Globe and Mail (Canada): Private Moments

By Allison Dunfield

Saturday, May 31, 2003 - Page A24

Falun Gong practitioner Cecilia Chipkar, 23, demonstrates outside the Chinese consulate on St. George Street, Toronto.

"I've been appealing for my parents and all the practitioners in China. Last August, I married here, and after that we [my husband, Joel Chipkar, and I] decided to appeal to the Chinese consulate in Toronto. Every Friday night from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. we go there because this appeal, in front of the consulate, is 24 hours a day.

My parents, they started practising Falun Gong [in Beijing] in 1997. But after the persecution of Falun Gong started, they could not practise at home.

My parents are now in hiding . . . I haven't seen them for five years and it is very difficult for me.

Every time I'm there [demonstrating] I feel I'm stronger. Basically, I'm doing a good thing. I can stand tall in all the difficulties. We can sacrifice our comfort. We go there every Friday night and we stand there outside. [One] time it was -27. Both of us were there. No rest. But our heart is warm because we know that many people see it [the demonstrations]. But a strong energy field is there. And our determination is there, too."

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20030531/UPRIV//?query=Falun

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