United Kingdom: Car Tour for Exposing the Persecution in South-West England

As part of a continued UK initiative to let people in the UK become aware of the atrocities committed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and specifically the removal of organs from live Falun Gong practitioners, a week-long car tour was initiated around the South-West of England. After uncertainty as to whether the members of the car tour should delay their trip due to Wen Jiabao’s (the Chinese Premier) visit to London, it was decided the car tour should remain on schedule. On the September 11th, 2006, four Falun Gong practitioners, two Chinese and two English, took to the road, visiting five locations, which spanned three counties across the South-West of England – Salisbury, Exeter, Taunton, Bristol and Guildford.

At first, it was uncertain how to approach the media, how to grasp their attention within the all-important initial moments of communication. After a few setbacks and several alterations to our approach, the hopes of gaining a successful interview were diminishing. That was until a bizarre occurrence outside the offices of BBC Radio Wiltshire.

The building was occupied by several businesses, which required ringing an outside intercom to gain entrance. With no answer from ringing the intercom a few times, we were about to leave. Then a gentleman approached the door, unlocked it, and went inside. He then turned around inquisitively and asked whom we were trying to contact. When he became aware that we were here to see him, he openly let us inform him of our presence and intentions to inform the people of Salisbury, Wiltshire on the situation of organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners in China. He promptly invited us for a radio interview around the back of the building, away from the traffic, where it was much quieter. The interview was conducted by two Falun Gong practitioners, one of whom was Chinese and had personal experience of the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.

The interviewer for BBC Wiltshire was very touched by the details of organ harvesting and personal experience of torture and suffering. On completion of the interview, the interviewer promptly went over to the first Chinese person he saw in the street to talk with him about what he had just learnt. He gesture touched us all; it was just unfortunate that the Chinese person he approached was actually another member of the car tour.

The full radio interview was broadcast on Radio Wiltshire between 10am and 1pm Tuesday, 12th September, and sections of the interview were repeated later throughout the day.

Dependent on the location, the car tour was a combination of Falun Gong activities in the town or city centre and personal visits to councils, MP’s, Human Rights lawyers, medical establishments and the media (newspapers, radio and television). Some mornings started with much tribulation; four practitioners were not working in unison, as one body and the effects were clearly noticeable throughout that day.

Whilst in Exeter, we were fortunate to be joined by a local practitioner to Exminster. The Falun Gong activity drew much attention; ITV West Country took pictures and broadcast them on Tuesday evening’s local news. A journalist from the Express and Echo also took pictures and will publish them alongside an article written by the local practitioner. A local councillor also showed much interest as she was informed of the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Express and Echo reporter interviewing practitioner

The site for our activity in Taunton was located at the upper end of the High Street; this area is specifically reserved for activities and demonstrations, so not to upset local residents and shop owners. The Mayor of Taunton was the first dignitary to visit our stand and promptly suggested we move our location, informing us that not many people visit this area of the High Street. This was a significant gesture by the Mayor as it completely undermined local regulations on demonstration activities.

Mayor of Taunton with two practitioners in Taunton High Street	Taunton MP talking with practitioner & offering full support

Soon after the Mayor left, the Lib Dem. MP was to visit and brought with him a signed petition form. Both Mayor and MP were on fully aware of the persecution of Falun Gong in China; both offered their full support.

There was a misunderstanding on the time arranged for an interview at the local radio station Orchard FM, which seemed to agitate the news reporter. Further frustration was added when practitioners were not able to maintain the revised interview time, due to other tribulations preventing them from leaving the activity site. On route to Orchard FM, the computerised navigation system took us in the opposite direction to our destination, adding a further 30 minutes to the journey. These tribulations started to affect practitioners, as one practitioner stated that he was unable to send forth righteous thoughts to clear the environment, as he felt sleepy.

It was only possible for one practitioner to be interviewed at Orchard FM, so the remaining practitioners sent forth righteous thoughts. The interview went well and the interviewer seemed very concerned about the persecution in China, as the news was new to her. She has booked a wedding anniversary holiday in China, but now felt uncomfortable about going there, since becoming aware of this information. As we were about to leave, the interviewer open the front door for us, and said, “You have brought the sunshine with you”.

In the afternoon two practitioners visited BBC Radio Somerset, to inform them of the persecution of Falun Gong in China. The news reporter seemed very interested and concerned, but stated that the news of the organ harvesting was not suitable for their audience, only broadcasting on ‘light-hearted’ topics. However, they were interested in the meditative aspects of Falun Gong, so a practitioner suggested a discussion on the health benefits of Falun Gong. The news reporter though it was a great idea and asked us to join her for an interview in an adjacent garden. As the news reporter asked question about the practice, a practitioner demonstrated the exercises, whilst another practitioner explained what the movements were for and how it would assist a person better health.

Although the main objective of the car tour was to inform the public on the persecution and organ harvesting, an opportunity to inform people of the beauty of Falun Gong, its health benefits and guiding principles – Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance, should never be missed. The interview is to be broadcast on BBC Somerset Sound on 1566 AM at Monday, 18th September, between 9am and 12 noon. It can also be heard online at www.bbc.co.uk/somerset

The penultimate day of the car tour was in Bristol and a local practitioner was able to join on this day. The day proved to be very poor in terms of positive attitude and performance from the participating practitioners. Due to the busy schedule, our initial arrangement was to hold an activity in the city centre, while a few practitioners visit the Media, University, Lawyers, Medical institutions and Bristol Council, but morning rain soon prevented this course of action. It was then decided that the most effective way to visit as many dignitaries as possible was to split into two groups. One group consisted of two practitioners who visited Lawyers and MP's in the city centre whilst the other group of 3 went to the TV stations, located on the outskirts of the city.

Unfortunately, the whole day was extremely unsuccessful with only a BBC producer who was sympathetic and took the information pack, but would only run a feature on local people and is a positive contact for local practitioners to follow up in the future. All the rest were unable or unwilling to talk with us. At the end of the day, practitioners felt exhausted and were a little upset at the lack of results. All practitioners were aware of the interference and looked inside themselves to understand why it was so difficult to obtain an interview.

Apart from the individual’s cultivation element, it was felt that the environment around Bristol restricted success of the car tour. Bristol is a large commercial city with direct ties to China; The Bristol China Partnership, founded in 1998, has key objectives to develop friendship, business, education, culture, sports and tourist links with China. The president of The Bristol China Partnership is currently the Lord Mayor of Bristol. All practitioners agreed that there is much more effort required within Bristol to break through the interference present in the city and to help its people to understand the truth about the Chinese Communist Party’s true history and culture.

Only two of the original car tour members were able to attend the final day in Guildford, Surrey. Practitioners had a very productive meeting with the Mayor of Guildford; the Mayor was apprehensive about meeting Falun Gong practitioners and it was difficult for her to understand why the Chinese government would ban such a peaceful practice. After informing her of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party relating to the history of the CCP, their terrible acts throughout history including the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989, she became increasingly convinced. However, she still found it difficult to comprehend why Falun Gong practitioners would have their organs harvested. Further explanation of Jiang Zemin’s hatred towards Falun Gong, and the huge profits associated with organ harvesting including the world’s demand of immediate organ donors help her to understand why this is happening. The Mayor was left with a number of documents, including a book of Falun Gong proclamations, which particularly impressed her. The meeting was concluded with a kind farewell from the Mayor and deep gratitude for our visit.

In Guildford town centre an organ harvesting activity was displayed for the public, which received a positive reception. However, one incident particularly troubled a practitioner.

A Chinese man was seen taking photographs and was approached by a practitioner, who wished to give him information on Falun Gong. The Chinese man replied rudely with some offensive remarks and hand gestures. The practitioner felt sad that some Chinese people remain poisoned by the CCP’s lies that they have to respond in such a manner.