Switzerland: "Although far away from China, we should also help to stop the persecution"

In the world of ice and snow, the banner reading “Falun Dafa is good” was strikingly eye-catching. The melodious Falun Gong exercise music echoed in the air. During the World Economic Forum on January 28th and 29th, 2009, Davos in Switzerland became the focus of the world media. Falun Gong practitioners came here again to tell people the ongoing bloody persecution against Falun Gong in China. They displayed photos exposing the Chinese Communist regime’s torture of Falun Gong practitioners.

Practitioners demonstrate the Falun Gong exercises	People happily accept materials about Falun Gong
People sign petition calling for the end to the persecution	Mother (Right) and son (Centre) from Davos

Many residents in Davos are very familiar with the Falun Gong’s information stand. Some of them directly came to sign the petition calling for the end to the persecution while some others enquire how they could provide more help. During the past six years, Falun Gong practitioners came to Davos every year during the World Economic Forum.

A mother and her son from Davos told practitioners that they came to sign the petition for Falun Gong every year. The young fellow said, “It is very important that you never give up and should keep up the effort all the times. More and more people will be concerned with this persecution.”

Mentioning that Falung Gong practitioners have suffered brutal persecution from the Chinese Communist regime, the mother said: “I think this persecution is terrible. This is contempt to human kind. People have disappeared and have been tortured. The regime even harvests organs from living people. This is not what human would do. I must say that the Chinese Communist regime is lying. People hoped that by holding the Olympics, the regime would improve. But the changes are all superficial. It is like acting. I think that our government and all governments should exert pressure to end this persecution and bring the prime culprits to justice. This is my thought. My husband and all my family share my thought. I think that the persecution is too brutal and it should not have happened. We all know that the Jews were persecuted in the concentration camps in the past. We didn’t do anything then. We should make efforts to end this persecution. Even we are far away from China, we should still do something.” Before leaving, they took a few petition forms so that they could help to collect signatures.

Among people signing the petition are children, elderly people, local residents, people attending the Forum and reporters. After hearing the truth about Falun Gong, people also expressed thanks to Falun Gong practitioners.

An elderly gentleman from Britain happily told practitioner Ursula that his nephew is also a Falun Gong practitioner and that his nephew and other western practitioners went to Tiananmen Square in China to unfold Falun Gong banners. He was very pleased to see Falun Gong practitioners here.

During the talks with practitioners, there was one person saying that Switzerland is too small and our influence is too small, there would be very little effect. Practitioners told them that if everyone could stand up and say “no” to the Chinese Communist regime, the regime would be very afraid. If everyone believed that they are powerless and have no influence, then the Chinese Communist regime could do whatever they want to do. Finally that person also signed the petition demanding the end to the persecution.

The Mayor of Davos, who gave permission to the activity by Falun Gong practitioners, also came to the information stand. He said that because practitioners came here every year, he also has learned a bit about Falun Gong. Before leaving, he happily accepted the "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party" exposing the evil nature of the Chinese Communist Party.

At the end of January every year, Davos hosts the World Economic Forum. It attracts many media and important figures from the world, including many important government officials.