Germany: Falun Gong practitioners gather at Cologne Cathedral to Condemn the Atrocities of China’s Sujiatun Concentration Camp

On March the 19th 2006, Falun Gong practitioners from Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany gathered at Cologne Cathedral to condemn the Chinese communist regime’s atrocities in the Sujiatun concentration camp. The purpose of the rally was to uncover the regime’s brutalities, in which they illegally imprison Falun Gong practitioners, harvests their organs for extravagant profits when they are still alive and cremates the bodies to destroy the evidence.

People reading information on the persecution

A banner that read, “The Chinese communist regime brutally tortures Falun Gong practitioners in the Sujiatun concentration camp. Organs are removed for profit and bodies are incinerated to cover-up”, told it all. Tourists and passers-by were shocked by the anti-torture exhibition. It was hard for them to imagine such barbarities still exist in the world today. Many of them asked, “Is this true? Does it really happen today?”

Escorting several customers from India, an employee of a German company led the group past the site. When they saw the banners and photos that exposed the atrocities in the Sujiatun concentration camp, they walked towards a practitioner and asked what had happened. After realising the real situation, the German gentleman asked what help he could provide. He also revealed that the company he was associated with had trading relationships with China. Practitioners told him to pass on the brutal facts in China to the company executives. He said he would surely do so.

Practitioners explain the truth of the persecution to passers-by

A German lady walked by with two male teenagers. She was terrified by the existence and continuous operation of the appalling concentration camp. She said such brutal persecution must be stopped and she would like to sign her name to support the petition. One of the teenagers also signed his name. They kept discussing while they departed from the scene. Shortly after they left, the teenager who did not sign his name turned back to provide his signature.

A middle-aged gentleman, who worked in Shanghai for two years, told a practitioner: “Even though I am a foreigner, I have some understanding about China’s autocracy and tyranny. As China was not ruled by the law, the authorities and government officials could do whatever they liked.” He also acknowledged that as China is a populous country, its market size and the economical lure have kept the western countries from making substantial criticism of the human rights infringements in China. He hoped that the Chinese communist regime would fall apart like the former communist Soviet Union so that ordinary citizens will no longer suffer from a similar persecution.

People sign their names to condemn the atrocities in the Sujiatun Concentration Camp

A group of businessmen from Eastern Europe came to see the Cathedral accompanied by a tour guide. When they saw the anti-torture exhibition, banners and photos, they asked what was going on. After realising the activities were held to expose the atrocities and tyranny of the Chinese communist regime, they expressed that they had deep understanding about the tyranny of communism. They continued that it is fortunate that the communistic autocracy in their own countries had collapsed. They asked what they could do. Knowing that they were entitled to sign on the petition even though they were foreign tourists, many of them signed their names.

An old German man yelled at a practitioner, “What you are doing is to oppose the Chinese government. Why don’t you go back to China and make appeals there?” He also shouted at four European young people, who were about to sign the petition. “They are opposing their own government. You can’t back them up!” he cried. The practitioner explained him, “We are not against a normal government. What we actually protest against is a tyrannical regime, and the violation of human rights and atrocities it has committed.” The old man refused to cool down. It turned into a heated dispute among the five people. One of the young men said, “Let us specify what is called ‘opposing a government’!” Another challenged the old man, “Have you ever heard of human rights violations?” The four young people finished signing their names and moved on. Another old German man, who looked like an intellectual, was brought over by the quarrel. He also participated in the discussion with the first old man. However, his statement was very persuasive since the points he made were rational.

Finally, the first old man calmed down a little bit. But he started complaining about the policies of the German government. A practitioner told the first old man that nobody would harass him even though he complained about the government so loudly, but the situation was totally different in China. Should a person dare to criticise the Chinese Government in Tiananmen Square, he would get into trouble immediately. He may be arrested and nobody would know his whereabouts afterwards. The practitioner explained to him that they were seeking support in Germany because there was no freedom of speech in China. When asked, “Don’t you agree?” the old man finally nodded his head and said, “Yes, I agree.”

A Chinese man with a conscience, justice and courage also came to the site. Although he was not a Falun Gong practitioner, he joined practitioners in distributing flyers and newspapers to expose the atrocities of the evil Chinese communist regime. He told practitioners that he was not surprised to hear the brutalities of the Sujiatun Concentration Camp. Under the ruling of a regime as autocratic and ferocious as the Chinese communist regime, secret concentration camps, like the one at Sujiatun, would have been established a long time ago. Nevertheless, the existence of these concentration camps was not revealed and validated until recently. He said he had a deep understanding about the brutal persecution that the Chinese communist regime inflicted on Falun Gong practitioners and it is the reason why he wanted to join the practitioners in condemning and protesting against the violence and tyranny of the regime.

Among the people that showed up at the activities were several ones with unusual conduct. For example, a Chinese couple hung around the scene, voice recording what they observed using a secret recorder, and photographing practitioners’ activities unscrupulously. “Falun Gong has nothing secret to hide from the public,” practitioners told them, “The reason why Falun Gong holds activities at scenic spots to expose the atrocities of the evil regime is to make the people in the world, including the ones like you, understand the evil nature of the Chinese communist regime and the inevitable destiny of its ultimate extinction.”

Practitioners also explained to the young couple that people who practise Falun Gong always cultivate themselves based on Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance. They have no interest in competing for power against any political party, and they are rivals to nobody. However, they would be forced to take responsive actions against ruthless offence. Practitioners also reminded the couple not to become the sacrificial object for the Chinese communist regime. Instead, they should grasp the freedom and democracy in Germany and spend time understanding Falun Gong. In the end, practitioners told the young couple that good is rewarded with good and evil is met with evil returns.