Falun Dafa Association of New Zealand Inc.
For immediate release
July 14, 2008
9 Years Brutal Persecution of Falun Gong in China
July 20, 2008 marks the ninth anniversary of the Chinese communist regime's bloody persecution of Falun Gong
Before July 20, 1999 Falun Gong was practised freely all over China. Parks filled with practitioners every morning, and
the number of people practising Falun Gong was between 70 – 100 million in 1998 after only being introduced to the
public in 1992.
However, since July 20, 1999 the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has brutally suppressed Falun Gong, arresting, torturing,
and killing practitioners in one of the biggest persecutions in history. The CCP denies them any freedom of belief,
thought, association or speech. Anybody who speaks for the freedom to practice Falun Gong meets with severe punishment.
In a time when human rights and freedom are valued by most civilised nations, the Chinese communist regime continues to
ignore the rights of Chinese citizens.
Apart from the physical persecution and torture endured by practitioners in China, all media is state-owned being a
communist nation, and the CCP has used all media to spread lies and propaganda to defame and vilify Falun Gong in an
effort to turn the public against them. This is one of the most sickening aspects of the persecution.
Why?
Nobody can make sense of such a persecution. Everybody who has practised Falun Gong reports great improvement in health
and moral character. However, the CCP saw the number of people practising Falun Gong leap from a handful in 1992 to 70 –
100 million in 1998, and being a one-party rule in China, began to see the numbers as a potential threat to their power,
even though Falun Gong has no interest in politics whatsoever. It was only after the persecution began that
practitioners had to call for freedom and clarify the truth of what is happening in China. Jiang Zemin, the CCP chairman
in 1999, also felt jealous of the popularity of Falun Gong. These factors resulted in the CCP beginning the brutal
crackdown on July 20, 1999.
For these reasons, Falun Gong practitioners in New Zealand will hold activities in our capitol, Wellington, on Wednesday
the 17th of July and Thursday the 18th of July to call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong and expose the
atrocities of the CCP. These activities are as follows:
17th of July
Activity: Stop the persecution of Falun Gong in China (9 Years)
When: 9:30am to 12:30pm: Manners Mall
Gathering at manners mall, performing Falun Gong exercises and preparation for road march.
12:00pm to 1:00pm: March
Groups:
1. Photos holding group – white clothes (approx. 30 people)
2. Trucks group
3. Banners holding group (Falun Dafa is good) – blue dafa colthes (at least 16 people)
Route: through Manners Street, Willis Street, Lambton Quay and arrival at Parliament
1:30pm to 3pm rally at Parliament
5:00pm-7:30pm Candle vigil at the new Courtenay place park.
18th of July
9:30am-11:00am Falun Gong exercises at the new Courtenay place.
11:45am: Gathering at Manners Mall.
12:00pm to 1:30pm: March - Supporting the 40 million who have quit the Chinese Communist Party.
Route: through Manners Street, Willis Street, Lambton Quay, Bowen street, Tinakori road and arrive outside the Chinese
Embassy with Divine Land band leading the group
Groups:
1. Divine Land Band group
2. Banners group
3. Followers group
* 1:30pm to 3:00pm: Rally on the footpath opposite the Chinese Embassy.
ENDS