Australia: Practitioners in Brisbane Call for an End of the Persecution of Falun Gong on the Ninth Anniversary of April 25th Appeal

On the afternoon of April 25th, 2008, Falun Gong practitioners in Queensland, Australia held an activity to commemorate the ninth anniversary of April 25th appeal in front of Chinese Consulate in downtown Brisbane. They called for an end of Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s brutal persecution of Falun Gong.

Commemorating the ninth anniversary of April 25th Appeal

April 25th is day that is hard to forget for Falun Gong practitioners. Nine years ago, more than ten thousand Falun Gong practitioners had a peaceful appeal in Beijing and requested the government to release forty-five practitioners who were arrested in Tianjin. They also asked for a safe and legal environment to practice Falun Gong, and a lift on the ban on publishing Falun Gong books. The then Prime Minister met with a few practitioners and the issue was solved on the same day.

Dickson, a practitioner from China, said, "I came here today to help more people in Brisbane learn about the persecution of Falun Gong in China and the nature of CCP."

When the April 25th appeal occurred in Beijing, Frank studied in Tianjin University. He now lives in Australia. He said, "I am touched to struggle for the belief in my heart. It is too long to be suppressed in China. Many practitioners in China live in terror. Seeing such an easy environment to express personal voice, I really feel that it is quite different from China. It is obvious that there are no human rights under CCP's control. I hope each one to learn about the facts and distinguish what is truly good and what is bad."

Many local people and tourists stopped to find out more, and many signed a petition to protest the brutal persecution.

Sathia, a tourist from Singapore, said, "I think this practice is so peaceful. I cannot understand why it is suppressed in China. I hope that Falun Gong practitioners can accomplish their endeavors successfully."

Sandra, a local teacher, said, "I feel terrible when I think of those people whose organs were removed alive for keeping their belief. Such atrocities must stop. I sign to protest the persecution today. If there is more I can do, I will definitely do it."