France: Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of Resisting the CCP's Persecution

On July 20, 2009, Falun Gong practitioners in Paris held a peaceful protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in France to commemorate the 10th anniversary of resisting the CCP persecution. For the first time in ten years, practitioners in Paris obtained permission via legal channels to hold a protest close to the Chinese Embassy, which was a big breakthrough in the decade-long effort to protest the persecution. Meanwhile, practitioners in Marseilles also held activities to mark the occasion in front of the local Chinese Consulate.

Practitioners explaining the facts of the persecution in front of the Chinese Embassy

Demonstrating the first exercise

Practitioners in front of the Chinese Embassy held up banners worded "Falun Dafa Is Good" and "Stop the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s Persecution of Falun Gong". They also held posters explaining Falun Dafa and exposing the persecution.

The practitioners demonstrated the five exercises several times. The Divine Land Marching Band performed selections, including "Falun Dafa Is Good" and "Fa Drums and Trumpets Shake the World in Ten Directions". Several practitioners re-enacted the torture methods used by the CCP on fellow practitioners in China for not giving up their belief.

The director of the France Falun Dafa Association, Tang Hanlong, said during an interview with the media that the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong that has lasted a decade has resulted in several thousand practitioners being tortured to death, millions illegally incarcerated, and tens of millions losing their basic rights. "The persecution of Falun Gong is not just a human rights issue, but also a disregard for the universal values of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance as well as man's conscience. Anyone with a sense of justice should stand up against the persecution." He urged the embassy staff not to aid the CCP any longer because Heaven will definitely disintegrate the CCP. Many practitioners gave speeches.

Mr. Zhang Jian, the general commander of the student protesters during the 1989 Tiananmen Square movement, also came to show support. In his speech he condemned the CCP's killing of innocent citizens and praised Falun Gong practitioners for facing up to this greatest evil dictatorship in history. He said, "You are the best at this. Abiding by universal values and gaining popular support, you express the faith, resolution, and principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance."

Also present was Mr. Liu Weimin, spokesman for the French Branch of the China Democratic Party United Headquarters Overseas Division. He commented, "The brutal persecution that the evil CCP regime headed by Jiang Zemin has staged against innocent Falun Gong practitioners is a heinous crime. Around the world, Falun Gong practitioners are speaking out and telling the facts with their kindness and tolerance. With the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, they are telling every Chinese person that the CCP is, in fact ,the real evil cult." He said, "Today we stand along side Falun Gong practitioners. We are moved by your spirituality, impressed by your morality, and outraged by your sufferings!"

France 5 TV and Agence France Presse aired the entire event.