Switzerland: The Six Year Long Persecution Cannot Stop Falun Gong - Massive Support Reveals All

On one side is a group of people, including Chinese and Caucasians, the elderly and the young, practising the Falun Gong exercises to beautiful traditional Chinese music. On the other side is an injured elderly man who is hung up; a wicked policeman stands next to him occasionally waving a baton as if to beat the elderly man who was already on deaths door. On July 23rd, those who went to Swan Square in Lucerne, Switzerland, to enjoy the natural carvings were astonished by this special scene. How is it that on one side there is such peace and calm whilst on the other such brutality and horror?

Practising the Falun Gong exercises	People watching the exercise demonstration	Reporting the activity

What is Going On?

One Falun Gong practitioner explained, “Today what you are witnessing is the torture taking place against those who practise Falun Gong in China. What we can display in todays activity is but the tip of the iceberg. In fact, those who practise Falun Gong are hung up and beaten, being electrically shocked for lengthy periods of time, being imprisoned in water dungeons for several weeks or even longer in conditions where the water level is kept up to their necks. These are just some of the physical tortures used. The other side of torture is that of mental torture, such as being deprived of sleep doubled with intense brainwashing, such torture methods cannot be displayed here today. These acts take place simply because the Chinese Communist Party and Jiang Zemin forbid Falun Gong practitioners to practise this Chinese traditional exercise due to their jealousy and fear. As you can see, the exercises are displayed on the right, those who practise Falun Gong also need to follow the principles of “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance” so as to improve their morality.” During the activity a Falun Gong practitioner, Ms. Ke, held a signature board for those who wished to support a stop to the persecution and explained to those passing by and those who were curious about the display. Upon hearing Falun Gong practitioners’ explanation and viewing the display boards about the persecution, especially upon hearing that this cruel persecution against a group of good people has lasted for six years, people were even more shocked.

The torture re-enactment

Six years of persecution, the tragic atrocities are inhumane

It is true six years have passed since the persecution against Falun Gong was officially launched. Since July 20th, 1999, China has indulged in the wanton persecution of those believing in “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance”. People are arrested just for saying “Falun Dafa is good” or informing people with the true facts about Falun Gong and the reality behind the persecution whether by mouth or by handing out materials. Such acts may lead to a lengthy sentence in a forced labour camp, illegal imprisonment in detention centres, labour camps and even in psychiatric hospitals, where they are subjected to forced injections of damaging drugs or even tortured to death. These atrocities have happened everyday over the past six years. Up to date, there are 2715 practitioners who have been confirmed to have been tortured to death. But the actual death toll is believed to be far, far greater. It is not only one person been persecuted but it also brings great damage to this persons family either physically or mentally
Falun Gong practitioner, Wang Xiaoyang, whose mother was illegally imprisoned for eight months for practising Falun Gong, commented, “Many of my friends in China were surprised when upon hearing the news about my mom. They thought the persecution of Falun Gong had stopped because they hadn’t heard any news about Falun Gong from the media. In fact, the Chinese Communist Party hasn’t loosened their grip on the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners at all, rather they are now even more evil, continuing the persecution behind closed doors. The examples such as my mom and the recent death of Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Gao Rongrong, who was shocked in the face with a high voltage electric baton for seven hours causing great disfigurement and who was then tortured to death.

The activity was held despite the bad weather

Indeed, six years has passed. During those six years, from Geneva, to the southwest to St. Gallen in the northeast; from Basel in the northwest, to Lugarno in the southeast, from the globally famous city of Zurich to the little known city Herisau, Falun Gong information days are held everywhere in Switzerland. Especially over this last year, where practitioner have started to simulate the various torture methods used against those who practise Falun Gong via live re-enactments. Such exhibitions have been staged everywhere so as to let as many people as possible learn about the persecution. These astonishing scenes can be seen in one or even several busy city centres almost every week. The anti-torture exhibition has been held in Lucerne so many times that no one can remember the exact figure. This time the exhibition is even more solemn as it marks the sixth anniversary of the persecution. Every July 20th, some practitioners will utilise the money they have saved to support the global anti-torture activities that are held in various places. The practitioners staying in Switzerland carry out all sorts of activities. On the one hand they tell people about all kinds of inhuman persecution that’s been taking place in China since July 20th, 1999; on the other hand they appeal to people for their support to help put a stop to this persecution. This year, in addition to the anti-torture exhibition held in Lucerne, practitioners distributed materials detailing the facts about Falun Gong and the persecution in Nyon city. Meanwhile, they also held a Falun Gong information day in Geneva, where weekly activities and signature campaigns to help stop the persecution have been held more than once a month.

A Falun Gong practitioner, Ms. Fernandez from Aargau, said that July 20th has an important meaning to her family over the last six years. Every time this day comes up they grow more and more concerned about the persecution. Therefore, she and her husband took their three-year-old son to attend this anti-torture exhibition as it caries more importance to them than that of other days throughout the year. They hoped to make more people understand the real situation in China, so that they could help to stop this persecution together. She thought that if one more person understands the truth then the time when the persecution will stop is closer. Moreover, those who learn about the persecution will hopefully pass this information to more people.

Letting people know about the persecution leads to support from all directions

Passers-by and tourists travelling in groups were surprised and so stopped, read the display boards, listened to what the practitioners had to say and showed their support to help by signing the petition. During our activities there is normally a thick wall of people in front of our information booth. Although many practitioners took the chance to talk to groups of three or four passers-by, they were still too busy to make a proper response. Some pedestrians actively sought out the practitioners to ask about the reason for the persecution or asked to sign the petition. Many tourists took pictures to share the truth with their family and friends when they got back home.

People are shocked upon reading about the persecution

Ms. Bürger from a small town called Weggis, which is near Lucerne, commented: “I saw a display board inscribed “SOS: save the mother of an overseas student in Switzerland.” Being a mother of three sons and a daughter, I can deeply experience the shock to that child; therefore I wanted to provide some support. Now I understand this mother’s experience and the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China and I think that these signatures can not only help to rescue this mother, but also to put a stop to the persecution. In order to stop this a lot of people must show their support.” Finally she took some Falun Dafa related materials in Chinese to give to her son’s girlfriend. She said: “I think that the Chinese girl staying with us has also been cheated by the Chinese Communist Party. I want to give her the chance to come to understand the real situation taking place in her motherland.”

Another free lance reporter Mr. Hess said: “I can freely express my viewpoints in Switzerland and nobody will interfere. I really can’t understand why they persecute others just because they have a different set of ideas and beliefs. The Chinese Communist Party’s brutal persecution of China’s citizens seems terribly unreasonable.”

Mr. Zulbear from Macedonia, former Yugoslavia, not only signed his name, but also asked for some black petition forms. When the reporter asked him why he took so many forms, he answered: “My father, mother, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends all need to sign. I come from a former Communist led country. I can truly understand the atrocity of the Communist Party’s autocracy. My uncle was persecuted by the Communist Party when he was seventeen years old, so this cruel torture must be true. I believe China would develop faster if it were not for the Chinese Communist Party because Chinese culture is so ancient and the Chinese people are very clever and hard-working. I really admire Chinese people but I hate the Chinese Communist Party.” Later on, he hung around our activity for quite some time.

Time passed quickly and the activities of the day were coming to an end. During this activity many Falun Gong practitioners shared little stories with great joy. One practitioner shared that a girl said that what you’ve done to expose the torture is very good; an old man said that he listened to the beautiful Chinese traditional music (the exercise music) from very far away, which gave him a feeling as though he were in China. He said that he understands the Chinese Communist Party’s savage acts and talked to Falun Gong practitioners for a long time after signing the petition. He also took some materials to give to others so that they too could learn about this atrocity. When a lady heard the truth and signed her name, she started to sob with tears rolling down her cheeks. Many people had heard of Falun Dafa and felt that it’s very good. When hearing that the persecution is still taking place, they said keep it up and wished us success. During the activity many people signed the petition. The practitioner who was responsible for counting the signatures said that there have been more than 17,000 signatures so far that have been collected in Switzerland to ask for the freedom for a jailed Falun Gong practitioner

Falun Gong practitioner, Mr. Yang, was especially happy, saying: “In the past, the Chinese tourists detoured round us when they saw the Falun Gong information booth. Now it is different as they stop to have a look. Some view our photos and explanations, some quietly listen to what we have to say, and some happily accept our materials.”

Mr. Bachmann, drove for more than two hours from Kreuzlingen in the early morning to attend the activity, saying: “We’ve received more and more help during the last six years. Not only our families, but more and more of the pedestrians attitudes have changed. In the beginning when holding an information day, when we distributed the materials to passers-by, many of them refused. But now they are not only willing to accept our materials, but will also sign our petition. Some actively come to find out more, ask for materials and wanting to sign the petition. They also ask what they can do to help. I know there are more than three million people who have declared their withdrawal from Communist Party so far, and the number increases at the rate of ten thousand everyday. Doesn’t this show that the Chinese Communist Party has lost the will of the people?” He saw the rolling mountains and the lake in the far distance and firmly said: “I think this persecution will not continue another six years. Maybe we can celebrate the end of the persecution together with those who have shown their support in the near future.”

In six years, this kind of information day does not only take place in Switzerland, Falun Gong practitioners’ unremitting efforts and more and more righteous people’s support to stop the persecution can be seen all over the world. If you come across such an activity don’t forget to visit to find out the truth or sign your name to help put an end to this barbaric persecution.