By Chen Xinning
On the afternoon of April 25, 2008, Falun Gong practitioners Commemorating the ninth anniversary of April 25 Appeal
in Queensland, Australia held an activity to commemorate the ninth anniversary
of April 25 appeal in front of Chinese Consulate in downtown Brisbane. They
called for an end of Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s brutal persecution
of Falun Gong.
April 25 is day that is hard to forget for Falun Gong practitioners. Nine years
ago, more than ten thousand Falun Gong practitioners had a peaceful appeal in
Beijing and requested the government to release forty-five practitioners who
were arrested in Tianjin. They also asked for a safe and legal environment to
practice Falun Gong, and a lift on the ban on publishing Falun Gong books. The
then Prime Minister met with a few practitioners and the issue was solved on
the same day.
Dickson, a practitioner from China, said, “I came here today to help more people
in Brisbane learn about the persecution of Falun Gong in China and the nature
of CCP.”
When the April 25 appeal occurred in Beijing, Frank studied in Tianjin University.
He now lives in Australia. He said, “I am touched to struggle for the belief
in my heart. It is too long to be suppressed in China. Many practitioners in
China live in terror. Seeing such an easy environment to express personal voice,
I really feel that it is quite different from China. It is obvious that there
are no human rights under CCP's control. I hope each one to learn about
the facts and distinguish what is truly good and what is bad.”
Many local people and tourists stopped to find out more, and many signed a
petition to protest the brutal persecution.
Sathia, a tourist from Singapore, said, “I think this practice is so peaceful.
I cannot understand why it is suppressed in China. I hope that Falun Gong practitioners
can accomplish their endeavors successfully.”
Sandra, a local teacher, said, “I feel terrible when I think of those people
whose organs were removed alive for keeping their belief. Such atrocities must
stop. I sign to protest the persecution today. If there is more I can do, I
will definitely do it.”
Posting date: 26/Apr/2008
Original article date: 26/Apr/2008
Category: Australian News