(Minghui.org) The Krynica Economic Forum was held in the city of Krynica-Zdrój in southeast Poland from September 4-6, 2018. This annual event is Central and Eastern Europe’s largest and most well-known meeting of political and business leaders and is also known as the Polish Davos. This year included over 4000 delegates from Europe, Asia, and America as well as the Polish Prime Minister, other ministers, members of Parliament, and company executives and leaders in the cultural and scientific fields.

This is also the third time the Polish Falun Gong practitioners have come to the forum to introduce Falun Gong to participants and passersby. They set up stands stretching nearly 40 meters long along the main road near the venue with information of the practice in English, Polish, and Chinese.

Falun Gong practitioners demonstrating the exercises

Politicians and regular passersby sign petition in support of the lawsuit against former Chinese Communist Party head Jiang Zemin.

The police assisted in making the event successful by restricting noise levels in the surrounding areas. People could hear the peaceful Falun Gong music from far away. A bus carrying delegates from China stopped in front of the display. Everyone walked into the conference listening to Falun Gong music.

Many people stopped to watch practitioners demonstrate the exercises and took a brochure. Some took photos of the information on display while others chatted to practitioners for a long time, wanting to know more about the practice.

Forum participants and the public read about Falun Gong.

A Falun Gong practitioner explaining the facts about the persecution

Politicians Show Support

Mr. Albert Bartosz is the mayor of the Polish Town of Oświęcim. After reading the display he went to the table and signed the open letter to Polish Members of parliament. “I’m shocked to read about this,” he said. “I thought humanity’s biggest nightmare was over after the end of World War II. Now it seems that terrible things are still happening We live in this world together hence we must try our best to protect Falun Gong practitioners not only because this is a peaceful organization, but because they are good human beings. I thank them for fighting and upholding human rights with their lives.”

Mr. Albert Bartosz, the mayor, signs a petition to call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong.

Mr. Albert Bartosz speaking to a practitioner.

Ms. Małgorzata Radwan-Ballada, the vice chairperson of the lesser Poland regional assembly, walked up to the stand and spoke to practitioners for a long time. She signed the open letter to the Polish Parliament and the petition in support of the lawsuit against Jiang Zemin, the former leader who initiated the persecution of Falun Gong in China. She said: “I believe every politician knows the Chinese Communist regime's brutal persecution of Falun Gong but too little has been done about it, and some even ignore it. I hope everyone will take action together. We must put an end to this persecution.”

Ms. Małgorzata Radwan-Ballada, the vice chair of the lesser Poland regional assembly, signs a petition to call for an end to the persecution.

Mr. Pawel Kanclerz and Mr. Dariusz Skarzynski, the mayor and deputy mayor of Ożarów, Poland, and Mr. Tadeusz Pieronek, bishop of the Roman Catholic church, were among the many who signed the petition to sue Jiang Zemin and expressed their objection to the persecution in China.

Mr. Pawel Kanclerz (right, first) and Mr, Dariusz Skarzynski (right, second) – the mayor and deputy mayor of Ożarów, Poland sign, the petition

Economic Forum Participants Learn the Truth

A participant told practitioners, “It will not work in Poland if freedom is sacrificed for money and economic benefits.”

Two female delegates told practitioners that one of the topics discussed at this year's forum was the impact and challenges that economic development poses to a country's healthcare system. Representatives from China gave a talk at the forum on traditional medicine in China. Their question was: “If Falun Gong has exceptional benefits in the treatment of illnesses, why didn't the Chinese government promote the practice instead of persecuting it?” They expressed their doubt as to what the China delegates talked about was true.

Practitioners explained that it is common practice for the Chinese Communist regime to use traditional Chinese culture as a cover up for its wrongdoing. When they realized that Falun Gong could not be used and would, in the end, let everyone see that the Party is evil, the regime showed no mercy in trying to eradicate it.” 

Practitioners gave each woman a copy of the Polish version of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and suggested that they read the main book about Falun Gong – Zhuan Falun. 

Polish People Show Their Support

Ms. Maria Kaminska from Kraków signed the petition after learning about the persecution from practitioners. She said, “There shouldn't be torture or persecution anywhere on this earth. I hope the world will become a better place so that my grandchildren and future generations can live in a good environment. How can an ancient and upright practice like Falun Gong be suppressed? I hope the Polish government will do something to stop this and that Jiang Zemin, who's responsible for this persecution, will be brought to justice soon.”

Ms. Maria Kaminska hopes her government will do something to stop the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Tourists Mr. and Mrs. Marczewscy read about Falun Gong and signed the petition. They said. “We are shocked that this is happening in China. How can something like this still take place today, in the 21^st century? It's terrifying. We cannot accept this. We protest the persecution. We will continue to pay attention to this. May God bless you with infinite power and strength to persist in your cause. I wish Falun Gong all the best.”