Austria: Five Years' Brutal and Bloody Persecution, Five Years' Peaceful and Unremitting Appeal

On 17th of July, 2004，three days to the fifth year of the persecution against Falun Gong in China, practitioners from Austria and southern Germany held activities in Salzburg to let more people know about the brutal persecution, and call for help to stop it as soon as possible.

Falun Gong exercise demonstration

Salzburg is situated in a level basin on both sides of the Salzach River, near the northern foothills of the Alps and the Bavarian German border. The historic centre of the city, as the birthplace of Mozart, attracts large numbers of tourists from around the world every year. This year, in the annual international renowned Salzburg Festival, Falun Gong activities turned to be a focus on the sunny day of 17th of July.

Falun Gong practitioners from Austria and southern Germany held a series of activities including a rally, information board exhibition, choir performance, parade, and reconstruction of torture methods used to persecute Falun Gong practitioners in China.

The banners read “Help us to stop the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China”, “Bring Jiang to Justice”, “Stop the genocide of Falun Gong” and were displayed during the rally. In the information board exhibition, entitled 'The Path of Falun Dafa', people could learn about the introduction of Falun Gong, see pictures of the peaceful exercises, and photos of Falun Gong practitioners who have died from torture and abuse in China. Hundreds of these innocent people, men, women, the young, the old, and even children, lost their lives in this brutal persecution because they believed in Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance and refused to give up their belief in these principles. Reading their stories, many people’s eyes were blurred by tears.

The Austrian Choir sang a song called “I Come for you”. Their performance won the applause of the audience and shocked many passing Chinese tourists. Andhers, an environment engineer, also sang a song named “See Through the Lies” with other two practitioners from Vienna. He wrote the song to remind people that it is the fifth year since the persecution of Falun Gong began in China. Falun Gong practitioners and called for an end to the brutal persecution. They sang the song with pure hearts filled with compassion and, though not professional musicians, they won much applause after their performance.

Austrian Choir sang “I Come for you”, Anders sang the song “See through the lies”

The presenter said, “The brutal persecution has being going on for nearly five years, hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners lost their lives due to torture and abuse. What really shocked us and therefore we would let you know, is that in this 21st Century, in the modern civilised world, torture including the tiger bench, inserting bamboo sticks, being held in a solitary confinement, hanging and electric baton shocks, are still widely adopted in China to force Falun Gong practitioners recant their belief. Such acts would be unacceptable in our modern civilised society.”

Torture reconstruction, solitary confinement and hanging

Peaceful and calm music and exercises made a strong contrast with the torture reconstruction, and shocked the onlookers.

“Tell the policemen, stop beating the practitioner” some bystanders said.

“Why are they beating you? Are you really bleeding?” A little girl walked up to the scene and asked.

“Stop, stop the abuse!” Some people waved their fists and shouted.

Because the weather was very hot, a policeman, who is responsible for maintaining order in the rally, was concerned with the health of the practitioner who acted the part of the victim in the iron confinement during the torture reconstruction. He kept suggesting that the practitioner should have a short rest, while the practitioner would like to go on. Finally he spoke to the actor seriously and asked him to rest for a while, and the practitioner took his kind advice with pleasure.

Falun Gong practitioner parade through Salzburg Children practitioners in the parade

Practitioners also marched through the busy city centre in Salzburg. Many people took leaflets and other materials to read after they saw the peaceful parade with horrified torture scene. After the parade, practitioners returned to the old market square and continued their activities.

“The moment I sat in the iron confinement, I really knew what practitioners in China have suffered and I could not hold back my tears" said a practitioner who played the part of a victim said. “For two hours I sat inside, It felt so painful and I nearly broke down. Can you imagine how practitioners felt when they were tortured day by day? I even dare not imagine that. What is more, such brutal persecution is covered up by propaganda and a media blockade. Today I played the part of a victim in this reconstruction, I hope that more people can understand how brutal the persecution is.”

“I had to borrow a pair of sunglasses to play my part, otherwise, my eyes would tell the audience that I am a person of peace. In this sense, I am not a qualified actor" said Daniel, who played the part of a policeman. “The sunglasses also prevented people from seeing my tears during the act.”

“Playing the policeman also imprinted on my mind that the brutal persecution is still going on in China, and Falun Gong practitioners are still suffering from all kinds of torture in labour camps or detention centres. Considering that, I could not hold my tears back. I hope our activity can let more people know about this brutal persecution and I do also hope that together we can bring it to an end as soon as possible.”

The activity did work well and many tourists learnt about the persecution for the first time. Shocked and outraged, they asked how they could provide more help. After they heard that Jiang has been sued by Falun Gong practitioners in several countries, they signed the petitions without any hesitation and said, “We admire your courage, and Jiang should be brought to justice. We believe that you will win in the end!”