Sweden: “I am very happy today. I feel wonderful! It’s a gift from God.”

The 11th and 12th of August 2007 are bank holidays in Sweden. Bright and early, Falun Gong practitioners in Stockholm arrived at the famous Vasa Warship Museum to promote Falun Gong and raise awareness about the persecution to tourists from around the world. They demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises, and told people about the book Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and the huge number of people quitting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) after reading it. They also exposed the CCP’s atrocities of harvesting organs from Falun Gong practitioners and protested against the eight years of persecution against the practice in China.

As soon as the exhibits were set up, many people came to ask, “What is Falun Gong?” “Why is Falun Gong persecuted?” Having learned the truth, many commented that it was grossly unjust to suffer such torture simply for not giving up on one’s beliefs. People eagerly signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution. Some wanted to learn the Falun Gong exercises on the spot.

A lady from Stockholm was about to show some guests around the Museum. While queuing with friends at the entrance, she kept watching the practitioners’ exercise demonstration. Deeply attracted by the beautiful music and harmonious movements, she apologised to her friends, “Sorry, I cannot go in with you. I want to learn Falun Gong. You can meet me here when you are done.” With that, she went over to follow the practitioners’ movements earnestly. Later she took all the Falun Gong leaflets and details of practice sites. She said, “I am very happy today. I feel wonderful! It’s a gift from God.”

Three young men from Italy watched practitioners’ demonstration over and over. They also followed the movements carefully. Their companion said happily, “This was a truly wonderful day worth celebrating.” In the end they took down the details of the Falun Gong website and left happily after having their photos taken with practitioners.

A Chinese tour guide from Spain came over to talk to practitioners while waiting for his clients: “It’s great to be able to see you in many places.” Mentioning the Human Rights Torch Relay in the news, he said, “The CCP has not done one good thing. I do not support hosting the Olympic Games in China.” It is worrying for tourists from China, he said: “In China everything is controlled by the CCP. Even whilst abroad, some dare not even read a newspaper as they would like. Every time I leave a finished paper behind on the coach, they all fight for it. I might as well take a few more copies today.”

When practitioners mentioned the huge number of people quitting the CCP, he said, “I was once a member of the Communist Youth League. I thought it was alright to have quit automatically and did not pay much attention to the Epoch Times’ website. I will definitely declare my renouncement when I get back. If nothing else, at least in this way I can show that I am against the tyranny of the CCP, which is in the power of any Chinese person to do. Otherwise the CCP will be even more out of control.” Finally he said to the practitioners, he hoped to see Falun Gong every time he came to Sweden.