(Clearwisdom.net) The 59^th United Nations Commission on Human Rights began its annual meeting on March 17, 2003 in Geneva. In order to bring the attention of the UN to the Jiang regime's brutal persecution of Falun Gong, practitioners from around the world convened in Geneva, Switzerland as they have in previous years on the first day of the human rights convention. Practitioners want to appeal to the people of the world, in the hope that they can work together with Falun Gong practitioners to stop the Jiang regime from persecuting innocent Falun Gong practitioners. Over a thousand Falun Gong practitioners from more than 40 countries held a grand and solemn parade on March 17 in Geneva.

Parade Press conference at La Place des Nations Practicing the Falun Dafa exercises Practicing the exercises and sending forth righteous thoughts

Since the Jiang regime began its suppression of Falun Gong in 1999, this is the fourth time that Falun Gong practitioners from around the world have come to Geneva to hold peaceful appeals during the UN Commission on Human Rights' annual meeting.

At 8:00 a.m., Falun Gong practitioners came to the Parc de Pastion nearby Place de Neuve, and held a parade at 9:00 a.m.

Two female practitioners in white led the parade while holding a banner bearing the words, "Human Rights" in Chinese. Following them were Ms. Dai Zhizhen and her daughter from Australia, Ms. Wang Yuzhi who was successfully rescued by the Canadian government a few month ago, Mr. Zhao Ming who had suffered nearly two years of brutal torture in China's forced labor camps and later was rescued by the Irish government, and Ms. Zhang Tianxiao from Canada whose sister lives away from home to avoid persecution, and whose mother and brother-in-law have lost their lives due to the persecution. Following them were dozens of practitioners in white holding photos of those Falun Gong practitioners who have been persecuted to death.

To show support for Falun Gong practitioners, Mr. Patrice Mugny, Councillor of Swiss Federal Parliament and Chairman of the Green Party, Geneva City Councilwoman Madame Marie-Paule Blanchard, and Mr Jean-Marc Brule, Chairman of Asian Affairs Committee of the Green Party of France participated in Falun Gong practitioners' parade.

The procession was long and grand, moving through the downtown area of Geneva and passing the Mont-Blanc Bridge, alongside beautiful Lake Geneva heading northward, and reaching the front of La Place des Nations around 11:00 a.m.

More than a thousand Falun Gong practitioners held a press conference at La Place des Nations. The host and vice-chairman of the Swiss Falun Dafa Association said in his opening speech, "We warmly welcome people from around the world. We have come here to appeal for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong in China. The persecution has made tens of thousands of people become victims and hundreds of thousands of families suffer.

"We are now standing at the La Place des Nations, the famous symbol on this public square constructed with the joint proposal of the UN, to enable the world to hear this voice: Injustice, violence and crimes will definitely be eliminated.

"We are standing here, because it has been almost four years since the Jiang regime launched and directed the horrific persecution. However, for us, it is an opportunity to reiterate our steadfast belief in the universal values of 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance' that safeguard human dignity.

"In this chaotic period, also an occasion when lies, hatred and intolerance opposing 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance' run rampant, our Falun Gong cultivators, on the day when the UN Commission on Human Rights begins its annual meetings, use our sincerity and actions to appeal: Please listen to voices of millions of innocent persecuted Falun Gong practitioners, so that freedom of belief and basic human rights in China and other countries can receive special attention."

Mr. Patrice Mugny, Chairman of the Swiss Green Party, Mr. Peter Muller from Germany representing International Human Rights Association, Mr Jean-Marc Brule, Chairman of Asian Affairs Committee of the Green Party of France and Lord Thurlow, UK former senator, well-known retired diplomat respectively gave speeches at the press conference to show their support for Falun Gong.

Mr. Peter Muller said, "Though the Chinese government claims it is a People's Republic, today's China is not a people's republic, rather it is a dictatorial regime. Falun Gong practitioners have been persecuted by the dictator, suffering brutal torture, rape and even murder-- all this is absolutely unacceptable." He encouraged Falun Gong practitioners to forever depend on themselves, depend on Falun Dafa, and hold firm belief that Falun Dafa will ultimately prevail.

Mr. Jean-Marc Brule said that he supports Falun Gong because the Falun Gong movement is non-violent. The Jiang regime has gone mad; it not only persecutes its own citizens, but also persecutes the most peaceful and non-violent Falun Gong practitioners.

Lord Thurlow is in his 90's, but he still actively supports Falun Gong practitioners' human rights. He said that across the ocean in China, the most brutal persecution in human history is going on; tens of thousands of citizens, men, women, and even children only a few-months old have been subjected to persecution because of their belief that is non-violent and apolitical. Falun Gong's principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" will bring hope to the world as the international community becomes more and more chaotic.

After that, Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Zhao Ming from Ireland, Ms. Zhang Tianxiao from Canada and Steve, a friend of Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Charles Li, a US citizen who was recently arrested and detained by Chinese authorities, gave speeches respectively.

Mr. Zhao Ming recounted his experience of suffering brutal persecution in China's forced labor camps and requested the UN officials to answer a question: such brutal persecution has lasted for almost four years, and Falun Gong practitioners have come here to appeal for four times, what have the officials done about this? What are they planning to do? How are they planning to help these Falun Gong practitioners?

Ms. Zhang Tianxiao told of the painful experience of her family members' being tortured death to appeal to the UN to help end the persecution soon.

Steve appealed to the international community to help rescue Charles Li to return to America soon. He talked about his experiences to describe the brutality of the persecution. He had been to Tiananmen Square, and was arrested and beaten only because he shouted out loud, "Falun Dafa is good."

After the press conference, Falun Gong practitioners began their exercise practice as they did in previous years as one of the series of peaceful appeals during the day.

Posting date: 3/19/2003
Original article date: 3/19/2003
Category: News & Media Reports
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2003/3/18/46721.html

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