By a practitioner from Australia

(Clearwisdom.net) On May 1, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners from Australia gathered in front of the Singapore Embassy to hold a peaceful appeal and a news conference. They were protesting the Singapore court's unjust conviction of Falun Gong practitioners and requested the Singapore government to immediately release the two innocent Falun Gong practitioners who are currently imprisoned. Practitioners also called upon the Singapore government not to become an accomplice of the Chinese communist regime and immediately stop its participation in the suppression of Falun Gong. Practitioners delivered an appeal letter to the Embassy officials.

A peaceful appeal in front of the Singapore Embassy in Canberra

It was reported that two Falun Gong practitioners, Ms. Ng Chye Huay and Ms. Cheng Lujin went to Esplanade Park to practice the Falun Gong exercises and clarify the facts about the persecution of Falun Gong in China on February 23, 2004. For this they were charged with ""Assembly without a Permit," "Possession and Distribution of VCDs without a Certificate" and six other charges in May 2004. On April 27, 2005, the Singapore court convicted the two practitioners. Ms. Ng was fined 24, 000 Singapore dollars, while Ms. Cheng was fined 20,000 Singapore dollars (1 Singapore dollar is about 0.61 US dollar). The two practitioners refused to accept the verdict and stated that they would file an appeal. They were taken to the Changi Women's Prison at 6:00 p.m. the same evening, where they may be held for up to 24 weeks. Currently, the two practitioners have gone on a hunger strike to protest this miscarriage of justice.

The Singapore court's decision made it the only country besides China where Falun Gong practitioners are imprisoned. The incident aroused great attention from Falun Gong practitioners throughout the world.

Dr. Liu, a practitioner from Canberra said that he was shocked at the Singapore court's verdict. "This kind of thing should only have the possibility of occurring under the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) rule. The two Falun Gong practitioners only distributed some truth-clarifying materials that exposed the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong. What they did was only handing out VCDs and practicing the Falun Gong exercises. These kinds of activities are only prohibited in China." Dr. Liu mentioned that currently the entire world is gradually seeing through the evil nature of the CCP and realizing the persecution of Falun Gong. Evidence of this is the fact that more than a million people throughout the world have withdrawn from the CCP and its affiliated organizations. He stated that the CCP will soon collapse, and called upon the Singapore government not to participate in the suppression of Falun Gong and be buried with CCP in the near future.

Mr. Hu, who lived in Singapore for eight years, said during the rally, "I cannot understand why these kinds of things are taking place in Singapore. Falun Gong is a practice that teaches people to be good. The entire world is aware of the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong. When the Singapore police and courts considered this case, it was not correct for them to ignore the background and the persecution of Falun Gong in China, and judge practitioners' truth-clarifying activities based on some incomplete complaints. This way of handling things really makes people feel regret. We hope that the Singapore government will reconsider its decision in this case and be supportive of Falun Gong practitioners."

Ms. Li, who came from Sydney to participate, stated that Falun Gong, which teaches the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, has been spread to more than 60 countries around the world. Voices supporting Falun Gong can be heard everywhere. Unfortunately in Singapore, Falun Gong practitioners have now been imprisoned for distributing truth-clarifying materials. This is really unacceptable. In particular, one of the practitioner's baby is only six-month old. Under such a situation, that the authorities still detain her is really inhumane. "Falun Gong has received great support and love from the Australian people. I also hope that the Singapore government will immediately stop its participation in the suppression of Falun Gong and immediately release the two detained practitioners."

Ms. Su, a practitioner of Falun Gong, called upon more kind-hearted Chinese people and people all over the world who have a sense of justice to support Falun Gong out of their humanity and help stop the persecution inside and outside China.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/5/2/100913.html