Czech Republic: Introducing Falun Dafa and Exposing the Persecution in the Cities of Northern Moravia

City of Opava

On Monday the 2nd of August, practitioners of Falun Gong from the Czech Republic visited the ancient city of Opava where they began their six-day tour of Northern Moravia to let people know about Falun Gong and to tell them about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China by Jiang Zemin.

The peaceful and friendly atmosphere of Opava made it easy to tell people about the persecution. People in the streets were very interested to learn more and many wanted to join the call to stop the persecution and signed the petition. Several people wanted to learn the exercises immediately, both adults and children. They started to learn the exercises and then helped to distribute leaflets.

One lady stopped and said, "I could hear your music from far away and I had a feeling that this music is very healing." Then she wanted to know where she could get the music tape from. During their eight hour stay in Opava, practitioners heard many expressions of sympathy and support. Some people simply could not understand why such a peaceful practice is persecuted so brutally and there were others who expressed their indignation when they learned about the events taking place in China.

City of Ostrava

In Ostrava, practitioners found a good place in the middle of the town's busy main square. First thing in the morning, the editor of the county paper and her photographer came to the square to interview practitioners and to find out as much as they could about the purpose of their visit to Ostrava. Their article appeared the next morning, revealing a lot of important information about the persecution and advising readers to to sign the Internet petition on www.falungong.cz.

As in other cities people were interested to learn the exercises. People came to learn them and the afternoon rain did not stop the teaching. Umbrellas appeared and everyone continued to give out leaflets.

Cities of Trinec and Novy Jicin

In these two cities many people came to sign the petitions. Small groups gathered around our table offering support for practitioners' activity. The Vice-Mayor of Novy Jicin came to tell us that he visited our website and fully supported our action in his city. In this industrial city, people who only knew scant information from the media about the supposed economic expansion in China simply could not believe the facts of the persecution. One gentleman looked over the pictures of thousands of people practising Falun Gong in China before the persecution began in 1999 and said, "When so many people do these exercises it means it is beneficial. Why else would so many people do it? And if it is beneficial then the government should really hold it in high regard, should support it and not try to destroy it." Another gentleman looked at our display and then asked for a stack of fliers, saying he would distribute them around the city.

The editor from the regional daily and a journalist from the local TV station came and the practitioners told them about Falun Gong and about the persecution by the Chinese regime.

City of Valasske Mezirici

In the city of Valasske Mezirici, practitioners found a good place for our display and exercises in the corner of the city¹s square. Immediately people's interest was aroused. People stood around in small groups discussing Falun Gong and trying out the exercises. They wanted to learn the exercises and so we were immediately teaching them for most of the day. They were happy to find out what they could about Falun Gong and learn the exercises at our classes in the nearby cities of Frydek-Mistek and Ostrava.

City of Roznov pod Radhostem

The next day, on Saturday August the 7th, there was a festival of Artisans and so the practitioners presented Falun Gong as their entry. Many young people did not hesitate to join in the exercises. Particularly during our meditation demonstration, many people did not lose any time to sit on the pavement around us joining us in a symbolic gesture of support for Falun Gong. Others added their signatures to our petitions.

City of Uherske Hradiste

On Saturday the 31st of July, the citizens of Uherske Hradiste had an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the cultivation practice of Falun Dafa. Our visit came during the peak of a Film Festival, when the streets were packed with visitors. Many already knew about Falun Gong from articles in the press, and they also knew about the persecution in China.

Many people had lots of complex questions and then wanted to know where they could learn the exercises immediately. Other people very quietly watched the meditation and then started to take pictures. There was a queue to see the display of photos of the tortured practitioners in China. The local media sent a journalist who took many pictures of people exercising and also of the display of the persecution information.