(Clearwisdom.net) Practitioners in Ireland are seeking help to rescue Yang Fang and Liu Feng, both being illegally detained in China. Liu Feng was a foreign student in Ireland. He was arrested at the end of 1999 when he returned to China to appeal peacefully to the Chinese government to cease its persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners. His passport was confiscated preventing him from returning to Ireland to finish his studies. Since I knew Liu Feng quite well when I was in China, I am writing these few things that I knew about him in the hope that it may help the rescuing work in some way.

In April 2000, I was having a hard time deciding whether to go to Beijing to appeal. Although I understood the Fa quite well, my studies and my family were two major concerns for me. I went to a fellow practitioner Mr. A's house after school one day to seek his opinion. Someone was already there when I arrived. Mr. A introduced us and said: "This is Liu Feng. He just came back from Ireland." After a brief greeting, I mentioned my difficulties. Liu Feng said that he had the same kind of difficulties I had. Then, he went ahead and shared his experiences with me.

In December 1999, Liu Feng decided to go home since his grandfather was sick and wished to see him. He learned about a Fa conference to be being held in Hong Kong, where he was scheduled to change planes anyway, so he went to the conference. The topics of the presentation were very interesting. The first presentation was called "Dafa is calling on us." The presenter said that going to Beijing to appeal was the way to validate the Fa. It was an excellent presentation. The second presenter suggested that we should be studying the Fa at home diligently and it would be wrong to appeal. The third presenter again said to appeal was the right thing to do. The fourth presenter said studying the Fa should be done at home. Liu Feng was confused and didn't know what to do since his understanding of the Fa wasn't very solid. After the conference, he exchanged ideas with other practitioners until late at night. Finally they all agreed that going to Beijing to appeal was the right thing to do.

Liu Feng took the train to Beijing with other practitioners instead of going home. They kept clarifying the truth about Dafa to the cab drivers while looking for a place to stay in Beijing. Some cabdrivers said nervously: "How dare you talk about this subject in Beijing now." Other cabdrivers listened carefully and clearheadedly.

Everyone was thinking about what they should they do after they settled down in Beijing that night. Liu Feng decided to write the Premier a letter and deliver it in person. He tried to get a cab early next morning to take him to the Premier's residence. The first two cabdrivers declined after they found out the destination. The third cabdriver took him somewhere close by.

Feng admitted that he was quite scared at first when he saw regular and plainclothes policemen surrounding the Premier's residence. After some reasoning with himself that he was doing the right thing, he rushed toward the front door with a strong determination. The guard at the door took him to the police station behind the residence after he found out that Liu Feng wanted to appeal for Falun Gong. Police took away his passport and locked him up in a building without a roof in the backyard of the police station. The temperature was 20 to 30 degrees below zero Celsius [below zero Fahrenheit] during December in Beijing and Liu Feng spent that chilly night there.

Liu Feng was sent to his hometown, Dalian City the following day. He was jailed in the Yao Gia Detention Center where he shared the same cell with Mr. A. Mr. A is a very diligent veteran practitioner. His understanding of the Fa is very solid and he can memorize many of Teacher's articles without missing a single word. Liu Feng told A that he was a novice practitioner. His understanding of the Fa wasn't very clear since he was not diligent in the Fa cultivation.

During his detention, Liu Feng was questioned four times by the police. These interrogations were tests regarding his sentimental attachments. His parents tried their best to convince him to give up his Dafa cultivation. His father tried both a hard and soft approach: he told Feng that being an ordinary worker it was very difficult for him to send his son overseas to study; other times he'd hit him. His father would also kneel down before him in front of many people, begging him to write a "guarantee statement" and give up his Dafa cultivation.

Liu Feng said that the last time was the most difficult. Not only his parents but also all of his relatives were there. Someone had already prepared the "guarantee statement" for him. Police had promised that if he would sign the "statement", his passport would be returned to him. They told him that his family had hired a car waiting outside, if he compromised he could have his passport back, take the car to the airport and return to Ireland. He could continue practicing Falun Gong and continuing his study (he was supposed to finish his study in June, 2000). All the relatives took turns in pressuring him. Some time after 4 pm, Liu Feng asked Teacher in silence:" Teacher, I can't keep up like this any longer. What should I do?" While he was still struggling within, an idea hit him like a flash. He asked the police for a pen and wrote, "My determination in Dafa cultivation is unwavering" on the signature line of the "statement". At that instant, Feng said, his mind became at peace. His relatives saw what he had done and left soon afterwards. Feng had finally passed the test.

After about half a month, the police didn't know what to do with him so they let him go. Feng said, it was even harder for him at home. His father did not allow him to go out or study the Fa or practice the exercises. He didn't know what to do. Every day, other than eating and sleeping, he just sat there foolishly. After a few weeks, his parents realized it was no use to keep him at home like this, so they allowed him to go out again. Liu Feng went to the home of a fellow practitioner and renewed his Fa study. Gradually, he matured through the Fa study with others.

From Liu Feng's experiences, I realized that the only requirement to turn a difficult time into a delightful occurrence is having a solid belief in the Fa and Teacher; just like a Chinese poem says: "After passing the shady willow trees, there will be bright flowers and another village ahead." I remembered it is possible for us to create our own environment.

After returning from my first appeal in Beijing, I got in touch with Liu Feng soon and learned about his other encounters. Later, his father found out that he always mingled with Dafa practitioners whenever he went out and that not only did he have no desire to give up cultivation, but his belief in Dafa became even stronger. Being poisoned by the lies and fearing persecution by the government, his father started to limit his outings. Sometimes his father hit him so hard that the blood flew out of his mouth and spat over the white wall. Unable to endure this hardship any longer, he would stay away from home and wait till night fell before returning. One day his father told him, "If you go out again today, don't bother to come home again." Liu Feng continued going out to meet practitioners; when he came back one night, no one would open the door for him, even when he knocked on the door persistently. Since it was quite late, he did not want to bother other practitioners. So he just stood outside his home that whole night.

The following day, he went to look for a job at a fast food restaurant. The restaurant hired him since he spoke fluent English and many foreigners dined there. His only request was a place to stay and he didn't care about how much he'd get paid. He shared the basement of the restaurant as the sleeping quarters with other young men from out of town who also worked there. When Feng started to practice the exercises before going to bed that night, his co-worker asked him what he was doing. He told them, " I am practicing qigong." " What kind of qigong?" "Falun Gong". They were all greatly surprised; "How dare you practice Falun Gong?" He clarified the truth about the persecution of Falun Dafa and they all expressed understanding.

After a few days, his co-worker told him that the manager wanted to talk to him. He knew then that the manager had known about his practicing Falun Gong. He was prepared for the worst to happen. During their conversion, as he began to tell the truth about Dafa, the manager interrupted him and said, "You don't have to tell me anything because my mother also practices Falun Gong." The manager told him that she wanted Feng to be the manager. She knew that Dafa disciples were all good people and she could trust him taking care of the restaurant when she had to go out.

Since then, Feng had a steady job. He and other practitioners produced many materials for clarifying the truth about Dafa in this convenient situation. He bought a computer, a printer, and a motorcycle. He used the motorcycle to take practitioners to distribute Dafa materials. They even posted the clarifying materials on the doors of the city hall, courthouse, and the judicial bureau building.

In the restaurant, everyone liked this amicable young manager a lot. They all said that manager Liu never gave them a hard time. If anyone made a mistake, he would reason with that person and told him why .They all respected his behavior. One time when they were dining together, one of the workers left some food on the table. Feng fetched the food and finished it. He told them Teacher's story and the reason for not leaving food unfinished. Afterwards, no one would leave any food unfinished. Because of his doing good work and his good personality, they all supported him. When the police inspector came, they would hide him, or when some strangers called and asked for him, they would help avoid his being exposed.

During the Lantern Moon Festival, 2000, Feng bought some Festival Cakes and grapes and went home. He told his parents, "The Lantern Moon Festival is for family reunions. I am coming home for that. Whatever behavior or wrong things I had done before, it is because I didn't cultivate myself well, and have nothing to do with Falun Dafa. I am asking for your forgiveness and understanding." His parents were no longer angry with him. In October 2000, Liu Feng went to Tiananmen again, and returned to Dalian safely. Owing to tightened surveillance on Falun Dafa disciples in China, Liu Feng went to work for a different restaurant.

We continued to keep in touch until I left the country in August 2001. The story above is what I know of Liu Feng. There are probably more things he has done quietly which I didn't know about.

I hope all Dafa practitioners will do their best to rescue him.