Holland: Introducing Falun Gong and Exposing the Persecution in the Town of Amersfoort

On October 8th, 2005, I travelled to Amersfoort near Amsterdam. It was very foggy and wet. I was feeling little bit worried but it proved later that my worry was unwarranted because it turned out to be very nice weather.

The banner disclosing the persecution	Demonstration of the exercises	Explaining the background to the persecution of Falun Gong

Signing the petition expressing support for bringing Jiang Zemin to justice	Photo exhibition

When asking the way at the railway station, I met a girl who seemed almost the same age as me, with a dusky complexion and wearing a pair of big ear rings. She was also going to the city centre and was waiting for a bus. She suggested that we should go there together. I gave her a Falun Gong leaflet and then told her about the persecution of Falun Gong happening in China and the purpose of my coming here. As our bus had arrived, we got on the bus together. There were three elderly people on the bus, I gave them a leaflet each. That girl reminded me in low voice about telling them the truth of the persecution quickly. So I started telling them about the persecution of Falun Gong happening in China and my purpose of coming to Amersfoort. After hearing the truth, they all condemned the persecution. When I got off the bus a few minutes later, each of them said in a friendly manner: “Thank you and goodbye!”

The girl decided to help me find the place where the activity was to be held though she was not familiar with the city centre. We took a roundabout way, she didn’t complain at all but joked: “We are doing a slimming exercise today.” She didn’t leave until we found the activity. Before she left, I thanked her for her help and asked her to sign the petition expressing support for Falun Gong practitioners in Holland bringing Jiang Zemin to trial for persecuting Falun Gong. She signed the petition saying that such a persecution certainly should be stopped.

The place of our activity was at a busy intersection in the city centre. Crowds of people were passing by.. We hung a banner and after mounting pictures and exhibition boards properly, some of us started practising the exercises and talking to people who were interested.

Compared with Amsterdam, it is a reserved city. Many people didn’t know much about the persecution of Falun Gong. While passing by our stall, some were attracted by the exercises and some by photos exposing the situation in China. After our explanations, many people immediately signed the petition and some asked for Falun Gong pamphlets saying that they would decide whether to sign or not after understanding it further. There was a lady of Chinese origin who was interested in Falun Gong and asked for the telephone number of a Falun Gong practitioner who offers free classes.

Near us was a restaurant. While sitting outside eating, many people were watching our demonstration of the exercises with great interest. I walked over briefly to tell some people about Falun Gong being persecuted by the CCP, asking them if they would like to sign the petition in order to lighten the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China and express support for Falun Gong practitioners appealing to Jiang. Most of them agreed and signed the petition.

Time was going very fast. I was feeling moved on the train home and promised myself that I would come back.