Switzerland: The People Support Practitioners' Anti-Torture Exhibitions (Photos)

By a Swiss Falun Gong practitioner

(Clearwisdom.net) Around the 2005 New Year, some Swiss practitioners in the German-speaking area of the country braved the icy cold to hold anti-torture exhibitions in Lugarno, a city in southern Switzerland, Saas-Fee, a famous ski resort, Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland, and Zug City, the capital of Zug State. Many people were deeply shocked that such atrocities are happening in today's world. Below are some touching stories that happened during these activities.

It was just before Christmas 2004 and Lugarno was full of the air of happy holiday makers. There were many people shopping in the city center's pedestrian-only street. At that time, a truck with the words "Christmas Gifts" was coming toward the practitioners' site slowly, and six "Santa Clauses" with red clothes and hats, and white beards were distributing chocolates and oranges to passersby. When they saw Falun Gong practitioners' anti-torture exhibition, in which a "policeman" was depicted as beating a lady hung to a wood frame, the "Santa Clauses" were shocked, and found it hard to believe that such atrocities are happening in the 21st century.

Citizens were shocked by the brutality of the persecution Many people came to learn the truth

After learning the truth, one Santa Claus said, "Let's go kick that policeman and rescue the tortured woman." Another Santa put chocolates and oranges near the feet of the woman who was being "tortured" by hanging from a wooden scaffold. The Santa Clauses showed great sympathy for the persecuted Falun Gong practitioners.

Lugarno is near Italy and people there speak Italian. Some Italian practitioners especially came to support us after they learned about the activity from the Internet. They brought display boards in Italian, which had a good effect in helping people find out more. Though Swiss practitioners had brought thousands of leaflets in Italian, they were soon all gone as almost every passerby took Falun Gong information.

After listening to the truth, an old woman said, "I believe in Christianity. I can understand the cruelty of the persecution because Christians in the past were seriously persecuted, too. However, there are now a billion people who believe in Christianity. You are doing a good job. You will definitely defeat the evil."

On December 20, 2004, some practitioners went to Saas-Fee, a famous ski resort, to promote Falun Gong. Though that day was sunny, there was about 4 inches snow on the ground due to a snowstorm the day before. During our activity, two snow removal trucks came to clean snow and many posters and materials thus had to be relocated. Practitioners told the drivers the truth of the persecution and what they were doing at the site, and the drivers showed great sympathy and support. After reporting to their supervisors, the drivers told us that the snow would be cleared the next day sothey wouldn't interrupt the practitioners' activity. They also took truth-clarifying materials with them.

One of the locations where we went to raise awareness about the persecution happened to be near an elementary school. Dafa practitioners' exercise demonstration attracted a lot of students, who then came to learn the sitting meditation exercise during the break. When they saw photo evidence of the persecution happening to Falun Gong practitioners in China, they were outraged. Some students even called their parents to look at the display boards and sign the petition calling for an end to the persecution

A mother brought her two children, aged about eight years old, to our booth. When the children asked their mother what Falun Gong is, she unexpectedly told them the facts in detail. She told them that Falun Gong originated in China and that practitioners believe in "Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance". She also told them why the communist regime in China persecutes Falun Gong practitioners and that there are practitioners in more than sixty countries. Although she did not practice Falun Gong, her understanding was very good. This showed that Dafa is gradually getting deeper into the hearts of the Swiss people. Practitioners were moved after hearing the mother's explanation and wished her and her children all the best.

Source http://clearharmony.net/articles/200501/24553.html

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2005/1/21/93911.html

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