Japan: Practitioners Explain the Facts of Falun Gong to Several Hundred Delegates from Three Northeast Provinces of China

From March 30 to 31, 2004, the Japan China Economic Collaboration Conference was held in Sendai, the largest city in Northeast Japan. A delegation of 700 people from northeast’s three provinces and Inner Mongolia of China attended the event. These three provinces of China are areas where the persecution of Falun Gong is most brutal. Among 920 documented deaths of Falun Gong practitioners, 147 were in Heilongjiang Province, 118 in Jilin and 100 in Liaoning province. Among the delegates, there were people participating in the persecution. About 40 Falun Gong practitioners gathered in Sendai and took advantage of this opportunity to clarify the truth and expose the persecution.

Falun Gong banners at the side of the road

On March 29, before the delegation arrived, some practitioners practiced the Falun Gong exercises in a renowned park, posted banners worded "Let's End the Persecution of Falun Gong", "Global Trial of Jiang Zemin", and "Falun Dafa is Great", and distributed truth-clarification materials. Some practitioners went to hotels where the delegates resided. The practitioners handed over flyers and other literature and explained the facts when they met delegates on streets and in hotels. In the evening, many delegates arrived. The practitioners waited in front of the hotels and distributed literature. Some practitioners explained the facts in lobby while chatting with the delegates. Some visited guest rooms and left literature if the guests were not in.

The conference started on March 30. In the early morning, the practitioners gathered in West Park, nearest to and beside the only way to the conference venue. The practitioners held banners saying "Falun Dafa is Great", "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance", and "Global Trial of Jiang Zemin". When the delegation passed the park, the practitioners waved hands to greet them and spoke out, "Welcome to Japan, Falun Dafa is great." The practitioners lined up in several rows and practiced the exercises. After the conference started, some practitioners entered the exhibition hall and explained the facts of Falun Gong. Practitioners outside the hall waited beside street and nearby interesting sites and clarified the truth to Chinese delegates during their break time.

After learning that there would be a reception in a restaurant, the practitioners rushed there and practiced the exercises in a park beside the restaurant. Some practitioners distributed flyers to the delegates and spoke out, "Overseas Falun Gong practitioners welcome you to know the facts of Falun Gong. Please remember 'Falun Dafa is great' and 'Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance'".

Due to interference from Chinese delegation, police did not allow the practitioners to distribute flyers and hold banners. The practitioners then sang loudly the songs 'Falun Dafa is Great" and "Coming for You". Hearing the song, some delegates stopped to ask for truth-clarification literature and some listened attentively.

Dalian City Mayor Xia Deren, who participated in persecution of Falun Gong, attended the conference and had a press conference in a restaurant on March 29. As we were not allowed to join the press conference, several practitioners took advantage of flower delivering, wrote on cards "Immediately stop persecuting Falun Gong, otherwise heaven’s principle will punish you and you will receive trial.", and asked service staff to hand over the flowers to Xia. After the press conference, Xia came out along with a group of people around him. Several practitioners stepped forward, boarded on the same elevator with him and told him face to face, "Stop persecuting Falun Gong. We have already filed a lawsuit in USA and found you guilty." His party listened too in silence. In the exhibition on March 30, some practitioners met him again and advised him to stop persecuting Falun Gong and think it over for his future.

Many people liked to listen to our truth-clarification, accept our literature, and speak some positive words for Falun Gong. Some accepted the literature and expressed appreciation. Some people who did not understand us asked us whether we received fund for participating in the event. We told them that we did not receive any funds from anyone and that all literature was prepared and paid by us to help them understand the facts and hope they will tell their friends and family.

Such opportunities to clarify the truth are rarely found and every practitioner paid attention to it. Some came from work after asking for leave. Some housewives came after arranging house work and asking relatives to take care of their kids. Some came with their young children. A senior couple prepared food for us.

The conference in Sendai ended on March 31 and majority of the delegation will tour Tokyo. Practitioners there will continue clarify the truth to the delegates and have them understand more before return China.