(Minghui.org) A special Parliamentary Committee in Florence, Italy held hearings on April 24, 2012. Falun Gong practitioners were invited to present and expose the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Thirteen out of the 15 members of the committee attended Tuesday's hearing.
The representative of the Italian Falun Dafa Association told the chairman and committee members about the history of Falun Gong and how the practice was spread in China and the world. He discussed the cruel persecution suffered by Falun Gong practitioners in China over the past 13 years. In particular, he exposed the CCP's atrocities of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. The practitioners then distributed the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and other informational materials to the members of the committee.
The representative described the peaceful and rational efforts of Falun Gong practitioners around the world to expose the persecution in China and to refute the lies and slander of the CCP concerning Falun Gong. He also referred to the crisis within the Chinese Communist regime over the past two months, in which the perpetrators of the persecution of Falun Gong are losing power in a political struggle. In addition, he informed the special committee about the interference and suppression of Falun Gong practitioners by Chinese Consulate officials in Italy. The topic aroused great concern among the committee members.
The members of the committee were very interested in the hearing. They held a heated discussion after the presentation by the practitioner. All of the committee members expressed their shock at the extent of the CCP's brutality and viciousness in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.
Each of the committee members expressed his concern about the CCP's severe violations of Falun Gong practitioners’ fundamental rights. One of the members said, "There is no if, and, or but; we must, as always, support human rights, regardless of what reality we are in, which country or what religion it is. This is my unwavering faith."
The special committee agreed to draft a resolution and submit it to the Provincial Council of Florence for a vote. One of the members in particular stressed that government agencies at all levels should join the efforts in not only making the information widely disseminated, but also join in taking a stand against the persecution. He said, "I think this resolution should be used for the State Councils, District Councils and government agencies at all levels, to condemn such acts [of persecution]." In addition, several members suggested that the resolution be sent to the 44 municipal governments in the Province of Florence.
Meanwhile, Falun Gong practitioners proposed to hold a Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance International Art Exhibition in an old Renaissance building located in the old city center of Florence. A warm response was received.
Having read the informational materials, the committee members all expressed their sympathy and support for Falun Gong practitioners. One of the committee members stated, “After decades of inculcation and brainwashing with Marxism, many Chinese people are still looking for moral and spiritual guidance, which is an unacceptable fact to the CCP. I think this sums up the real reason for its launching the persecution.” At the end of the meeting, the committee chairman summarized that it was of vital importance for him to incorporate the suggestions from the members, to take action, to understand the persecution and to support the proposal to hold the Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Art Exhibition in the exhibition hall of the provincial government. He also added that a resolution was to be drafted within a reasonable period of time to condemn the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong. He confirmed that it would be submitted to the Provincial Assembly for discussion and vote.
