By a UK Falun Gong practitioner

(Clearwisdom.net) In the afternoon of January 12, 2005, after receiving an invitation from Amnesty International of Southampton University (AISU), Falun Gong practitioners from the UK held a seminar dedicated to the subject of Falun Gong for members of AISU. Using a video as an introduction, practitioners explained to the audience what Falun Gong is. Chinese and western practitioners shared their personal experiences to expose the horrible persecution started by Jiang Zemin's regime.

One practitioner gave the audience a brief introduction to Falun Gong and the persecution in China. Drawing on numerous real-life examples, she analyzed the reasons behind such a systematic and vicious persecution that has lasted for more than five years. Mr. He from mainland China shared his personal experience with the audience. Mr. He benefited mentally and physically from practicing Falun Gong. But for telling the government "Falun Gong is good," he was sacked from his job, arrested and tortured. Mr. He's brother is still to this day being persecuted in China. A friend of Mr. He's was arrested for practicing Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. Soon afterwards, this friend was tortured to death. His body was so ravaged by torture that the many people could not bear to see it.

A British practitioner gave an account of how he came in touch with Falun Gong and started practicing, how he petitioned in front of the Chinese Embassy in London against the persecution and how he went over to China for peaceful appeals. In conclusion, he emphasized that torture also exists in other parts of the world, but what is different is that Falun Gong practitioners can be released as long as they betray their conscience and sign documents saying that they will no longer practice.

Members of Amnesty International were shocked by the facts of this brutal persecution, which Jiang's regime had done everything to cover up. Some couldn't help shedding tears at the plight of those Falun Gong practitioners who suffered torture. Everyone listened intently during the practitioners' recounts. The whole room was so silent that one could hear a pin drop. The seminar lasted two hours. At the end, practitioners answered questions from the audience. When the seminar finished, the audience applauded to show appreciation. An Amnesty International member from France said that as a matter of fact she had heard news reports on this topic in France. But at the time related official news coverage was negative towards Falun Gong. She could not believe the facts were like this. Her experience helped to illustrate the evil acts of Jiang Zemin's regime in trying to extend the persecution outside of China.

After the seminar, many people went forward in person and thanked the practitioners. Some stayed behind to talk with practitioners one to one. The head of the chapter promised to assist in helping to end the persecution.

http://www.clearharmony.net/articles/200501/24470.html

Posting date: 1/24/2005
Original article date: 1/23/2005
Category: Falun Dafa Worldwide
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2005/1/18/93698.html

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