Anti-Torture Exhibits Send Shock Waves through South Africa

On the afternoon of July the 2nd and 3rd 2004, Falun Gong practitioners set up an anti-torture exhibition using live models in Johannesburg's Chinatown and at Church Square in the capital city of Pretoria, South Africa. They held a series of activities to expose the Jiang group's crimes against Falun Gong and clarify the facts about Falun Gong to the South African people.

Among the displays was a banner that read, "This is taking place in China right now..." as well as photos of torture victims. Four torture methods were demonstrated: Tiger Bench, bamboo stick under the fingernails, being held in a metal cage and being hung up. A large banner reading, "Falun Dafa is Good" was placed on one side of the exhibit. Different practitioners demonstrated the five sets of Dafa exercises. Their peacefulness sharply contrast with the torture scenes.

When the practitioners were preparing for this activity, two security officers from Chinatown arrived and said to the practitioners that their supervisor did not want them holding an activity there. The practitioners told them, "We wish to hold an anti-torture exhibit" and showed them pictures of the torture methods. The security officers immediately changed their attitude and called their supervisor. The answer, to hold this exhibit, was then "yes."

One practitioner said to the security officers, "Justice must be upheld. If all of us keep silent in the face of evildoings, the evil will grow more rampant." The security officers nodded in agreement, and volunteered to stay and keep order at the exhibit until the activity was over. Another security officer said he wanted to learn Falun Gong.

The torture demonstration attracted batches of passersby stopping to watch. The Falun Gong practitioners who were distributing materials continuously explained the truth of the persecution of Falun Gong that is happening in China.

A Chinese couple arrived. The husband said, "That's impossible! impossible...!" When a practitioner told him about the tortures used on Falun Gong practitioners in China he said, "the Party is horrible! It's so brutal!"

A Western woman asked the practitioners, "What's really happening in China? Tell me! I was planning to go to Mainland China in a few days. Should I cancel the trip?" When she learned about the persecution, she said, "How horrific!"

A Western man asked the practitioners for truth clarification materials and earnestly asked where he could find Falun Gong practitioners in South Africa, and where to buy T shirts with the words Falun Dafa and Truth-Compassion-Tolerance on them. When the practitioners gave him the information he said, "I want to find practitioners in South Africa and I want to support Falun Gong!" He said he also learned that China's vice president Zeng Qinghong, had signed an economic cooperation agreement(s) with some African countries during his visit, and that these countries had supported China by taking a no-action motion at the United Nations to stop a resolution condemning China's human rights violations. This man said, "I realized after seeing the torture exhibit that the Chinese leaders are making deals to avoid condemnation. I support Falun Gong and Truth-Compassion-Tolerance."

Several Chinese media outlets took photographs and interviewed the practitioners.

The following Sunday, the practitioners went to Church Square to hold another anti-torture exhibit. This time the sky was clear and the temperature was warm, despite the African winter season. People looked at the pictures and the practitioners with sympathy, confusion, fear and uneasiness. When I demonstrated the "Tiger Bench" and "Hang-up," many people of different races and genders walked up to me and said, "Are you in pain?" "Are you OK?" "Can I help you with something?" "Why do they [Jiang's group] treat you like this?" They forgot this was a demonstration and were afraid that we would suffer real pain. They sincerely hoped that the persecution and torture would end immediately.

On the other side of the exhibit, a practitioner wearing a yellow sweater was demonstrating the five sets of Falun Gong exercises. Many South Africans could not understand why Jiang and Zeng's group would fanatically persecute such a peaceful and wonderful practice. Many people asked to learn Falun Gong on the spot.

We will never forget the kindness of the South Africans who showed their concern and support for their fellow human beings.

When the exhibit ended at 5:00 p.m., a Caucasian man walked up to us and said, "You have done a great job! Thank you for informing us about all of this!"