Reports from 2002 Australia Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference

By a Sydney Falun Dafa practitioner

The 2002 Australian Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference was successfully held in Sydney November 9 and 10 (Saturday and Sunday). Practitioners from Sydney, other areas of Australia and other countries including New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, United States, Canada, etc., attended the annual conference. The following is a series of reports about the activities during the conference.

Forming Words and Demonstrating the Exercises

Forming Words	Promoting the Fa and Demonstrating the Exercises

As early as 5AM, some practitioners arrived at the park for preparation. From 8:30AM to 9:45AM on November 9th, more than five hundred Falun Dafa practitioners gathered at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour to line up and form words and to perform the exercises. On the green lawn, there was a large map of the world drawn with golden strips. The map was the size of half the park. On top of the map was a large banner with yellow English words against a blue background "FALUN DAFA." Below the banner, practitioners in yellow suits formed the words reading, "ALL OVER THE WORLD". Along with the peaceful music, the practitioners demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises 1 to 5. Under the blue sky and white clouds, the golden "FALUN DAFA ALL OVER THE WORLD" words were magnificent.

Australian Channel 9 TV station interviewed and recorded video programs at the site.

Press Conference

November 9th 11:30AM, practitioners held a press conference entitled "Rescue Our Family Members in China" on Sydney City Hall Square.

Australian citizen Mrs. Dai Zhizhen, holding her two-year-old daughter Fadu in her arms, showed the audience her family photo before her husband was murdered. She told the audience that her husband Chen Chengyong was repeatedly detained and tortured because of practising Falun Gong. In the end, he was killed in custody and the police disposed of his body in a remote suburb. He died at the young age of 34 years old. After she leaned of his death from the internet, the Chinese government wouldn't even allow her to collect her husband's remains from the cremation. Only after the Australian government interceded with the Chinese government on her behalf did she get his ashes after eight months. She now uses her experience to help people understand how cruelly the Jiang regime is persecuting Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Australian practitioner Wang Juan made a speech holding up her family photo and stated "Please help rescue my family members detained in China." She said, "Because I am a Falun Gong practitioner, the Chinese Consulate refused to grant me a visa to visit my father in China who was in critical condition at that time. The Chinese Consulate postponed the process for three months and even after my father died, I still can't go back to China to attend the funeral service. My mother was detained for 6 months because of distributing 30 plus Falun Gong flyers. Later she was sentenced to three years of forced labour. This January, my sister was detained because of practising Falun Gong exercises. She was charged to three years of forced labour after being detained for three months. My brother-in-law was also locked in a detention centre. The police are preparing to charge him long term after finding so-called "evidence".

Mr. John Deller, the Chairperson of the Falun Dafa Association in New South Wales gave a speech. He said, "The true peace comes from everyone's heart, not government meetings or war. I hope more and more Australians will experience the Truth Compassion Tolerance with their hearts. They shall take the lead. This shows that you are against persecution and support the peace."

Australian ABC Radio and an ABC TV Station interviewed practitioners and reported the press conference.

"Truth Compassion Tolerance in The World" Grand Parade

Truth Compassion Tolerance in the World		Falun Dafa all over the world

Commemorating the practitioners who gave their lives for the truth		Rescue our family members in China

Shortly after 12PM, over one thousand practitioners began the grand parade in the centre of Sydney. The parade started from City Hall Square and proceeded slowly south down George Street. The procession was composed of five sections. The leading section consisted of practitioners holding large banners "Truth Compassion Tolerance in the world". The second section was composed of 26 female practitioners in Tang Dynasty costumes and Heavenly lady costumes. 40 practitioners holding the names of 40 countries followed. Next were 20 practitioners with boards of "Truth Compassion Tolerance" in different languages. Last was "Truth Compassion Tolerance in Australia" followed by practitioners holding 40 city name boards.

"Rescue Australian's Family Members" banner followed, with 20 practitioners holding boards with their family members' names and photos.

Another group followed from "Minghui School." Young practitioners joined the parade with colourful balloons and three big boards saying, "Truth Compassion Tolerance".

The parade was about one kilometre long. Two police cars drove in front of and behind the parade. Two police motorcycles rode along. Occasionally, there were one or two traffic policemen at large intersections. The parade team was neat and in good order. The large scale of the parade as well as the peace and compassion formed a strong energy field that impressed the people and visitors along the streets. In another lane of the street, the passengers and drivers waved, made hand gestures and honked their horns to show their support. People were happily watching the grand parade and willingly accepting flyers from the practitioners. Two visitors from China were talking. One said, "See, so many flags. Almost every country has Falun Gong." Another one answered, "Yes, Falun Gong is all over the world." Beside the section of "Truth Compassion Tolerance in China", one woman spoke out loud, "I will write a letter to the government to let them know the facts of Falun Gong being unfairly treated in China." Two people who had just arrived from Sichuan province saw the parade and were very surprised, "So many Falun Gong practitioners. In foreign countries it is so free to practise Falun Gong. Jiang's government deliberately arrests the people who practise Truth Compassion Tolerance. They are so evil." Many people simply waved to the practitioners and chanted "Falun Dafa is good!"

When the parade turned into Lawson PL, a sudden strong wind blew to "Rescue Australian's Family Members" banner. It cracked the 3 cm thick wood handle. Strong wind blowing on the banner made it difficult for the practitioners to walk forward. Two more practitioners immediately ran to help. The wind soon ceased.

After 1PM, the parade arrived at the destination, Belmore Park. The parade completed successfully. Some practitioners said happily, "It is a precious chance to attend such magnificent parade. The power of forming one integrated body is truly undefeatable." Many practitioners who seldom attend activities also joined the parade.

Candlelight Vigil on Sydney City Hall Square

From 6PM to 9PM that evening, about 400 practitioners held a candlelight vigil on Sydney City Hall Square to commemorate over 500 practitioners being persecuted to death by Jiang's Regime.