Finland: Vigil in Helsinki to Mourn the Persecuted Falun Gong Practitioners

On the evening of August 31st, 2007, downtown Helsinki was jam-packed with people attending the Fireworks Festival, one of Finland’s great traditions. Taking advantage of this great opportunity, Falun Gong practitioners held a candlelight vigil on the lawn in front of the parliament building to mourn the 3,080 fellow practitioners who have been persecuted to death in China since Jiang Zemin’s evil group instigated the persecution of Falun Gong in 1999. In addition to the 3,080 confirmed deaths, far more unnamed practitioners have lost their lives due to imprisonment and organ harvesting by the Chinese communist regime. The candlelight vigil was to call upon people all around the world to help end the brutal persecution in China.

As night fell, practitioners held candles and sat on the lawn quietly. Behind them was a big banner reading “Falun Dafa Is Good”. On the sidewalk surrounding the lawn, the deceased Falun Gong practitioners’ portraits were lit by candlelight. Many passers-by paused in their steps to watch. They also received flyers from practitioners. After reading the contents, some of them approached practitioners and asked, “What is Falun Gong and why is it persecuted?”

After hearing that the Chinese communist regime harvests organs from live Falun Gong practitioners for profit and subsequently cremates their bodies to cover up the atrocity, an English speaking young man told practitioners, “This is extremely brutal. Would you tell me more about it?” Practitioners provided him with additional information and a DVD of documentary films in English. He expressed thanks to the practitioners and said he would study the materials seriously.

A Finnish boy said today was a special day because people in the world were also commemorating Princess Dianna who died ten years ago. Princess Dianna was widely respected for her constant attention paid to human rights and children’s welfare. “It is great that you are fighting for human rights,“ he told practitioners.

A tourist from New York took videotape about the scene of the candlelight vigil. He told practitioners that he came from New York and he has been exposed to a lot of information about Falun Gong.

Right before practitioners were about to wrap up the activities, two groups of Finnish middle school students asked a young practitioner, “What is Falun Gong?” “Why is it persecuted in China?” and “What can we do for you?” The practitioner suggested them to read the truth flyer and told them that the “Human Rights Torch Relay” coordinated by CIPFG (Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China) will arrive in Helsinki in mid October. They were also encouraged to support Falun Gong’s just appeal for ending the persecution.