The Chinese Media in Canada Pays Attention to "April 25th Appeal" Activities Held by Falun Gong Practitioners

On the fifth anniversary of the "April 25th Appeal" event, Falun Gong practitioners in Toronto, Canada held a series of activities themed ""Revealing the Truth Behind April 25th, Bring Jiang Zemin to Justice." The local Chinese media reported on the activities. The practitioners held a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese consulate in Toronto on April 24, and on April 25 they had a car parade and other activities.

The Chinese media pays attention to the "April 25th Appeal" activities

Around 10:00 a.m. on April the 25th, New Age Chinese TV interviewed Falun Gong practitioners despite the rain and took photographs of the parade.

The parade started around 2:00 p.m. with more than 60 decorated vehicles making up the bulk of the group. The motorcade first drove around the downtown area and Chinese communities for more than one hour. Banners reading "Bring Jiang Zemin to Justice;" "Stop the Persecution;" "End the Lies" and "Falun Dafa is Good" hung from the sides of the vehicles. Yellow flags and colourful balloons floated above the cars and made the motorcade stand out under the gray sky.

After 3:00 p.m., the motorcade went to Scarborough, Richmond Hill, Moncton, Mississagau and other cities. These small, densely populated cities include lots of Chinese residents. Most of the ancestors of these Chinese residents in those areas had moved to Canada from Hong Kong. These people usually don't have the opportunity to run into a Falun Gong practitioner or read information about Falun Dafa. The people, many of them friendly, read the banners. Some waved at the practitioners.

Afterwards, New Age Chinese TV aired a positive report on the parade, which stated the cause of "April 25th Appeal" and the progress of lawsuits against Jiang Zemin. The reporter faithfully quoted Falun Gong practitioners' words and also showed photos of large banners attached to the cars. Radio Free Asia also participated in the two-day activity and filed positive reports.

Statement from an "April 25th Appeal" witness

Ms. Wang was a witness of the "April 25 Appeal," and she also participated in the candle vigil and the parade. Ms. Wang told a Minghui reporter what she saw during the "April 25th Appeal."

She said on April the 25th of 1999, Premier Zhu Rongji represented the government and gave Falun Gong practitioners a satisfactory response. The practitioners left peacefully and didn't leave a single piece of garbage and even picked up cigarette butts the police had left. During the appeal, Falun Gong practitioners displayed a high degree of self-discipline and were always considerate of other people.

Never in her wildest dreams did Ms Wang expect Jiang's group to twist Falun Gong practitioners' good intentions, falsely claiming that "the group attacked Zhongnanhai." Jiang's political group later used the appeal as an excuse to persecute Falun Gong.

Ms. Wang saw Premier Zhu Rongji and heard his response. She believes the persecution of Falun Gong is the sole intention of Jiang and his accomplices, while the majority of Chinese government officials oppose this persecution and they know Falun Gong benefits the society and the people.

According to statistics, at least 958 Falun Gong practitioners have been tortured to death during the last five years. Jiang's group used and is using the government machinery to attack Falun Gong. They staged the "Self-immolation" in Tiananmen Square to incite hatred against Falun Gong. Jiang's group's actions have caused immeasurable loss to the Chinese society and tremendous harm to the Chinese people. If the persecution is not ended as soon as possible, it will affect the future of the Chinese people.

Ms. Wang also mentioned that various Falun Gong practitioners have filed lawsuits against Jiang Zemin in several countries including Canada, Germany, and Belgium, and they have accused the main perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity and torture. Ms. Wang said the persecution should stop immediately and the world should bring Jiang Zemin to justice.

Ms. Wang continued that, since the weather was not at its best in Toronto at the fifth anniversary of the "April 25th Appeal," it caused inconveniences for the parade and other activities and was also the reason for postponement of the mock trial. Falun Gong practitioners in Toronto will nevertheless continue to expose the Jiang group's crimes and try these people in the court of morality and in the court of people's hearts. The historic appeal that took place five years ago, along with Falun Gong practitioners' great compassion and tolerance, will be forever remembered in the history as well as in people's hearts.