May 13, 2016 | Six current and former Canadian parliament members and 700 Falun Gong practitioners celebrated the 17th World Falun Dafa Day in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 10, 2016.
Lawmakers Support Falun Gong’s Peaceful Resistance
Parliament Members Peter Kent, Judy Sgro, Garnett Geuis, Elizabeth May, Senator Don Merrdith, and former PM David Kilgour gave speeches at the celebration.
Peter Kent, chair of Parliamentary Friends of Falun Gong, spoke to “Call on the new government, on Prime Minister Trudeau, to continue to speak up in every contact with the Chinese government to ensure a better respect for human rights generally, but in particular with the many millions of practitioners of Falun Gong.”
Long-term Falun Gong supporter, MP Judy Sgro said to practitioners that she has been here on Falun Dafa Day many years in a row, “To be with you, to acknowledge each and every one of you, to applaud you, to thank you for your faith, for your kindness, and your support for a peaceful country as we move forward.”
MP Garnett Genius commended Falun Gong practitioners not only on their activism, but also on their hope. He said, “When these things go on – these abuses – for years and years and years, perhaps the temptation for some may be to give up, to lose hope. But you haven’t done that. You are here, we’re here to support you, believing, not just in an idle sense, but believing in a serious way that things will change, things must change in China.”
Green Party leader MP Elizabeth May said that the Chinese state-sanctioned organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners is “More deeply shocking and deeply troubling than almost any other human rights violation you can find on the face of the earth.”
She said it is time for the Chinese government to respect “The intrinsic value of every human being, to respect rights and peaceful practices.”
Senator Don Meredith encouraged practitioners to keep fighting for their rights. He quoted Dr. Martin Luther King, “If you cannot fly then run. If you cannot run, then walk. If you cannot walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, keep moving forward.”
Former MP and diplomat David Kilgour said, “Working as volunteers, David Matas and I concluded, with dismay, that for 41,500 transplants performed from 2001 to 2006 in China, the only plausible explanation for sourcing was Falun Gong.
We are convinced the Chinese Party-state has been committing systematic murder against the community for almost 15 years. We term it a ‘New form of evil on the planet’ and continue to investigate.”
Spectators Enjoy Falun Gong March, Music and Art Performances, and Exercises
As parts of the celebration, practitioners also held group exercises, a march in town, and music and art performances, which were warmly welcomed by passersby.
Said Benrquia from Morocco was deeply attracted to the exercises. After learning the four sets of standing exercises, he was not satisfied. He asked a French-speaking practitioner to teach him the fifth exercise, the sitting meditation.
He said that a strong energy flow entered his body while doing the exercises. “What is more valuable is the teaching of this practice—Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I really appreciate these nice practitioners who taught me the movements. I will continue to practice it.”
(Clearwisdom)