(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners in Singapore gathered at Hong Lim Park on July 15, 2014, for a rally and candlelight vigil to commemorate practitioners' 15-year peaceful resistance against the persecution, and to mourn the practitioners in China who have lost their lives for remaining steadfast in their beliefs.
They called upon the world's people to learn the facts and work together to end the brutal persecution committed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), specifically, the regime's systematic and state-sanctioned crime of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners.
Nearly 200 visitors from more than 20 countries, and local residents, signed a petition expressing their support for practitioners' efforts during the three-hour event.
Practitioners demonstrate the Falun Gong exercises
Mr. Sia, spokesperson for Singapore Falun Buddha Society, speaks at the rally
A candlelight vigil mourning practitioners in China who lost their lives for remaining steadfast in their beliefs during the 15-year brutal persecution
Passersby sign petition calling for an end to the Chinese communist regime's crimes of forced organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners in China.
Mr. Sia, spokesperson for the Singapore Falun Buddha Society said in his speech, “15 years ago on July 20, 1999, then Chinese Communist Party chief Jiang Zemin launched a nation-wide brutal persecution campaign to wipe out Falun Gong in China.”
“To date, millions of Falun Gong practitioners have been arrested, imprisoned, tortured, fired from jobs, expelled from schools, and forced to desert their homes. Hundreds of thousands are incarcerated in labor camps, forced to work for long hours. Over 80,000 torture cases have been recorded, and 3,769 are confirmed to have been killed. Tens of thousands have become victims of the state's secret forced organ harvesting program.”
“Today we urge all people of conscience in Singapore, including the government, to uphold a noble cause for human rights in the 21st century, to help put an end to the ongoing genocidal persecution. The Falun Gong community in Singapore calls out to everyone in Singapore not to capitulate to the CCP’s coercion or enticement, and to set a good model for truly upholding moral principles.”
“The Persecution Should Have Long Been Ended!”
Passing by the rally site were local residents, and visitors who hailed from more than 20 countries, including Italy, France, Czech Republic, Australia, the U.S., Sri Lanka, Russia, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, New Zealand, Indonesia, Romania, Malaysia, Philippines, Scotland, Korea, and India.
They were appalled upon hearing of the brutality of the persecution, and expressed strong hopes to put an end to such a genocidal persecution. Many people signed the petition to support the practitioners' efforts in raising awareness about the communist regime's heinous crimes of forced organ harvesting.
Among those who signed the petition were several legal professionals. One of them said, “I hope one more signature can offer help for one more!”
Freixo, a Portuguese international advertising coordinator who lives in London, was on a two-day business trip to Singapore, and happened to come to the rally site. He said that he felt ashamed as a human being that such atrocities were still going on in today's society. He hoped that people could work together to oppose and stop the persecution, regardless of race, nationality, or religious beliefs.
Harwood from Scotland signed the petition and said that no one has the right to take the life of another person, even if he has only one breath left.
Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi analyst who has been working in a business management consulting company in Singapore for six years, was amazed upon seeing practitioners peacefully doing the sitting meditation under the banner calling for an end to the persecution. He felt it was remarkable to peacefully protest the persecution this way, because it can truly catch people's attention.
Rebecca and Priya, two young ladies from Singapore, were deeply impressed by the peaceful scene, and commented that killing people and forced organ harvesting are evil deeds against humanity.
Three local teachers signed the petition, and one of them said that it was inhuman and immoral to harvest organs from living people, and all human beings should oppose such crimes.
Several Chinese people not only signed the petition to show their support, but alsoquit the CCP and its affiliated organizations.
Remaining Steadfast After Enduring the Persecution for Years
Mr. Cheng, who recently came to Singapore from China, has been a practitioner for 20 years. He said that he couldn't help crying while reading the information on the display boards, which vividly illustrated the real situation of Falun Gong practitioners in China.
He cherishes the opportunity outside of China to be able to freely talk to people about the persecution of Falun Gong.
His mother is imprisoned in China. She was illegally sentenced to 13 years for practicing Falun Gong.
He hopes people will learn the facts and be able to discern the righteous from the evil.
Category: July 20 Events
