Germany: A Peaceful Appeal Held in Munich to Commemorate the 5th Anniversary of "4.25"

On April the 24th 2004, Falun Gong practitioners from southern Germany held a series of activities to commemorate 4.25 in Karlsplatz square, Munich.

Five years ago, on April the 25th, under great pressure and interference and after being arrested with no place to appeal, Falun Gong practitioners peacefully appealed to the State Department Appeals Office, which is beside the Zhongnanhai government compound. More than ten thousand people stood on the street quietly. After the State Department premier received the representatives and understood the situation he issued instructions. The practitioners arrested in Tianjin were released and matters were solved to everyone’s satisfaction; practitioners left quietly and peacefully.

4.25 is a rational, peaceful progressive symbol and has a historical meaning. The trustful, tolerant, forbearing, self-controlled Falun Gong practitioners surprised the international community. However, on July the 20th of the same year, the Jiang group suddenly unleashed the persecution of Falun Gong, using the national mass media to slander Falun Gong. The whole world was bombarded with monstrous lies and there began the unprecedented most brutal persecution of Falun Gong.

Over this five year period, Falun Gong practitioners in China and all over the world have strived untiringly to continuously express the truth of Falun Gong to the Chinese people, as well as people all over the world, hoping everyone can examine 4.25 again. This provides a chance to the Chinese government and its people to understand the true meaning of “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance”, and join people in their efforts to stop this brutal persecution which is based on lies.

The gathering in Munich was not only for commemorating the 5th anniversary of 4.25. Practitioners hung a banner with the words “Bring Jiang XX, Luo Gan, Liu Jing, Zhou Yongkang to justice.” Petition forms for people to express their support for “bringing Jiang XX to justice” were placed on the information desk. In front of the information desk, a big display board read, “Please support Falun Gong practitioners in morality and justice; please sign the petition to “bring Jiang XX to justice”.” So many people signed the petition forms that practitioners soon ran out.

During this period of time, two people raised questions about the Falun symbol, and the policemen who understood the truth actively explained the meaning of the Falun symbol to them. Lots of tourists saw the activity and there was no lack of tourists from China. Many of them took the materials and many people took pictures with practitioners posing under the Falun Dafa symbol.