France: Drawing Attention to the Orphaned Children of Persecuted Falun Gong Practitioners on Human Rights Square

On September 25th, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners in France held large-scale activities to draw attention to the orphaned children of Falun Gong practitioners. The event, which received strong support from the public, was held on the Human Rights Square (Paris des Droits de l’Homme au Trocadero) opposite the world-famous Eiffel Tower.

Since Jiang Zemin’s regime began the crackdown on Falun Gong in China in 1999, tens of thousands of innocent Falun Gong practitioners have been persecuted to death or disability under systematic genocide policies, such as “destroy their reputation, bankrupt them financially and annihilate them physically,” that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) carry out illegally and ferociously. Many of those persecuted to death left behind young children with nobody to care for them. Some of these Falun Gong children or young practitioners have lost both parents through the persecution. Others have one parent who has perished and the other incarcerated. With no source of income, having being expelled from school and without parents, these children wander homeless, living in loneliness and constant fear. Consequently, Falun Gong practitioners in France have been appealing for the rescue of the orphaned children of Falun Gong practitioners in mainland China.

With plaintive music playing in the background, banners in Chinese, English and French announcing “Falun Gong - Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance” and “Rescue the Orphans” danced in the wind in front of the Eiffel Tower. Photos of the orphans on display told one sad story after another. Hearts were touched by the strong contrast between the peaceful and gentle exercise demonstration and the brutal truth about the atrocious persecution.

Two giant pieces of white cloth on the ground were covered with signatures. Many knelt down to note their blessings. In Chinese, “Stop persecuting the children!” In French, “Stop the persecution in China!” “Courage to all!” Also in English, “Peace for everybody!” “May God bless you all.” Despite the white cloth having been filled with signatures, more and more people tried to find a place to sign their names to express their support for kindness and righteousness.

Those who learned the truth were moved by Falun Gong practitioners’ perseverance in fighting against persecution. After learning the truth, a French couple gave the practitioner a thumbs up sign, “What you are doing is great! Continue!” A group of Chinese tourists reading the truth exhibits happened to catch this scene. Surprised at the level of support from westerners, they had even stronger desires to learn more truth about Falun Gong.

A tourist said, “There is not a shadow of freedom in a country under the CCP’s totalitarian rule. I believe Falun Gong provide such freedom. I will sign to support Falun Gong!”

A French writer, who was very concerned about children being harmed, was deeply moved after learning the truth about the persecution. Seeing Falun Gong practitioners telling the truth and fighting against torture under such severe persecution, reflecting upon her own misfortunes, she said emotionally, “Thank you! You gave me the courage to live!”