Australia: Queensland Falun Gong Practitioners Call for an End to the Persecution

On July 18th and 19th, Queensland practitioners held a series of activities in downtown Brisbane to call for an end to the Chinese Communist Party's barbaric persecution of Falun Gong. July 20th marked the 9th anniversary of the persecution, which has claimed the lives of at least 3168 practitioners Chinese practitioners. Meanwhile, tens of thousands are still being detained in forced labour camps and prisons.

Falun Gong practitioners remember fellow practitioners who have died during the persecution	A passerby signs a petition condemning the Chinese Communist regime's barbaric persecution of Falun Gong
Simulation of torture methods used by the CCP in its persecution of Falun Gong	People in Chinatown watch the parade

On July 18th outside the Chinese Consulate in Brisbane, practitioners held a candlelight vigil to commemorate fellow practitioners who have died during the persecution and call for an end to the persecution. On July 19th, they held a rally in Brisbane Square followed by a parade.

At 10 a.m., the practitioners, all in white suits, solemnly paid their respects to fellow Chinese practitioners who have died during the nine-year persecution. Using a microphone and speakers, practitioner Michael Anderson told the people in the square about the brutal persecution of Falun Gong:

"In this modern world, especially in a place like Australia, it is very hard for people to imagine that a government can do these kinds of things - purposefully persecute people who cultivate such a wonderful Buddha school practice. Today we want to let you know that such a persecution is happening and that the Chinese Communist regime's persecution of innocent people is far more brutal than your imagination."

Mr. Han came from Singapore to visit his son and acquired many truth-clarifying materials from the practitioners. He said, "They [Falun Gong practitioners] are innocent and yet the CCP puts them in prisons and labour camps. This is wrong."

Regarding the practitioners' effort to end the persecution, Mr. Han said: "I support you. This is a good thing. If people around the world all speak out, it should help the situation in China."

Carpenter Kenneth Ronald Morley looked at the photo display for quite a while. He later told a practitioner that the persecution was wrong and that he could not understand why the CCP was awarded the honor of hosting the Olympics. He said, "The persecution is wrong and it should never have happened. People have the right to learn any practice. I don't think that they [the CCP] should force people to believe or not believe in anything. I heard that there have been many cases of torture and tragic things have happened just because people want to do this Tai Chi-like practice. How can that be right?"

A Chinese international student told the practitioners that he wanted to learn more about Falun Gong and the persecution. He said that China now has too many problems because people have no beliefs. He also told the practitioners that many people in China are spreading copies of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and that they really love it.

At noon, the practitioners started a parade marching toward Chinatown. Along the parade route, the practitioners' procession, which was led by a float on which several practitioners re-enacted several torture methods employed in the persecution, drew the attention of many passersby.