Q: Why did Falun Gong practitioners gather in front Zhong-Nan-Hai in Beijing on April 25, 1999?
A:
1. In Tianjin (a city near Beijing), on April 22/23, police arbitrarily arrested more than 40 and beat many Falun Dafa practitioners. Practitioners' appeal to local government of Tianjin for the release of these practitioners were ignored.
2. The main book of Falun Gong's teaching, Zhuan Falun, was secretly banned since 1997, and there had been many cases of harassment of and interference with Falun Gong practice.
3. Out of trust and hope for the central government, Falun Gong practitioners went to Zhong-Nan-Hai, to exercise their constitutional rights of appeal on April 25th, 1999.
Q: What were Falun Gong practitioners' requests on April 25, 1999?
A:
1. Release those innocent fellow practitioners arrested in Tianjin;
2. Lift the secret ban on publishing and distributing Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Dafa, in China;
3. Allow a legal and non-hostile environment for practicing Falun Dafa in China.
Q: What is the situation in China today?
A: The Chinese government banned Falun Gong on July 22nd, 1999, and
1. Hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners were arrested/detained and beaten. At least 15 practitioners died in police custody.
2. At least 5000 have been sent to labor camps without trial.
3. Millions of Falun Gong books, videotapes, and audiotapes have been confiscated and burned.
4. At least 500 Falun Gong practitioners were prosecuted with show-trials, and
sentenced to up to 18 years in prison.
5. Hundreds of practitioners, who were normal people with normal jobs, were sent to mental hospitals and drug rehabilitation centers where they were forced to receive injections with large dose of tranquilizer (sedatives) and treated with electric shocks.
6. Millions of people, including children, were forced to choose between their beliefs and their jobs, pensions, house, education and party membership.
7. The Chinese government has launched intensive demonizing campaign against Falun Gong in China ever since last July. Fabricated horror stories and severely distorted facts covered the truth and flooded the nation's media. The slandering propaganda was forced down to every community and state-run workplace throughout China. Since late last year, the Chinese government even extended their defamation campaign to western countries and some of the fabricated material was distributed worldwide.
Q: What are we, Falun Gong practitioners, asking today?
A: We call for a peaceful dialogue to solve the current crisis. Our requests include
1. Release all the innocent Falun Gong practitioners in custody.
2. Lift the ban on Falun Gong.
3. Rescind the arrest warrant for Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa.
4. Allow the publication of Zhuan Falun, the main book Falun Dafa's teaching, in China.
5. Allow a legal and non-hostile environment for practicing Falun Dafa in China
Conclusion:
1. We praise the openness displayed by Chinese government's willingness in dealing with its own citizens on April 25, 1999.
2. We regret the backwardness in civilization shown in Chinese government's brutal suppression on its own citizens' pursuit for spirituality and moral upgrade since July 1999.
3. We hope the Chinese government will soon come back to its sense and stop its persecutions against Falun Dafa practitioners.
4. The teachings of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance promoted by Falun Dafa will only benefit people, upgrade social morality, and bring peace and harmony to all countries.
Category: Perspective
