Washington DC: Candlelight Vigil Shows Perseverance and Hope (Photos)

By a practitioner in the U.S.
 

(Clearwisdom.net) On the evening of July 15, 2011, in front of the Washington Monument in the U.S. Capital, a symbol of freedom and hope, thousands of candles cast a gentle glow. More than 2,500 Falun Gong practitioners from around the world held lighted candles and formed the Chinese characters reading “Falun Dafa is good,” to commemorate fellow practitioners who have died as a result of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong in China. Those practitioners lost their lives for firmly upholding their belief and for safeguarding the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The practitioners held the candlelight vigil in Washington DC to expose the twelve-year persecution in China and to call for its end. The event was solemn and moving.







Background
 
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a traditional Chinese spiritual discipline for mind and body. The practice involves slow, gentle movements and meditation. The principles of Falun Gong are based on Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The practice was first introduced by Master Li Hongzhi in China in May 1992 and quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China and then beyond. Its beneficial effects in uplifting an individual's physical health, spiritual well-being, and moral character, as well as its positive influence in the community and society as a whole, have been affirmed worldwide.

However, the CCP, which rules China with lies and violence, was unsettled that millions of people would strive to follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. On July 20 1999, the CCP mobilized its entire state machinery and launched a comprehensive and systematic brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. All of a sudden, lies, slanders and defamation overwhelmed the nation. Intense pressure, arbitrary detention, forced labor, and torture devastated an untold number of practitioners. According to figures from the Minghui/Clearwisdom website, as of July 15, 2011, at least 3,428 Falun Gong practitioners are confirmed to have died as a result of the persecution, though that number is likely to be much higher.

Since the start of the persecution, practitioners throughout the world have been speaking out about Falun Gong and exposing the CCP's crimes in a tireless effort to end the persecution.

Every July 20, for twelve years, practitioners from around the world have gathered in Washington DC to hold a series of large-scale activities to expose the persecution and to call for all people to work together to stop the CCP's brutality. Every year, there is a candlelight vigil to commemorate those who have died in China and to call for justice. Over the years, more and more people have expressed their support for Falun Gong's untiring efforts to end the persecution, which demonstrates the hope that righteousness will ultimately triumph over evil.

Posting date: 7/17/2011
Category: July 20-Persecution Begins
Chinese version available at
http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2011/7/16/美国华府烛光夜悼-展示坚忍与希望（图）-244030.html

Falun Gong Gains Support Over Twelve Years of Peaceful Efforts against the Persecution (Photos)

By Ye Linghui
 

(Clearwisdom.net) More than 2,500 Falun Gong practitioners and supporters held a rally in front of the Washington Monument in Washington DC on July 15, 2011, to condemn the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) brutality against Falun Gong practitioners over the past twelve years, and to celebrate the fact that more people have become aware of the true situation of Falun Gong.

Rally venue 

Those who persecute will face trial
 
The World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) representative Mr. Li Dayong spoke at the rally. “On July 20, twelve years ago, the CCP started destroying the [sense of] justice and conscience of humanity, by starting a genocidal persecution campaign against Falun Gong practitioners.

“In mainland China, tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners were arrested, beaten, and even had their organs harvested, only because they sought to conduct themselves to be better people according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.” Mr. Li said, “[The persecution] is an evil unprecedented in human history.”

As for those who have participated in the persecution, Mr. Li Dayong said, “What you face will be investigation, the condemnation of the entire society and a grand trial in history.”

Mr. Li said that the whole world is awakening. Falun Gong practitioners have filed more than 30 lawsuits in international courts, targeting the main perpetrators of the persecution. The courts of Spain and Argentina's pioneering support of Falun Gong practitioners' lawsuits against chief perpetrator Jiang Zemin, and the rise of upstanding lawyers defending Falun Gong practitioners in China over the past several years, shows that the grand tide has begun in which the entire international community will soon be comprehensively investigating the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong.

Co-sponsored by senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Tom Coburn (R-MD), S. Res. 232 was introduced in the Senate on July 13, 2011. The resolution supports the movement of the Chinese people's quitting the CCP and its affiliated organizations, condemns the CCP's comprehensive and barbaric repression of Falun Gong, and calls for an immediate end to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

Patrick Forrest, Virginia Senate candidate, said at the rally that we need to speak out loudly and clearly for the protection of everyone's basic human rights and freedom.

Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful and rational efforts against the persecution impress people
 
Mr. Tang Boqiao, Chairman of United China of Peace and Democracy, said in his speech that to uphold conscienceness and justice is a tremendous and unconquerable power.

“I have witnessed over the past more than ten years the Falun Gong practitioners' efforts against the persecution. From the beginning to now, you have remained unchanged in the approaches you've taken, only that your group is even larger, and your drum is even more resounding.” He said, “Your spirits are the same as they were at the beginning, neither overbearing nor servile, peaceful and rational. Such spirit will illuminate the heavens, and last forever.”

Representatives of the China Democracy Party and other groups representing communities from Vietnam, Laos, Uygur and other community leaders also came to the rally to express their support for Falun Gong. They condemned the CCP's brutality and recognized Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful and rational efforts against the persecution.

As long as the persecution continues, Falun Gong practitioners expose the CCP's brutality
 
Mr. Niu Jinping, his wife and their daughter came to the U.S. six months ago. Mr. Niu was arrested eleven times and spent four and a half years in CCP prisons. He said, “When my wife was persecuted in Beijing, I met with EU Vice-President Edward McMillan-Scott and many reporters. Mr. Cao Dong who met with the EU Vice-President with me was subsequently sentenced to five years of imprisonment.”

Mr. Niu's wife Ms. Zhang Lianying was arrested in 2005 and sentenced to two and a half years of forced labor. She was subjected to inhuman physical abuse and torture during her time in detention. She lost consciousness seven times as a result of severe physical abuse and torture, and she was on the verge of death. Mr. Niu met with EU Vice-president Edward McMillan-Scott on May 21, 2006, and revealed his wife's ordeals to the international community. He was soon placed under Beijing police surveillance.

On April 20, 2008, in front of their four-and-a-half-year-old daughter, more than a dozen police officers arrested Mr. Niu and his wife. Mr. Niu said that the police covered his head with a black hood and pushed him to the ground.

The couple was each sentenced to two and a half years of imprisonment and suffered gross physical abuse and torture. Mr. Niu said that four criminal inmates stripped him of all his clothes, and instructed by a guard, they used four electric batons to shock him, including his mouth, anus and genitals. He lost consciousness after they added one more high-voltage electric baton.

When they arrived in the U.S. the three of them distributed information about Falun Gong on the street. Mr. Niu said that they want to raise people's awareness about the CCP's evil nature.

Niu Jinping told the reporter that Ms. Wang Junhua and Ms. Zhang Yinying, two Beijing practitioners that he knew, were arrested on June 29, 2011. “The CCP does bad deeds and arrests people covertly. All practitioners who haven't written a 'repentance statement' to give up practicing Falun Gong are under surveillance.”

Practitioners outside of China persist in their efforts to expose and end the persecution
 
Ms. Song from Australia flew 24 hours from Melbourne to Washington DC. She said that it's the seventh time that she has come to DC to participate in these activities, to help mainstream society and the American government learn about the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Ms. Song was impressed by government officials and supporters at the rally held on July 14 in the U.S. Capitol. She said, “U.S. Members of Congress, religious groups, human rights groups, doctors, and lawyers, all spoke out to express their support for Falun Gong.” She said that practitioners' twelve-year-long tireless truth-clarification efforts have enabled more and more people to learn about Falun Gong and speak out for Falun Gong.

Ms. Wang from Sydney, Australia was in Washington DC for the first time. She said that she came to take part in the Divine Land Marching Band in the parade.

Ms. Wang, a former associate professor in China, went to Sydney in 2004. She met Falun Gong practitioners in Chinatown and started practicing. Shortly after she began her practice, her 800-degree myopia disappeared. She has been active in various truth-clarification activities, and became one of the members of the Divine Land Marching Band.

Ms. Wang carried her baritone horn all the way from Sydney to Washington DC. She felt that it was very worthwhile. She met many people on her way, and told them about Falun Gong. She felt that both she and the people she spoke to benefited greatly.

Posting date: 7/17/2011
Category: July 20-Persecution Begins
Chinese version available at
http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2011/7/16/十二年和平抗暴-法轮功获更多支持（图）-244028.html

Falun Gong Practitioners from Every Corner of the World Work Together to Stop the Persecution (Photos)

By Minghui correspondent De Xiang
 

(Clearwisdom.net) On the eve of the 12^th anniversary of Falun Gong practitioners' ongoing efforts to end the persecution in China, more than one thousand Falun Gong practitioners from around the world gathered in front of Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. on July 14, 2011. Several American congressmen and representatives from international organizations and non-governmental organizations attended the rally to show their support.

Nicolas Schols from Belgium

 

Nicolas Schols from Belgium heard about Falun Gong from a friend before the persecution and started practicing Falun Gong. He feel it is a great cultivation practice. Life started to be better after he started his cultivation in Falun Gong. He said that the practitioners in China were experiencing a terrible persecution. He and his wife came to Washington D.C. to campaign for their fellow practitioners in China. They hoped that the international society would pay attention to the brutal violation of human rights taking place in China.

Peter Sanftmann from Germany

 

Peter Sanftmann from Germany started his cultivation practice eight years ago. He said. “Before cultivation practice, I used worry about the next day and couldn't sleep. But I feel more sure since I started practicing Falun Gong. I tell myself, no matter how many goals you have, what you accomplished today is important...Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance are the cornerstones of any nation. These basic principles are rarely put into practice. There are many similar principles in the world, but I feel that they are truly put in practice only in Falun Gong. For example, thousands and thousands of Falun Gong practitioners in China remain steadfast in Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, even facing the life and death situation of the persecution.” Peter was deeply moved when hearing the speeches of congressmen during the rally. He had tears in his eyes. He said that the reason he came to D.C. was to participate in the rally calling for an end to the persecution.

Ms. Shao from Japan

 

Ms. Shao from Japan participated in the activity in D.C. for the first time. She started practicing Falun Gong in 2003. She was so happy that she could join so many practitioners in the United States. She said that the reason for her trip was that she wished to see the persecution end as soon as possible.

Johnny Joyce (at right) and other practitioners from India

 

Practitioner Johnny Joyce from India works in an American company. He said, “I have been longing to come to this activity in Washington D.C., to tell the world that Falun Dafa is great and to call for an end to the persecution in China.” He told the reporter that Falun Gong was growing fast in India. There are many practitioners and Fa-study groups in the big cities of India.

Mr. Yin and his wife Mrs. Lu from Canada

 

Seventy-three-year-old Mr. Yin had attended Master Li's lecture in Guiyang, China, in 1993. He was very happy to see so many people support Falun Gong. He said, “I was very happy to see people support Dafa with such great sense of righteous thought.” Mr. Yin said the culture of the Communist Party (atheism) had poisoned people. His understanding of the value of life was completely changed after he attended Master Li's lectures. Even though he experienced high pressure during the persecution when he was in China, he didn't give up. He said, “I surely won't give up.” His wife Mrs. Lu also treasures the opportunity to cultivate herself and is determined to do well.

Posting date: 7/17/2011
Category: July 20-Persecution Begins
Chinese version available at
http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2011/7/16/来自五湖四海-同心制止迫害（图）-243995.html

Poland: Falun Gong Welcomed in Ancient City of Krakow (Photos)

By a practitioner in Poland
 

(Clearwisdom.net) On June 25 and 26, 2011, Polish Falun Gong practitioners traveled to the medieval city of Krakow in southern Poland to introduce the practice of Falun Gong. They also exposed the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) ongoing, twelve-year brutal persecution of Falun Gong in China. 

Falun Gong practitioners practice the exercises on Krakow Central Railway Station Square

People reading information about Falun Gong on Old Town Square in Krakow

Passers-by read the leaflets, learning about Falun Gong

Many people sign the petition, condemning the CCP's persecution

Learning about Falun Gong on Old Town Square

Several people joined the practice in Jordana Park in Krakow

Krakow is Poland's third largest city, built in the Seventh Century. It was the capital of Poland in the Eleventh Century. In the Eighteenth Century, the ruling dynasty moved the capital to Warsaw. Over time, this beautiful city of nearly seven hundred years has evolved into an ancient cultural city and tourist destination. With Prague and Vienna, Krakow was one of the three major cultural centers of Central Europe, and it is one of the oldest cities in Central Europe. 

Polish Falun Gong practitioners have come to Krakow several times to introduce Falun Gong. Each time, they have received a warm welcome by the local people and visitors. On June 25, Falun Gong practitioners arrived in the ancient cultural capital once again. They first stopped at Krakow Central Railway Station Square, where they unfurled a banner reading "Falun Dafa in Poland" and displayed panels introducing Falun Dafa. Then they began doing the Falun Gong exercises as a group. 

Many people came to watch the exercise demonstration. As people read the display boards, they were surprised to read that the Chinese Communist Party has been carrying out a brutal persecution of Falun Gong in China for more than twelve years. Many local people and visitors signed the petition calling for a stop to the persecution of Falun Gong. 

A young couple listened to an introduction about Falun Gong, after which of them declared, "I will bring the three words, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, to my friends. They are such good principles!" 

After a long conversation with a Falun Gong pratitioner, a young man picked up the book Bloody Harvest, which exposes the CCP's organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners. He said, "I was going to a party with my friends, but I will let my friends go without me so that I can read this book carefully." 

One woman carefully read a Falun Gong flyer while walking. She hurried back a few minutes later and took more leaflets for her friends. 

In the afternoon, the Falun Gong practitioners went to Rynek Glowny Square in Krakow Old Town. The beautiful medieval square is home to the Thirteenth Century St. Mary's Basilica, the Polish History Museum a museum of paintings, and a four-story bookstore. In the middle of the square, there is a Sixteenth Century building called the Cloth Hall, which has been in operation for 500 years. There are always many visitors on Rynek Glowny Square. 

Many people asked to learn Falun Gong immediately. They read the display boards carefully and took leaflets. Many asked about the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong. More signed the petition calling to stop the CCP's brutal persecution in China. 

The next day, Sunday, the practitioners went to Jordana Park in Krakow, where a new practice site had been recently set up. There have been more than 20 regular paticipants doing the exercises at this site. On this day, more people attended, after having just learned about Falun Gong. There were also many passers-by who came over to take leaflets about the free exercise instruction sessions. People in Krakow have shown great interest in Falun Dafa. 

Posting date: 7/4/2011
Category: Community Events
Chinese version available at  
http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2011/6/30/法轮功在波兰文化古城受欢迎（图）-243218.html

Washington, DC: The Divine Land Marching Band Participates in the National Independence Day Parade for the Tenth Time (Photos)

By a practitioner in Washington, DC
 
(Clearwisdom.net) July 4, 2011, was America's birthday, marking 235 years of America independence. There were celebrations across the nation throughout the day, including fireworks displays and parades. The National Independence Day Parade in Washington, DC, is a special event. As the only Chinese group, the Divine Land Marching Band, composed of 200 Falun Gong practitioners and a beautifully-decorated float, participated in this grand celebration for the tenth time.

Falun Gong practitioners participate in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, DC.

Spectators applaud as the band marches by the National Archives.

The band in the 4^th of July Parade

Practitioners' contingent impresses the spectators in the 4^th of July Parade .

The Divine Land Marching Band passes by the Washington Monument in the Independence Day Parade.

The band members play as they march near the Washington Monument.

Falun Gong practitioners doing the exercises on a float with lotus flowers, accompanied by “celestial maidens” in the Independence Day Parade in Washington, DC

More than 100 groups from across the nation participated in the 4^th of July Parade in Washington, DC, which features marching bands, military and specialty units, floats, historical figures, dance performances representing different ethnicities, an “Uncle Sam” balloon, and many other colorful balloons. The parade drew tens of thousands of visitors from around the world as well as local residents, many of them Chinese.

It was the tenth year that Falun Gong practitioners, the only Chinese group, participated in DC's Independence Day Parade. The Falun Gong contingent was composed of the Divine Land Marching Band and a beautifully-decorated float. The band's unique costumes, majesty and precision, and their resounding selections impressed the enthusiastic audience.

The celebration in Washington ended with a live concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol building, followed by a spectacular display of fireworks over the Washington Monument. Many people arrived by noontime to stake out a good spot from which to watch the fireworks in the evening.

On July 4, 1776, the U.S. Declaration of Independence was adopted, and that independent spirit has been passed down to today. The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important founding documents in the world, emphasizing the pursuit of freedom and respect for life as fundamental principles. It has guided the American people for over 200 years.

The 4^th of July each year is also a time for Americans to recall these principles and the founding spirit of their country. Some people have sought to remind the government to uphold moral values and human rights, and not to ignore the country's fundamental principles for the sake of profit.

Posting date: 7/7/2011
Category: Community Events
Chinese version available at
http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2011/7/6/美国首都独立日大游行-天国乐团展风采（图）-243507.html

Italy: Falun Gong Draws Attention at Multicultural Festival in Milan (Photos)

By a practitioner in Italy
 
(Clearwisdom.net) During the two weekends from the end of June to early July, Falun Gong practitioners in Milan, Italy, were invited to take part in local community events organized by the Festival Delle Diversita. The Falun Gong information booth attracted many people of different races to come and learn about the practice. People signed the petition protesting the persecution, while learning Falun Gong and making paper lotus flowers were popular this year.

Practitioners demonstrate the Falun Gong exercises

This annual cultural festival, which took place over two consecutive weekends, was held in the largest parks in two urban districts in Milan. Many cultural, arts, and human rights groups set up exhibition stands. Practitioners in Milan set up an information booth with posters and leaflets to introduce Falun Dafa and call for an end to the brutal persecution.

Noticing the display boards, an Italian man stopped to read carefully. His expression gradually darkened, and he told Falun Gong practitioners that he loved Chinese culture and had practiced martial arts for many years, but that he did not know anything about the CCP persecution of Falun Gong, which was very shocking. He immediately signed the petition protesting the persecution without any hesitation.

An Italian mother brought her 12-year-old daughter to learn about Falun Gong. As she read, she patiently explained the contents to her daughter so that she would have a better understanding of subject. After seeing her mother sign the petition, the daughter asked a practitioner, “May I sign, too?” After receiving confirmation, she also signed the petition with care.

Tourists pay attention to Falun Gong on the Festival Delle Diversita, Millan

People sign the petition the end the persecution and support Falun Gong

Two friendly Italian police officers came to the booth. One of them said that he had seen the display boards in front of the Chinese Consulate and he expressed his support of Falun Gong. His colleague did not know anything about Falun Gong, so the first officer told him about it. Finally, both asked whether their kids could come learn Falun Gong, because their kids were very naughty.

On one side of the booth, free Falun Gong teaching was offered. Practitioners demonstrated the five exercises. Many people came to learn them.

In addition, practitioners set up a table to teach people how to make paper lotus flowers. The golden lotus flowers sparkled. At one time people were crowded around the table. Many children and their parents came to learn how to fold the flowers. Eventually one more table was needed to accommodate everyone.

Folding paper lotuses was popular

Practitioners told people that the lotus represents holiness and goodness. Some people followed practitioners to repeat, “Falun Dafa is great” and “Truth-Compassion-Forbearance” in Chinese, which was printed on the bookmarks attached to the paper lotuses.

An Asian couple with a guitar saw the pictures of the brutal persecution of Falun Gong on the display boards and frowned. The man said with indignation, “How that could happen!?” But when they saw the paper lotuses, both of them smiled. The girl said, “Really beautiful.”

Local Chinese came to the information stand with curiosity. Practitioners gave them leaflets to read. Some understood the facts only after a few words and were happy to quit the CCP using an alias. A few Chinese kids imitated the exercises, and said “Falun Dafa is great” in Chinese. Some kids took the CD home and said they would show it to their families. One young Chinese girl wanted to help to hand out leaflets so that more people could learn about Falun Gong.

During the four-day event, similar things happened again and again. The practitioners on site said that more and more people would like to learn about Falun Gong.

Posting date: 7/9/2011
Category: Community Events
Chinese version available at
http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2011/7/6/米兰多元文化节-法轮功受瞩目（图）-243517.html

Overview of Death Cases of Falun Gong Practitioners Due to Persecution (Graphs and Photos)

By a Clearwisdom correspondent from China

 

(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Gong is an ancient practice based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Since first being made public in China by Mr. Li Hongzhi in May 1992, it quickly spread to more than 100 countries around the world and brought physical and mental health to over 100 million people. The practice has received over 1500 awards and proclamations worldwide. 

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Jiang's regime began persecuting Falun Gong on July 20, 1999. During the past 12 years of persecution, the CCP has employed many methods of inhuman and brutal torture. Over 3,428 deaths of Falun Gong practitioners have been documented. The actual death toll well exceeds this, as getting such information out of China is extremely difficult and dangerous for those who report such cases. Other organizations (NGOs, Matas and Kilgour, etc.) estimate that the deaths of Falun Gong practitioners number in the tens of thousands. In addition, hundreds of thousands of practitioners have been sent to jails and forced labor camps. Several thousand have been forced into mental hospitals and given injections that destroy the central nervous system, and countless practitioners have been sent to brainwashing centers. Many were forced to become homeless in order to avoid persecution. Countless numbers of practitioners are harassed and monitored, and their families restricted to varying degrees. The CCP pushes the persecution to a fanatical extreme. 

This article provides a few statistics on the 3,428 documented death cases that the Minghui website received from July 1999 to March 2011. The average number of deaths is 24 per month. Behind the numbers, one can see that the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners that is being carried out by the Chinese Communist regime is systematic, brutal, and secretive. 

 

Graph 1: Total number of deaths of Falun Gong practitioners each year from July 1999 to March 2011 (incomplete statistics) 

Death Cases Spread Out All Over the Country

 

These death cases of Falun Gong practitioners are spread out over 31 provinces and autonomous regions in China. The provinces with the highest number of deaths in decreasing order are Heilongjiang, Hebei, Liaoning, Jilin, Shandong, Sichuan, and Hubei. 

 

Graph 2: Distribution of deaths of Falun Gong practitioners by province from July 1999 to March 2011 (incomplete statistics) 

The CCP fabricates rumors and falsifies facts to defame Falun Gong and deceive the world's people. It tries hard to cover up the brutality of the persecution. From central to local government, the persecution is carried out in a systematic way. The 610 Office is an agency specifically created to persecute Falun Gong, with absolute power over each level of administration in the Party and all other political and judiciary systems. 

Jiang Zemin, the previous CCP leader, issued many secret orders, including, "Deaths of Falun Gong practitioners from beatings is nothing and shall be counted as suicide," "The body shall be directly cremated without investigating the person's identity," "Defame their reputations, bankrupt them financially, destroy them physically." The 610 Office enforces these policies. In some of the death cases, the perpetrators who participated in the persecution frequently mentioned the policy of “Death of Falun Gong practitioners from beatings is nothing.” 

Du Jie, head of the Political Security Office of Gongyi City Police Department, instructed police to mercilessly beat Mr. Chang Baoli. Du Jie shouted, "Beating one to death won't matter, since it will be counted as a suicide." Twenty-year-old Mr. Chang was beaten to death on the very first day. (http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2004/3/31/46600.html) 

Mr. Lu Xingguo, 45, was a Falun Gong practitioner from Shanghai. On October 15, 2003, he was beaten to death in No. 3 Forced Labor Camp in the Qingpu District, Shanghai. Xiang Jianzhong, head of the ward, said, "I have orders from above (to torture and “transform” Falun Gong practitioners). A 5% mortality rate is normal for the prison, so the death of a practitioner is nothing. We don't care." (http://www.clearwisdom.net/html/articles/2010/11/22/121550.html) 

Women and the Elderly Rank High in Proportion Among the Deaths

 

Of these deaths, 53 percent or 1,841 of the victims were women (Graph 3), and 62 percent or 1,932 of the victims were over 50 years of age (Graph 4). The average age of death is 53. There were even teenagers among the victims. 

 

Graph 3: Deaths of Falun Gong practitioners from July 1999 to March 2011 broken down by sex (incomplete statistics) 

 

Picture 4: Distribution of deaths of Falun Gong practitioners by age from July 1999 to March 2011 (incomplete statistics) 

Ms. Song Yaqin from Yanji City, Jilin Province, was 77 years old. In 2009, Ms. Song visited the Helong City Police Department to request the release of her injured son. The police pushed her down, dragged her down the stairs, and violently beat her. After that and up until her death, Ms. Song suffered from incontinence and her health diminished day by day. She passed away on the morning of July 18, 2010. Ms. Song had been subjected to mistreatment many times. In the summer of 2002, she was arrested while handing out leaflets about Falun Gong in the Wenmiao Market. Officers handcuffed her hands, brutally beat her, and hung her up by her handcuffs, causing the metal to cut deeply into her flesh, leaving permanent scars on her wrists. (http://www.clearwisdom.net/html/articles/2010/8/11/119184.html) 

Re-enactment photo: Hung up by handcuffs

Torture – The Major Cause of Death of Falun Gong Practitioners

 

Among the 3,428 death cases, most of the victims were subjected to brutal physical torture. Some were killed in a short time or even on the same day. Some were detained and tortured several times, and died after long-term suffering. 

The persecution was carried out at police stations, detention centers, labor camps, and prisons. More than 40 torture methods are used to brutalize Falun Gong practitioners. These include: Deprivation of sleep for many days; shocking with multiple high-voltage electric batons at the same time (the body parts shocked include mouth, head, face, chest, breasts, other private parts, and others); various kinds of handcuffs and shackles and being hung up; different kinds of sticks, clubs and whips including rubber clubs, spiked sticks, leather whips, copper wire whips, steel bars, etc.; hammering bamboo sticks and metal nails into the practitioners' fingers so deeply that they touch bone; pinching the practitioners' flesh with pliers; force-feeding pepper water, concentrated salt water, and feces through a large-diameter plastic tube; pouring cold water all over the practitioners during the winter; stripping the practitioners of their clothes and throwing them outside; forcing them to stand under the sun in the heat of summer; burn them with hot iron rods; denial of restroom use; injection of various drugs to attack the nervous system; etc. Among the death cases, more than 20 victims were cremated while they were still breathing. 

Examples: 

1. Mr. Huang Cheng from Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province, was brutally tortured by officials from Panjin Prison and the Taihe Public Security Bureau in Jinzhou. Police tortured him by using ten large medical needles to puncture his fingers between the nails and the flesh. They also wrapped electrical wire around him and used electric batons to shock and torture him for three hours non stop. He ended up in critical condition. On February 24, 2011, he died at the age of 56. (http://www.clearwisdom.net/html/articles/2011/3/26/124052.html) 

Re-enactment photo: Puncturing fingers with large needles

2. Mr. Li Guang was a TV program host employed by the Laizhou City TV Station in Shandong Province. On December 3, 2004, he was tortured to death in Huaibei Prison by guards Xu Haiming, Wang Xiyun, and others. They brutally tortured him, shocking him 40 times with electric batons. Each torture session lasted three to four hours, and up to seven batons were used, causing his neck to swell as thick as his head. Hot water was poured on his arms and over his neck, and he was covered with burns. Aluminum wire was twisted tightly around his penis so that he could not urinate. (http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2005/11/25/115213.html) 

3. Mr. Wang Houge was a villager from Xiabao Village, Luqiao Town in Huanghua City, Hebei Province. He was subjected to many types of cruel torture during his three years of detention in Shijiazhuang Forced Labor Camp. He was tortured "tying the ropes" three times in the same day. Long-term torture reduced Mr. Wang to a very weak condition. He was diagnosed with high blood pressure and heart disease and was later diagnosed with tuberculosis. He lost three quarters of his lung capacity and also had other diseases. Mr. Wang died in May 2005 at the age of 39. (http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2005/6/26/62282.html) 

Re-enactment photo: Tying the ropes 

The CCP Tries to Cover Up These Murders by Falsifying the Cause of Death as Suicide or Illness

 

The CCP consistently denies any responsibility or provides no explanations about the deaths of Falun Gong practitioners. Actually, in order to avoid responsibility, practitioners are usually released once their conditions become critical, bodies are quickly cremated to destroy evidence, families are threatened, news is concealed, and the murders are covered up by falsely reporting that the deaths were from suicide or illness. All these evildoings damage the reputations of deceased practitioners and have caused families great distress. 

Examples: 

1. Mr. Peng Guangjun, 55, was from Houqiaoxin Village, Qiaoxin Town, the Huairou District, Beijing. He suffered violent beatings, electric shock, and sleep deprivation. He was tortured to death in Tuanhe Forced Labor Camp on January 24, 2004. His dead body, including his face, was covered with black and bleeding bruises. His face had signs of burns from electric shock. Some of his bones had been broken. The labor camp authorities claimed that Mr. Peng died of a heart attack. Mr. Peng's family members requested an autopsy, but the officer in charge threatened them by telling them they would lose their jobs. Mr. Peng's family was forced to compromise under pressure. Mr. Peng's body was cremated afterwards. (http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2004/9/24/52762.html) 

2. Mr. Jiang Yiyun, 59, was a farmer from Taiping Town, Jiangyou City, Sichuan Province. Several police officers from Jiangyou State Security Bureau tortured him to death and discarded his body in the woods on May 17, 2005. The police then spread rumors that Mr. Jiang had committed suicide. There were severe injuries on his head and face, and his body was covered with wounds from torture, making it clear that he had been tortured to death. The police would not allow the family to take the body. Instead, they shipped the body to a crematory for cremation that same morning. (http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2005/6/9/61669.html) 

Re-enactment photo: Severe beating 

3. Mr. Ding Gangzi, 47, was from Chengguan Township, Zanhuang County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province. He died in Zanhuang County Detention Center in June 2001. He was abused in many ways, including beatings, being handcuffed behind his back, wearing foot shackles, being shocked with electric batons, and not being provided enough food. The guards ignored him when he was in critical condition. On June 11, 2001, the guards took his corpse, still in handcuffs and foot shackles, to the county hospital, falsely claiming that he needed emergency treatment. Medical personnel at the hospital wanted to send the corpse straight to the morgue, since they determined that Mr. Ding had died days prior and that his corpse was decayed and attracting flies. However, the police forced the doctors to "treat" him and give him infusions. The doctors pretended to "treat" the patient and "diagnosed" the cause of death “no breath, no heartbeat, and no returned blood during the transfusion.” They then sent Mr. Ding to the morgue. The police also forced the doctors to provide false evidence by filling out a report claiming Mr. Ding "died after failed emergency treatment" in order to conceal the truth of their crimes. The police suppressed the news of Mr. Ding's death and did not even notify his family of his death. When Mr. his family learned about his sudden death and rushed to the hospital, they were not allowed to see Mr. Ding's body. (http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2001/6/19/12279.html) 

Psychological Abuse--Another Cause of Death

 

Among the death cases, some practitioners died from psychological abuse. These practitioners usually had illnesses prior to practicing and became physically healthy after practicing Falun Gong. However, they were harassed and threatened to such a degree after the persecution began on July 20, 1999, that their illnesses reoccurred. People then think that they died from their illnesses. In fact, their deaths were caused by the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong. The CCP has incessantly stirred up the Chinese people's hatred of Falun Gong. This has also caused great pressure from society. 

Examples: 

1. Mr. Feng Min, 75, was from the Nankai District of Tianjin. He had previously undergone heart bypass surgery before practicing Falun Gong and was in poor health. In 1994, his health greatly improved when he began practicing Falun Gong. He was harassed and threatened by local police many times since July 20, 1999. He died in 2004. (http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2004/12/29/56054.html) 

2. Tang Shiyu was a student at Fucun Elementary School, Dandong City, Liaoning Province. In 1995, the hospital claimed he had only six months to live due to heart disease he had suffered since early childhood. After he started practicing Falun Gong in 1996, his health had improved, and he was able to go to school. After the CCP began persecuting Falun Gong, Tang's home was ransacked five times. He was detained once and his parents were imprisoned. He was under great pressure and suffered psychological pain, which caused his heart disease to recur. He died on April 25, 2005, at the age of 15. (http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2005/5/17/60859.html) 

Addendum:

 

Many other torture methods are used in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, including brainwashing, injection of poisonous drugs, and even organ harvesting. Some practitioners were killed in shockingly inhuman ways. The brutal persecution of Falun Gong continues today.

 

Posting date: 5/18/2011
Category: Death Cases
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2011/4/28/中共迫害致死法轮功学员案例概述（图）-239576.html

Review of Falun Gong Human Rights Lawsuits in Canada and the U.S.A. (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched the persecution of Falun Gong in China in July 1999. Since then, the CCP has tried to use its embassies, consulates and other organizations overseas to promote its propaganda against Falun Gong all over the world. Meanwhile, the CCP has also tried to exert pressure on governments and organizations in the free world, inciting hatred towards Falun Gong. However, Falun Gong practitioners persist. They keep clarifying the truth to the public, file lawsuits against human rights violators overseas, and gain support from all directions. In this article, we review a few cases in Canada and the U.S.A. 

Falun Gong Practitioners in Vancouver Win Lawsuit for Their Protest Site

 

On October 19, 2010, the British Columbia Court of Appeal struck down the city bylaw that prohibited Falun Gong practitioners from placing their protest billboards and hut in front of the Chinese Consulate in Vancouver, and ruled it to be unconstitutional and against the practitioners' right of free speech granted by the Canadian Constitution. 

British Columbia Court of Appeal judge Carol Huddart announced that all three judges had reached an agreement that it was a mistake for the lower level Supreme Court to require Falun Gong practitioners to remove their protest signs in front of the Chinese Consulate. The Falun Gong practitioners' protest with billboards and a small hut is protected by the Canadian Constitution, which grants them the right of free speech. It is unconstitutional for the city bylaw to prohibit them from expressing their opinions with structures.

Protest in front of the Chinese Consulate in Vancouver 

Since 2001, Falun Gong practitioners in Vancouver have protested the communist regime's brutal persecution around the clock in front of the Chinese Consulate. In 2006, pressured by the Chinese regime's authorities, then mayor Sam Sullivan proposed to the B.C. Supreme Court to pass an injunction requiring the removal of the protest billboards and the blue shelter outside the consulate, based on the city transportation bylaws. Vancouver practitioners appealed the decision. In January 2009, the B.C. Supreme Court made the judgment to order the practitioners to dismantle their structures, so they appealed again to the B.C. Court of Appeal. On October 19, 2010, the B.C. Court of Appeal ruled that the city bylaw prohibiting protest structures is unconstitutional. 

Lawyer Joe Arvay, who appealed for Falun Gong, said: "The court has ruled that it's unconstitutional for the city of Vancouver to prohibit Falun Gong's protest site." In the ruling statement, the city is allowed to have six months to modify its regulatory bylaws. "Meanwhile, the practitioners can now apply to the city and ask for a location to place their protest boards and restore their small blue hut at the front of the consulate. The city's decision has to be consistent with the Constitution." 

Twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week, Vancouver practitioners take turns protesting the brutal persecution by sitting quietly and peacefully in front of the Chinese Consulate. No matter if it's in freezing winter or the heat of summer, raining or snowing, the practitioners have never stopped their peaceful protest. One female practitioner has spent five Christmas Eves in front of the consulate. 

Many practitioners have such experiences: When they clarify the truth of Falun Gong to a stranger, that person would say, "Oh, I know Falun Gong." When asked where they heard about Falun Gong, many people said they have seen Falun Gong's display boards on Granville Street.

When a bus with Chinese tourists passes by, the tour guide would automatically point out to them: This is the Falun Gong protest site, that is the Chinese Consulate.

Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario Declares Ottawa Chinese Senior Association in Violation of Human Rights Code for Discrimination against Falun Gong

 

The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario ruled on April 27, 2011 that the Ottawa Chinese Senior Association (respondent) breached the Ontario Human Rights Code and discriminated against Ms. Daiming Huang (complainant) on the basis of her belief. 

Ms. Huang is 78 years old. She immigrated to Canada in 1992 and started practicing Falun Gong in 1998. After practicing, her illnesses of sinusitis and spondylolisthesis disappeared. Huang was attending a New Year’s celebration at the Chinese Senior Association on December 29, 2001, when she noticed that a Chinese Embassy official in attendance was looking at her. Minutes later, the secretary of the association, Feng Xu, approached her and told her that the board of directors had decided that they would no longer accept Falun Gong practitioners. 

Ms. Daiming Huang at a press conference on January 18, 2006 

When she returned in February for a Chinese New Year celebration and to ask the chair about the decision to cancel her membership, she was berated by other board members who said that she was part of a group banned in China while seniors visiting the center looked on. 

This case is about Ms. Huang's involvement with the corporate respondent, the Ottawa Chinese Senior Association, a social organization composed mainly of seniors who are new immigrants from China. The personal respondents were members of the Association’s governing body (“Council”): Shen Guo was the Association’s president and Feng Xu was its secretary. 

Ms. Michelle Flaherty, vice chairman of the Tribunal ruled, “The Falun Gong is a creed and the Association offers a service within the meaning of the Ontario Human Rights Code. I conclude that the respondents breached the Code and discriminated against the complainant on the basis of her creed. The Tribunal orders the corporate respondent to pay the complainant the sum of $15,000 for loss arising from the infringement of her rights under the Code.” 

“This is not just a success for Daiming Huang, it is a victory in the worldwide battle against the Communist Party’s oppression of Falun Gong,” said David Matas, legal counsel for Huang. 

$21K Awarded in NYC Restaurant Discrimination Case

 

On June 1, 2008, Sun Zhenyu, Huang Wei, and Huang's daughter, Feng Xinye, went to a New York City restaurant for a bite to eat after attending a Falun Gong rally near the library in Flushing. 

Sun was wearing a yellow t-shirt saying "Falun Dafa is Good" and "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," the core tenets of the spiritual discipline, in Chinese and English.

Employees soon made it clear that the three women weren't welcome. "We don't sell to Falun Gong," the man taking orders said, according to Sun and documents of the judgment.

When pressed for an explanation, he said simply, "We're just not going to sell," in Chinese, before holding his arms wide and shooing the three out the door, shouting, "Get out of here!" pointing at the exit.

Huang Wei's daughter, Xinye, who was nine at the time, was confused and scared at their treatment, and began to cry.

Sun, 48, who came to the U.S. in 1992 and works as a biologist, said she found the situation "very unpleasant" and "humiliating."

"I'd never experienced this kind of thing before," she said in an interview. "I never thought this kind of thing could happen, being in America so many years. Any religion, any belief, shouldn't be discriminated against here in the U.S."

The New York State Division on Human Rights handed down its ruling on Oct. 2, 2009, ordering the Lucky Joy restaurant in Flushing to pay damages and prominently affix an anti-discrimination poster provided by the human rights body. Ms. Sun, Ms. Huang and Xinye, were each awarded $7,000 in damages. 

The poster starts with the words "Discrimination Really Hurts," in red. 

In addition, the restaurant is required to establish anti-discrimination training and procedures. 

Quebec Court of Appeal Issues Verdict that La Presse Chinoise is Guilty of Libel in Defamation of Falun Gong

 

The Chinese newspaper La Presse Chinoise had published articles defaming and slandering Falun Gong and Falun Gong practitioners since November 3, 2001. On December 7, 2001, Falun Gong practitioners in eastern Canada filed a lawsuit against the newspaper. The court issued an order to ban the newspaper and He Bin from publishing similar articles against Falun Gong. 

The lawsuit lasted for four years. The Quebec Superior Court held hearings several times. In November 2003, the hearings concluded.

However, the verdict was not issued within six months as the judge promised. On December 7, 2005, over two years after the final hearing, the court issued the verdict, saying that the plaintiffs' evidence was not sufficient to draw a conclusion.

The practitioners filed an appeal with the Quebec Court of Appeal, the highest court in Quebec. The court issued its verdict on May 14, ruling La Presse Chinoise guilty of libel.

Well-known human rights lawyer Mr. David Matas said that defamation by the La Presse Chinoise is the same as defamation by the Chinese Communist Party. The significance is in the greater meaning of this verdict, which underscores that the CCP's propaganda against Falun Gong is understood to be lies and slander. The case also indicates that the CCP's defamation of Falun Gong is illegal. 

Deputy Consul General of China in Toronto Found Guilty of Libel

 

On February 3, 2004, the Ontario Superior Court began proceedings for the libel lawsuit filed by Toronto Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Joel Chipkar against the Deputy Consul General of China in Toronto, Mr. Pan Xinchun. Defendant Pan Xinchun was convicted of libel and ordered to compensate for losses he caused to the plaintiff. 

Joel Chipkar and his wife 

Pan Xinchun defamed Falun Gong practitioner Joel Chipkar in a letter that appeared April 25, 2003, in the Toronto Star. Pan's letter was a response to an earlier letter by Mr. Chipkar that berated the Chinese government for covering up the SARS epidemic, as they do the persecution of Falun Gong. This coverup helped SARS to spread worldwide where it killed Canadians as well. 

At the February ruling, the presiding judge concluded that Pan was not acting in his official capacity when he made statements about Mr. Chipkar and was therefore not protected by diplomatic immunity. Pan did not attend in his defense. The judge awarded Mr. Chipkar $1,000 for the defamation and compensation for his legal fees that amounted to $10,000.

"This ruling sends a clear message that the promotion of China's persecution of Falun Gong in Canada will be condemned by the Canadian courts. I am hopeful [this case] will draw the attention to the community at large of the wrongful promotion of hatred in this country," said Peter Downard, Mr. Chipkar's lawyer. 

Posting date: 6/16/2011
Category: Lawsuits against Persecutors
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2011/6/10/正义不容邪恶玷污（图）-242258.html

Spreading the Fa in a Small Town in Utah (Photo)

(Clearwisdom.net) On June 11, Falun Gong practitioners participated in Fort Herriman's Day activities in Herriman, Utah. They demonstrated the exercises and taught tourists how to fold paper lotus flowers.

Learning the exercises 

Many people showed great interest in learning the exercises. According to a Western practitioner, 75 people learned the exercises at the practitioners' booth that day. 

A gentleman came with his family. He told the practitioners that he worked for the FBI and asked them if they had been harassed by the Chinese Communist Party during the event. They told him that everything went smoothly. He then said that Falun Gong is protected in the U.S. 

Practitioners taught tourists how to fold paper lotus flowers. Many people talked to the practitioners as they learned to make the flowers. They learned the truth about Falun Gong and the facts about the brutal persecution of the practice in China. 

Practitioners said that they would be participating in many community events in Utah this summer to share the beauty of Falun Gong with the public. 

Posting date: 6/18/2011
Category: Community Events
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2011/6/17/真相在美国犹他州小城传播（图）-242602.html

World Renowned Bubble Artist to Perform in China

Fan Yang, a renowned American bubble artist, landed in Shanghai on Monday to prepare for his upcoming show in July. The giant show will show off Yang’s extraordinary bubble feats, including his Guinness World Record bubble which covered 150 people.

Yang prepared his own bubble formula.

[Fan Yang, Renowned Bubble Artist]:
“This is a very special bubble formula. I prepare the formula in my lab in Canada. So I bring the concentrate and I mix it with water here. I use all non-toxic elements and ingredients. There are seven different kinds of ingredients.”

The first show is set to take place in the Shanghai Oriental Art Center, where Yang will perform a fascinating display of different bubble-blowing techniques. The bubbles range in color, shape, and size, as well as special effects.

Yang has performed around the world and is the setter and holder of seventeen Guinness world records.