France: Overseas Chinese Communities Celebrate Chinese Spring Festival and Send Best Wishes to Falun Gong Practitioners Being Persecuted in China

According to a Central News Agency report on January 27 2003, many overseas Chinese communities in France held activities to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival. While wishing each other good fortune and a happy new year, they also remembered Falun Gong practitioners being imprisoned in China and sent their sincerest wishes to them.

It is reported that a democracy movement and the Friends of Falun Gong Association held a party to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival at the Paris Overseas Chinese Culture and Education Centre. They also initiated a “Yellow Ribbon” campaign. Each of the guests, including people from the Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, was given a yellow ribbon. It symbolised that, as well as enjoying the celebration, they expressed their concerns and best wishes for those democracy supporters and Falun Gong practitioners who are suffering persecution and have been imprisoned for their belief in China.

People from the Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan gave their respective performances on the stage. The performances included music played on both Chinese and Western musical instruments, martial arts performances, singing and dancing. The performances were splendid and appealing. The sponsors also provided fine and ample Chinese food and drinks. Over 200 guests wished each other a happy Chinese new year. They also expressed their hopes that China can become a country that truly practises democracy and freedom, which abides by human rights laws.

Translated on January 30, 2003
Chinese version is available at
http://www.yuanming.net/articles/200301/16794.html