Canberra, Australia: Puzzled Chinese Tourists Ask, "Why Aren't They in Jail?"

Today is Sunday, 15 September. Spring has come to Canberra. So has the beautiful Floriade, the largest spring flower festival in Australia, held in the capital city of Australia. After a long winter [in the Southern Hemisphere], many deciduous trees are turning green again and flowers are everywhere in this beautiful garden city. The surrounding mountains are reflected in the still waters of Lake Burley Griffin. It is very nice and sunny, warm, and quiet. After the cold winter, many Canberra families are coming out of their homes to enjoy the beautiful spring outdoors and children are playing joyfully on the lawns.

Today is really special as it marks the opening of the month-long Floriade. As in the past few years, a large number of people come to visit the Floriade every day during the month, celebrating life in a wide variety of colours. Many come from around Australia and some come from overseas. Among the large number of Chinese tourists that come to Canberra, many of them also come to visit the Floriade, which is located near the Capital Exhibition Center on the southern shore of Lake Burley Griffin inside Commonwealth Park. The Center is a must-see for every tourist coming to Canberra.

Just like every Sunday afternoon, some Falun Dafa practitioners in Canberra gather together in Commonwealth Park, where the Floriade is on display, and enjoy their regular Falun Gong exercises.

For obvious reasons, the Chinese tourists were very surprised to see people practicing Falun Gong freely in the park with a large yellow banner displaying the powerful words "Falun Dafa" in both Chinese and English. They asked the Floriade security guard, "Why aren't they in jail?"

That really is a big question. The most popular Falun Gong exercises, seen in almost every park in China, has disappeared from the public since 22 July 1999 when the Chinese government banned it and started the terrible persecution. Many practitioners have been persecuted. Almost every practitioner who persists in practicing is detained or put in labour camps. Some are given extensive prison sentences. Falun Gong as a group has been labeled as an '[slanderous term omitted].' It is now impossible to see Falun Gong exercises in parks, although it attracted some 100 million people in China alone.

The Chinese tourists were told that this is Australia, where everyone has the right and capacity to enjoy and engage in any lawful activities. Falun Gong is not only lawful here but also loved by many. There are Falun Gong practitioners almost everywhere in the world.

The tourists were apparently very puzzled by what they were seeing. They watched our exercises for quite a while, took photos, and then left with deep thoughts in the back of their mind. It is without doubt that they will tell their friends and relatives what they have seen when they get home.

Although these are now probably the darkest days for Falun Gong practitioners in China where their basic right of freedom of belief is abused, we firmly believe that the 'spring' for Falun Gong exercises is not far away. With the truth being clarified and evil exposed everyday, the Chinese government will have to reverse its decision on Falun Gong. Good is good, and Falun Dafa is good. Before long, practitioners in China will certainly be able to re-enjoy their beloved Falun Gong exercises freely in every park in China as we do in Australia now. We eagerly await that day.

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