(Clearwisdom.net) On October 4, 2006, Falun Gong practitioners from Sydney and Canberra started a van tour to clarify the truth of the persecution against Falun Gong to people in the small towns along the coast north of Sydney.
Mr. Swan, the mayor of Raymond Terrace (second from the left), and practitioners
After an interview, the reporter from the Port Stephens Examiner signs his name on the petition.
Ms. Chen Hong, a Falun Gong practitioner, is taking part in the van tour as a witness to the organ harvesting. Ms. Chen was jailed in the Women's Labor Camp in Tianjin for one year. The labor camp conducted physical examinations on all the Falun Gong practitioners, but not on non-practitioners. Ms. Chen didn¡¦t know what the purpose of the examination was until the organ harvesting was exposed in March 2006. She then realized that the purpose was to record the blood types and other vital information of Falun Gong practitioners for potential organ transplantation.
Five practitioners, including Ms. Chen and a 10-year-old practitioner, Lindsay, have visited seven cities and talked to two mayors. Many media interviewed them. As soon as the practitioners arrived at Raymond Terrace City Hall, Lindsay clarified the truth to a gentleman and asked him if he would like to sign his name on the petition. This gentleman was Mr. Swan, the mayor of Raymond Terrace. He was very happy to talk to the practitioners and also introduced practitioners to the largest local newspaper. In another town, as soon as the mayor learned the facts about Falun Gong and the persecution, he asked practitioners what he could do to help. He told practitioners that he was willing to write to the Chinese government, asking them to stop the persecution. He said he would also write to the Australian government, asking them to take actions to help.
One of the tasks of the van tour was to collect signatures against the persecution. Lindsay and a 60-year-old practitioner, Aunt He, collected many signatures. Although Aunt He cannot speak English, she asked people on the streets and shopkeepers to sign their names on the petition. Lindsay helped Aunt He to collect signatures.
Practitioners found that the citizens in these small towns are very kind and have a strong sense of justice. Almost everybody was willing to sign his or her name to support Falun Gong. Practitioners will submit these signatures to representatives in the Australia Government.
Category: Rallies & Protests