Germany: Touching Moments at the Hamburg Town Hall Square

It is already dark and the busy daily activities in Hamburg Town Hall Square are winding down. The demonstrators (Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetans and Uigurs) look expectantly towards the hall. They stand on the Moenkebergstrasse, waiting for the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and the Chinese Minister of Trade Bo Xilai, as well the remainder of the Chinese delegation to leave the hall.

On September 13th, 2005, the Chinese visitors were invited by Mayor Ole von Beust, and many other politicians, high ranking officials and business people welcomed them at the Hamburg town hall during their visit to the three and half week long CHINA TIME and the economic summit “China meets Europe". The Falun Gong practitioners outside the town hall held banners or sent righteous thoughts. The visitors from China will be taken to the Atlantic hotel by the already waiting boats.

“We are welcoming Wen Jiabao in Hamburg with one of our banners", said a Falun Gong practitioner over a microphone. “We encourage him to bring an end to the persecution of Falun Gong with these words. Wen Jiabao has as to date not participated in the persecution, but he also has done nothing to bring it to an end.” The banner, “Welcome Wen Jiabao,” glows in the dark. The Falun Gong practitioners hold a light behind the banner.

But, they are not welcoming the Minister of Trade Bo Xilai. Bo Xilai is facing lawsuits in many countries because of his participation in the persecution of Falun Gong. Instead, the adherents of the peaceful meditation practice demand the condemnation of all main participants in the persecution of Falun Gong and immediate cessation of the persecution and organ harvesting on live Falun Gong practitioners in Chinese slave labour camps, prisons and other institutions.

A Song Rings Out as One Voice

In the beautiful evening atmosphere, the Falun Gong practitioners begin to sing a song. Two Chinese women sang with beautiful voices through the microphone and then other Falun Gong practitioners also started to sing. Like a warm wave filled with tranquility the song envelopes the big town hall square. “Falun Dafa Hao” is heard with great clarity and warms the hearts of the people. “One can hear it everywhere on the square. It sounds just as one voice", said a practitioner. One voice emanates from one body, the body of practitioners. Even the generally loudly protesting Tibetan demonstrators remained quiet and peaceful. The police stand relaxed in a circle and talk among each other.

All the way in the front, just in front of the banners is a 60 year old woman who wears a T-shirt with the words “Quit the Communist Party,” and her friend next to her wears a yellow Falun Dafa T-shirt. The Chinese delegates cross the square, passing these ladies with their eyes drawn to the T-shirts over and over again, while practitioners sang a song called Falun Dafa Hao (Falun Dafa is Good).

“The music is too loud", complains a Chinese person to the police. But, the police answers coolly. While the other demonstrators are beginning to leave, the Falun Gong practitioners remain until the end. Afterwards, the practitioners go to the Atlantic hotel, where Wen Jiabao will spend the night, for their solemn vigil. Some of the practitioners will even appeal for the entire night in front of the hotel.

Originally published in German at: http://www.clearharmony.de/articles/200609/33771.html