News and Events from around the World -- June 25, 2005

Issued by Clearwisdom Net

Content

- Canada: Edmonton Practitioners Hold Press Conference to Expose the Persecution by Chinese Spies
- New York City: Practitioners Rally to Protest the Murder of Gao Rongrong
- San Francisco, U.S.: Rally Requests Justice for Murdered Practitioner Gao Rongrong
- U.S.: Los Angeles Human Rights Group Commemorates Gao Rongrong and Calls for Severe Punishment of Murderers
- Hong Kong: Practitioners Rally in front of Chinese Liaison Office to Protest the Murder of Gao Rongrong
- United Kingdom: Rally at London Chinese Embassy to Protest the Murder of Gao Rongrong
- Falun Gong Denounces Persecution in front of Chinese Consulate in Toronto
- Michigan: Falun Gong Stands Out at Canton Liberty Parade
- Germany: Promoting Falun Gong in Frankfurt

Canada: Edmonton Practitioners Hold Press Conference to Expose the Persecution by Chinese Spies

On June 22, 2005, in response to the recent exposure of a large Chinese spy network in Canada and extensive monitoring and harassment of practitioners, Edmonton practitioners held a press conference at city hall to recount practitioners' personal experiences. Meanwhile, practitioners also informed the public about the recent death of Shenyang practitioner Gao Rongrong. While strongly condemning the murder, practitioners also called upon the Canadian public to take concrete actions to stop the persecution.

The press conference

At the beginning of the press conference, a representative of local practitioners read a statement by the Edmonton Falun Dafa Association regarding the recent spy charges. The statement stressed the practitioners' concern over the CCP's spy network and called upon the Alberta Provincial and Edmonton governments to conduct a thorough investigation of all of the CCP's illegal activities aiming at monitoring and harassing practitioners as well as spreading hate propaganda against Falun Gong.

Several western and Chinese practitioners then shared their personal stories, which strongly support the idea that CCP has a large spy network in Canada. For example, Ms. Chen said that she couldn't go back to China to visit her family members and had been monitored and harassed since she gave an interview to local reporters on Falun Gong. It was apparent that Chinese agents had thereafter added her name to their "blacklist" of practitioners.

Ms. Chen said that the Chinese security department had tried to threaten her through several channels and alleged knowing about all her activities and personal information. Furthermore, Chen said that some of her friends and even friends in Canada and business clients had been harassed by the CCP. All these facts support the charge that the CCP is using a massive spy network through which the party has been violating practitioners' privacy and security.

Chen stressed that the Chinese spies' harassment to practitioners personal and business network is just an extension of the CCP's policy to "defame their [practitioners] reputation, bankrupt them financially and destroy them physically" to overseas.

In her speech, Chen also mentioned that she suddenly received large amount of vicious harassing phone calls from China at the beginning of this year. To her surprise, the police couldn't take proper action against such an obvious crime. She said that she would report this incident to legislative representatives so that they can take proper measures to restrain such activities.

Practitioner Huang shared how he was fired by the Alberta government for clarifying the truth to visiting Heilongjiang provincial officials. Another western practitioner shared how officials of the Chinese consulate at Calgary had used different channels and measures to distribute fabricated materials to defame Falun Gong.

According to the Edmonton Sun, Const. Stephen Camp of the Edmonton Police Service hate crimes unit confirmed on June 22 that his office had just wrapped up an investigation into booklets distributed in the city in 2004 by Chinese consular officials. Camp told Edmonton Sun: "... if we feel someone's distributing hate propaganda in our city, we move forward. It doesn't matter who they are or who they work for."

Practitioners at the press conference called upon Canadian federal, provincial and municipal governments to face the espionage activities of the CCP against Canadian-Chinese residents, especially Falun Gong practitioners. They urged the government not to be blinded by commercial interests and take determined actions to stop the CCP's harassment and persecution of Canadian practitioners.

During the press conference, practitioners also informed the media about the recent murder of Ms. Gao Rongrong, whose face was disfigured by brutal electric shock torture several months ago.

Edmonton Sun, the Epoch Times and CBC TV attended the press conference.

New York City: Practitioners Rally to Protest the Murder of Gao Rongrong

Upon hearing the shocking news that practitioner Gao Rongrong was persecuted to death on June 16, on the evening of June 21, several hundred practitioners in the greater New York area rallied in front of the Chinese Consulate to condemn the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for murdering Ms. Gao. The practitioners demanded the immediate punishment of the murderers.

Practitioners in the greater New York area rallied in front of the Chinese Consulate

To many residents in the New York area who have seen the practitioners' anti-torture exhibitions, Gao Rongrong is by no means a new name. Because of her unshakable faith in Falun Dafa, Ms. Gao, 37, was severely persecuted. In May 2004, prison guards shocked her face with several electric batons for about 7 hours, severely disfiguring her face. Ms. Gao's story and her photos before and after the disfigurement have been widely spread and displayed in the streets of Manhattan in order to raise awareness of the severity of the persecution. Many New Yorkers were outraged by the atrocities the CCP committed against such a young woman.

Connie Chipkar, a Canadian practitioner who came to New York City to clarify the truth about the persecution, said, "I was shocked by the disfigurement of Ms. Gao and couldn't believe the regime could be so cruel to a young lady. Later, I learned that Ms. Gao managed to escape from custody and I was so hopeful for her. I have been hoping that she could be rescued to overseas. However, I realized that she could never be rescued when I saw her name in the death list of practitioners on June 16... The atrocity is still ongoing in China and it is even more rampant."

Ms. Chipkar said, "I have a strong wish: I am going to persist [in clarifying the truth] until the atrocity ends. I will tell every person about the CCP's atrocities and let them know how the CCP is coercing the police and many other Chinese citizens to commit such evil crimes. I will pray for the Chinese and hope that they will follow the lead of the three former Mainland officials in Australia, and denounce the party. I feel that everyone, whether Chinese or Western, needs to read the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party. The CCP is just another name for evil."

A Chinese practitioner said, "To avoid pressure from the international community over human rights issues, the CCP typically doesn't sentence practitioners to death directly. Rather, the regime takes a more vicious approach-- torturing and beating practitioners to death and then accusing them of having committed suicide." Ms. Hong continued, "The CCP not only persecutes Falun Gong rampantly in China, it has also extended the persecution overseas through the Chinese Embassy and Consulates, as well as through extensive spy networks in many countries."

"After the persecution started on July 20, 1999, one of my relatives who had access to internal news, told me and my husband that I shouldn't go out after dark as the CCP might hire thugs to kill me at any time," Ms. Hong said.

"The former Chinese diplomat and two security officials who have defected to Australia recently revealed internal documents which showed that the CCP has been systematically murdering practitioners as well as monitoring and harassing overseas practitioners in order to silence them." Ms. Hong stated, "In New York City alone, a good number of practitioners have been followed and their phones have been tapped by spies. Some practitioners were even assaulted in public."

Practitioners in the greater New York area plan to hold a press conference in front of New York City Hall to condemn the CCP for murdering Gao Rongrong and to expose the CCP's overseas activities in the persecution of Falun Gong.

San Francisco, U.S.: Rally Requests Justice for Murdered Practitioner Gao Rongrong

People around the world have strongly condemned Gao Rongrong's murder. Ms. Gao's face was disfigured by guards after 7 hours of being shocked with electric batons in May 2004. Ms. Gao was arrested and detained again in March 2005 for further torture, and she died on June 16. At around noon on June 22, San Francisco practitioners rallied in front of the Chinese Consulate to call for the perpetrators, policemen Tang Yubao and Jiang Zhaohua, as well as many others who are responsible for Ms. Gao's death to be brought to justice.

San Francisco practitioners rallied in front of the Chinese Consulate, demanding punishment for the murderers and an end to the persecution.

Eric Huang, a software engineer, said that Ms. Gao was tortured and eventually murdered for her beliefs by the CCP regime. Huang said, "We came to memorialize her, and at the same time, we hope that all Chinese and people around the world will pay close attention to her death, as well as the persecution. We hope that more and more people will stand up to confront the CCP to end the persecution and murder of innocent people."

A reporter interviews a practitioner | Steve tells the story of Ms. Gao

Practitioner Jiang Lan said that she was very sad upon hearing about Ms. Gao's death. She said, "I have many friends and former coworkers in Mainland China. Since the persecution started in 1999, many of them have been arrested. One coworker of mine was once sent to a forced labor camp for two years. The regime forced the lady's family to pressure her to denounce Falun Gong, and she firmly refused. Because of the huge pressure the authorities applied on the family, her father developed a heart problem and died."

Ms. Jiang said that countless tragedies like this were created by the Jiang regime and the CCP, who spearheaded the persecution. In China, the CCP controls all the media to spread lies in order to justify and maintain the persecution. Since no media dares to carry objective information about Falun Dafa, many people in China don't know the facts about Falun Dafa and its spread around the world.

Ms. Jiang said, "The death of Ms. Gao reminds me of my friends in China. They are also in a very dangerous situation. Today, the persecution is being carried out secretly, so many crimes have not been exposed. "

Jiang continued, "We came here to appeal, to tell the public what is happening in China. The death of Ms. Gao is just one case, a tip of the iceberg. I know that persecution against many others is still ongoing, and several of my relatives are still being detained in forced labor camps for their belief in Falun Dafa."

Practitioner Angela told the reporter that she had a relative named Tan Bingxin, who was working in a bank in Guangzhou. One day, Tan was arrested by the 610 Office and then disappeared. His wife Yun went to the company looking for her husband and then realized that Tan had been detained. She then went to the detention center to see her husband and give him some clothes. However, her visit requests were turned down twice. The detention center used all kinds of excuses to turn her request down and refused to accept the clothes for her husband. When asked for the reason of the detention, they refused to answer.

Angela said that Tan was actually arrested for distributing Falun Gong materials and he is now being detained at an unknown location. She said, "When I heard about the death of Gao Rongrong, I become really worried about Tan Bingxin. The CCP has lost its conscience in the persecution against Falun Gong. As CCP has seen that its atrocity would soon be exposed, it is now trying to kill related practitioners in order to eliminate evidence."

In the end, Angela said, "The CCP will be held accountable for all the crimes it has committed." Angela advised those who were still following the CCP in the persecution to follow their conscience and denounce the CCP.

U.S.: Los Angeles Human Rights Group Commemorates Gao Rongrong and Calls for Severe Punishment of Murderers

After nearly two years of incarceration, brainwashing, and torture for her beliefs, Gao Rongrong, 37, died in the emergency room of China Medical University Hospital. Her grossly disfigured face- the result of torture by Chinese authorities in May 2004- was publicized around the world. Under the "defame their [practitioners'] reputation, bankrupt them financially and destroy them physically" genocide policy, Gao's death is the 2585th for Falun Gong practitioners in China and the 54th in Shenyang, as verified and confirmed by FDI. On June 21, some Falun Gong practitioners and human rights activists rallied in front of the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles to condemn the CCP's persecution and call upon the international community to help end the persecution.

Participants at the rally displayed banners that read "Severely punish the chief perpetrator Luo Gan and other murderers of Gao Rongrong," "Severely punish Tang Yubao and Jiang Zhaohua, who disfigured Gao Rongrong," "Calling on Consulate Staff to Support Chen Yonglin denouncing the CCP" and "Stop the persecution of Falun Gong", as well as Gao Rongrong's photos before and after the disfigurement. Renowned democracy activist and chief editor of "China Affair" Wu Fan, representative of Amnesty International Claremont College Chapter Sarah Cook and practitioners Wu Yingnian, Li Yofu and Brad Carson gave speeches at the rally.

In his speech, Wu Fan strongly condemned the CCP for murdering Falun Gong practitioners. Wu pointed out that the CCP acts much like the Nazi Gestapo, and it not only tortures and murders practitioners but also tries its best to cover up the crimes. The CCP tortured Gao Rongrong, grossly disfiguring her face in May 2004. In March 2005, the CCP arrested Gao again and tortured her to death because it wanted to eliminate evidence. Gao was subjected to the torture simply for her belief in Falun Gong. The CCP and its murderers must be held accountable.

Wu Fan, renowned democracy activist and chief editor of "China Affair" | Sarah Cook, Representative of Amnesty International Claremont College Chapter

Wu Yingnian, a professor of UCLA, narrated the story of Gao Rongrong: Gao was shocked in the face with electric batons for about 7 hours continuously by Tang Yubao and Jiang Zhoahua, guards at Longshan Forced Labor Camp in Shenyang City. Her face was consequently disfigured. Gao was later rescued by practitioners, and her photos after disfigurement were made available to the public. Unfortunately, she was again arrested in March 2005 and died on June 16 of complications stemming from torture and abuse in custody.

Professor Wu pointed that the death of Gao Rongrong is another appalling crime committed by the Jiang regime and CCP against Falun Gong, and all the perpetrators will be held accountable in the near future. Wu said that in the past 6 years, the CCP has been rampantly persecuting Falun Gong practitioners and at the same time doing all it can to cover up the facts. The CCP has created an illusion of economic prosperity to divert the Chinese and international community's attention from the persecution. Gao's case is just a tip of the iceberg and there is like many more persecution facts that the public doesn't know yet.

·Practitioner Wu Yingnian, a professor of UCLA | Practitioner Li Youfu | Practitioner Brad Carson

Professor Wu called upon the international community to pay attention to this unprecedented persecution against innocent civilians and not to remain silent while facing the atrocities of the CCP. He said: "No matter who you are, whether you are in China or overseas, no matter if you are by yourself or part of an organization or a government, everyone should speak out against this persecution and help end it."

In his speech, practitioner Li Youfu urged those who are still assisting the CCP in the persecution to stop their wrongdoing right away. He said that all the evil involved in the persecution against Falun Gong will soon be gone, as the persecution cannot go on. We are determined to hold accountable all the perpetrators, no matter where they are and how they hide themselves.

Practitioner Brad Carson said that the CCP's cruel torture of Gao Rongrong is appalling, and Luo Gan is the chief perpetrator of this case. "Luo and other murderers must be brought to justice," he said. Brad expressed his hope that all kind-hearted people will condemn the persecution and help practitioners end it as soon as possible.

Sarah Cook, representative of Amnesty International Claremont College Chapter, said that the death of Gao Rongrong is not an isolated case. According to the Amnesty 2005 report, more than 2500 practitioners have been persecuted to death by the CCP since 1999. She called upon international organizations to take immediate actions to investigate the torture and murder of practitioners and bring all the perpetrators, including responsible high-ranking CCP officials, to justice.

Despite the publicity of Gao's torture death, Sarah believed that the U.S. government and the international community has done little in improving the human rights condition in China, and it was not a wise decision for the U.S. government not to propose a human rights motion against China during the Annual UN Human Rights Commission. She urged the U.S. government and the international community to pay close attention to human rights in China and pressure Chinese leaders to end the persecution and release all practitioners held in custody.

Hong Kong: Practitioners Rally in front of Chinese Liaison Office to Protest the Murder of Gao Rongrong

On June 22, despite a heavy rain, some Hong Kong practitioners rallied in front of the Chinese Liaison Office to protest the murder of Ms. Gao Rongrong and the brutal persecution against Falun Gong.

In a heavy rain, Hong Kong practitioners protested in front of the Chinese Liaison Office, demanding severe punishment of the murderers

In front of the liaison offices, practitioners read a statement that called upon all kind-hearted people around the world to stop the atrocities committed by the CCP, demanded the Chinese authorities to punish Ms. Gao's murderers including Tang Yubao and Jiang Zhaohua who disfigured Ms. Gao in May 2004, demanded immediate actions to bring Jiang Zemin and Luo Gan, the chief perpetrators of the persecution, to justice.

Ms. Gao's face was grossly disfigured by guards in the Longshan Forced Labor Camp in Shenyang, and she was arrested and detained again in March 2005 for further persecution. On June 16, 2005, Gao, 37, died from complications stemming from torture and abuses in custody. Hong Kong practitioners said that they were shocked by the news because the disfigurement of Ms. Gao had been widely publicized and the CCP should be therefore restrained by international pressure. However, the CCP had become so rampant in the persecution. While a high-profile victim such as Ms. Gao was still tortured to death, it is not hard to imagine the situation of those unknown practitioners who are still being persecuted in prisons, forced labor camps, detention centers, brainwashing centers and mental hospitals.

United Kingdom: Rally at London Chinese Embassy to Protest the Murder of Gao Rongrong

In the afternoon of June 21, 2005, UK practitioners gathered at the Chinese Embassy in London to protest against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for brutally torturing and murdering Ms. Gao Rongrong.

London practitioners protested in front of Chinese embassy

A practitioner expressed that he felt extremely shocked after hearing about Gao Rongrong's death because her tragic experience represents the situation of tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners in China that are being brutally persecuted for upholding their beliefs. He hopes that the whole world can learn the facts and step forward to condemn the crimes of the Chinese Communist Party.

Another practitioner said that the murder of Ms. Gao showed that the CCP has become so desperate in the persecution that it can murder innocent citizens without caring about international concern. The atrocity of the CCP is indeed challenging human justice and morality, and the practitioner called on everyone to awaken to the evil nature of the CCP.

The rally attracted the attention of passers-by. One man named Alan expressed with deep sorrow that although he did not know much about Falun Gong, a government or organization can't treat a person this way.

Another passer-by named Keith said that the CCP suppressing Falun Gong and torturing practitioners is absolutely wrong. He hoped that the practitioners could let more UK government senior officials and people in the business sector know the truth and let them play a bigger role to exert pressure on the CCP and to stop these atrocities.

From time to time, officials in the embassy opened windows to watch the rally

From time to time, staff inside the Chinese Embassy opened the windows to watch the practitioners' rally. Practitioners sincerely wish that those officials inside the Chinese Embassy who are still helping the CCP in the persecution can uphold their conscience and courage, expose the CCP's atrocities and turn away from the regime.

UK Falun Gong practitioners will hold a formal press conference tomorrow (June 25th), where NGOs and VIPs will be invited to give speeches to condemn the CCP's atrocities. Practitioners will also continue the protest by sitting quietly outside the Chinese Embassy.

Source http://clearharmony.net/articles/200506/27288.html

Falun Gong Denounces Persecution in front of Chinese Consulate in Toronto

At around 5 p.m. in the afternoon of June 20, 2005, about sixty Falun Gong practitioners rallied in front of the Chinese Consulate in Toronto. The rally was to commemorate Ms. Gao Rongrong, who was persecuted to death by the CCP. Ms. Gao was the 2576th reported Falun Gong practitioner to have been killed in mainland China. Falun Gong practitioners appealed to the Chinese government for an immediate end to the persecution.

Toronto Falun Gong practitioners expose the facts of persecution in front of Chinese Consulate

Gao Rongrong was an employee of Luxun Art College of Shenyang City in Liaoning Province. She was arrested by local policemen in front of her house on June 22, 2003 because she practiced Falun Gong. After two years of torture in jail, she died in China Medical University First Attached Hospital in Shenyang City on June 16, 2005. In the jail, she was repeatedly beaten, resulting in the loss of hearing in one ear. Once, she was continuously tortured with electric shock batons for seven hours, which left her with serious burns that covered her face. Because of the torture, her organs were ravaged and she became emaciated.

For a short period of time, Gao was rescued by Falun Gong practitioners and the torture she suffered was exposed to the world. But after China's 610 Office leader Luo Gan personally ordered the police to chase her down and retaliate against her, Gao was arrested again in March 2005. She died in custody after that.

Falun Gong practitioner Jeff said that one week ago three Chinese diplomats and National Security Bureau officials broke away from the CCP in Australia. The Chinese Communist Party denied their exposure of China's persecution of Falun Gong. "But only a few days later, Falun Gong practitioner Gao Rongrong was persecuted to death."

Jeff said, "I am very worried about the fellow practitioners being persecuted in China. We must uphold our belief in 'Truthfulness Compassion Forbearance, and expose this evil persecution until it is ended."

Head of the Toronto Falun Dafa Association Mr. Zhang Zhaojin said that he respected very much the Chinese Falun Gong practitioners who persist in their belief in the face of vicious persecution. He said, "There are a lot of people are helping and supporting us now. Since the persecution is still going on, we will continue the anti-persecution efforts until it comes to an end."

Michigan: Falun Gong Stands Out at Canton Liberty Parade

The annual Canton Liberty Parade was held on June 18 this year. Falun Gong was one of the 90 or so groups that participated in this parade, and it presented the beauty of Falun Dafa and its unique style to the local residents.

Exercise Demonstration | Banner "Falun Dafa is good"

Fan Dance | Waist Drum Team

Among the processions, Falun Gong's Waist Drum Team was the most outstanding. The drummers were in golden yellow uniforms, marching four in a row. The sound of the drumbeats was thunderous and the scene was joyful and awe-inspiring.

A truck towing a decorated float led the Falun Gong procession. Both western and Chinese practitioners demonstrated the five sets of exercises on the float. Closely following the float were two large blue banners that read, "Truthfulness Compassion Tolerance" and "Falun Dafa is Good". Next came two young practitioners. While greeting the audience with their pure smiles, one held a lotus flower and the other held a flower fan.

Accompanied by the music "Falun Dafa is good", was the Fan Dance. Two pairs of dancers in red or pink costumes danced to the music. They attracted a lot of attention from the spectators along the streets.

Passing out fliers | People reading the fliers

Practitioners not in the procession were busy passing out truth-clarification fliers and some clarified truth about Falun Gong to the reporters on the scene. A lot of fliers were distributed along the one-mile-long route. Many people read them carefully.

A Congressman from Canton Mr. Thaddeus G. McCotter also participated in the parade. Recently, he signed on a motion supporting Falun Gong. The practitioners thanked him for his support and they took a photo together.

Photo with Congressman Mr. Thaddeus McCotter

Canton lies to the west of Detroit. This is a relatively new city and many Chinese moved to this area in recent years. This parade is the second large-scale community activity Falun Gong practitioners have participated in this year since the State Celebration Parade in Lansing in May.

Germany: Promoting Falun Gong in Frankfurt

On the 4th of June 2005, in a busy pedestrian street in Frankfurt city centre, Falun Gong practitioners held an event to expose the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) brutal persecution of Falun Gong and to promote the beauty of Falun Gong and "Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance".

A young man who had just come from Mainland China to study passed by our display table and stopped to look. A western practitioner talked with him in Chinese. The young man knew a lot about Falun Gong already. Some of his relatives practice Falun Gong and he had read the books himself. Since the start of the persecution, he has received Falun Gong truth-clarifying emails several times. He also obtained the Nine Commentaries on the CCP through email. He said that many people in China have read it and many people want to get hold of it and read it.

All of sudden, the young man said to the practitioner: "I feel that I have seen you before. As soon as I saw you, I felt that I met you before." The practitioner said: "Did we meet before and where?"

Both of them were shocked. Gradually, the young man came to remember that he received a video clip by email in which this very practitioner was narrating in Chinese why he went to China to appeal for Falun Gong in 2001. It was such a surprise that he now met the very practitioner in Germany.

Across tens of thousands miles, the predestined relationship brought the right persons together.

Many people were interested in Falun Gong and they surrounded our table. A Russian national asked in halting German: "Do you have Russian books? I want to read about Falun Gong."

A boy of about eight or nine stared at practitioners demonstrating the exercises. A female practitioner gave him a delicate little handmade paper flower. He asked where he could learn Falun Gong. When he found out that Falun Gong practitioners practice the exercises in the town centre together almost every day, he slowly asked, "Do I need to fill in a form? If so, I must ask my mum first." When the practitioner told him that there was no requirement of any forms of registration and one is free to practice or leave at any time, with free books and music to download and free teaching of the exercises. A smile spread over the little boy's face. He said: "That's great! Thank you!"