(Clearwisdom.net) On the afternoon of April 24, 2004, in order to allow more
people to learn about facts of the nearly five-year persecution, more than 60
Falun Gong practitioners from Melbourne, Australia went to the City Plaza in
Downtown area to expose the Jiang's group's ruthless persecution of Falun Gong
through a symbolic trial on the perpetrator Jiang Zemin.
At 3 p.m., the symbolic trial began. The judge announced the 10 monstrous
crimes including genocide and crimes against humanity committed by Jiang. Four
witnesses successively gave testimony in the court. They directly and
specifically exposed the inhuman crimes and deceits with their personal
experiences.
Symbolic trial on Jiang
On the left-hand-side of the tribunal, a simulated jail demonstrated the
persecution of Falun Gong happening in China. Jail guards tortured three
practitioners. One was hung on the roof; one was locked in a small cell, and
another was tied on a "tiger bench"(1). At the same time, the jail
guards ceaselessly beat them with electric batons and a whip in an attempt to
force them to renounce their belief in Falun Gong. One who portrayed a
persecuted practitioner introduced to passersby after the performance, that he
was arrested in Beijing in 1999 simply because he spoke up for Falun Gong.
Because he refused to give up his belief in Falun Dafa, he suffered all kinds of
tortures. What he demonstrated today was only one of the numerous methods of
tortures applied on Falun Gong practitioners in China's jails or labor camps. He
also told people that the atrocities are still going on in China.
Simulated tortures reflect the brutality of the persecution of Falun Gong in
China
On another side of the plaza, many practitioners held up signs that read,
"Stop killing women and senior people!" "Stop the persecution of Falun Gong,"
large photos (evidence of the persecution) and various-size wreaths
(commemorating the practitioners who died from the persecution). At the rear
side of the plaza, practitioners unfurled eye-catching banners that read, "Bring
Jiang Zemin to Justice," "Persecution is going on in China," "Falun Dafa is
great," and "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance" in both Chinese and English to
display the theme of this event to spectators.
Spectators are deeply moved
Truth-clarifying display boards
The City Plaza is located at the intersection of Collin and Swanston streets
in Melbourne downtown. It was opposite to the Melbourne City Hall. Numerous
people came and went. Some of them stopped to watch, some took pictures with
their cameras, and some took the initiative to ask for information about Falun
Dafa. Passengers on buses passing by also watched the scene through the windows.
They did not want to miss this solemn event.
The symbolic trial was repeated five times in a row. Many passersby watched
the entire trial. Seeing the atrocity displayed before eyes, many Chinese
students did not turn around to avoid encountering practitioners like what they
usually did in the past, this time, they sincerely accepted the truth-clarifying
materials.
During the court interval, an Australian young man introduced to other
passersby who watched the tribunal with him that he knew about the persecution
long time ago. He said that this was the most evil and inhuman persecution and
Falun Gong practitioners were simply seeking their very basic rights: belief and
practice. He said that Falun Dafa is practiced in more than 60 countries around
the world and China is the only country that bans the practice. He questioned,
"How could such a country, where fundamental human rights are not ensured, be
allowed to host the Olympic games? If it is indeed allowed, how many Olympic
athletes who have beliefs would be locked in China, this huge jail?"
A tour group from China also stopped to watch. One of them who looked like a
cadre asked a practitioner by the roadside, "How much money do you make to do
this kind of anti-government thing?" The practitioner replied, "In China, Falun
Gong practitioners have only request to stop the persecution, and enjoy the
freedom to practice Falun Gong as people in other countries do. We are just
voluntarily speaking out for them because they are not allowed to voice their
wishes themselves. We can not just listen to one-sided stories, instead, we
should look with our own eyes and think with our own mind." His heartfelt words
touched this group of tourists. One after another, they asked for the
truth-clarifying booklets, newsletters and video CDs. They also used the last
two pieces of film in their camera to shoot the large background scene. We hoped
they would record what they had seen and bring the photos to their families and
friends.
An Australian Christian said to a practitioner after watching the tribunal,
"Although I believe in Jesus, I admire you, practitioners of Falun Dafa, because
your are peacefully fighting for your fundamental rights under violence and
dangers. In face of threat, you still resolutely uphold your belief."
**********
(1)
Tiger Bench: Practitioners are forced to sit on a small iron bench
that is approximately 20 cm (6 inches) tall with their knees tied together. With
their hands tied behind their backs or sometimes placed on their knees, they are
forced to sit straight up and look straight ahead. They are not allowed to turn
their heads, close their eyes, talk to anyone or move at all. Several inmates
are assigned to watch over the practitioners and force them?to remain
motionless while sitting on the bench. Usually some hard objects are inserted
underneath the practitioners' lower legs or ankles to make it harder for them to
tolerate this abuse (see illustration on <http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2001/11/24/16156.html>)
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