held a peaceful demonstration as Luo Gan arrived in Rovaniemi. A journalist and a photographer from one of the largest newspapers came to Lapland to interview us. The next day there was a large article on the first page in one of Lapland’s largest newspapers.

In the evening, some of the practitioners again went to the centre of Rovaniemi. Many young people were at the square, watching with interest as we practised the exercises. One young boy passed by on his bicycle, talked first with a Finnish practitioner and then shouted with a big smile; “Good luck and courage to you!” I smiled and waved at him, touched by his understanding and encouragement. Some girls had been giggling and looking curiously at us at first when watching the Falun Gong standing exercises, before the two of them built up the courage to try the meditation with some Chinese practitioners. Some other girls came to us ask questions. Practitioners told them about the positive effects on health that Falun Gong has and how the practise harmonises body and mind. One girl said she was very interested and would go and try the practice in Helsinki where she lives

The next morning some practitioners went to see the Chief of Police to tell him about Falun Gong and to give him “The 2003 Falun Gong Report”, detailing cases of persecution in China. Practitioners told him why it was so important to be in Rovaniemi during Luo Gan’s visit, and that even western people have been subjected to this persecution. Practitioners thanked the police for their help. The Police chief was very friendly and said he understood the peaceful nature of Falun Gong.

Practitioners also went to the City hall and met with the secretary of the Mayor. She did not know much about Falun Gong, so practitioners told her about Dafa, as well as the cruel persecution in China and the crimes of Luo Gan. Practitioners then thanked the City of Rovaniemi for helping them and gave her some materials about Falun Gong. She said the Mayor would have been happy to meet us, but he was travelling.

On the way back to the train station practitioners handed out all of their flyers and also talked with some people. After practitioners told one elderly man that “We in Falun Gong believe in the principles of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance”. He said; “Oh Yes, he said, we have to believe in them!”