(Clearwisdom.net) Indonesia's Jakarta 2007 City Celebration Activity was held to mark the 480th anniversary of the founding of the city. Falun Gong, as one of the groups invited by the city celebration committee to participate in the annual parade, had made full preparations to display the greatness of Falun Gong. However, on July 6, 2007, one day before the parade, the Falun Gong group was told that they had been disqualified from the parade.


Divine Land Marching Band performance


Falun Gong practitioners display banners

Falun Gong, which had earlier been invited to participate, could not take part in the parade because of interference from the Chinese Communist Party. The CCP manipulated people behind the scenes and the Indonesian government succumbed to its despotic power.

Mr. Lim, who was in charge of the Falun Gong parade group said, "Our participation is to add fun to the city celebrations. The CCP interfered, threatening challenges to the relations between Indonesia and China if Falun Gong was allowed to participate in the parade. We strongly condemn such an infringement upon our human rights."

The Jakarta Legal Aid Organization and Indonesia Legal Aid Organization Committee were quick to help. They held a press conference at noon on July 7, 2007, and disclosed the news that the city celebration committee unilaterally canceled Falun Gong's participation in the parade. They decided to send people to the parade site to express their concern and make it possible for the Falun Gong group to participate in the parade.

The Divine Land Marching Band, waist drummer's group and "celestial maidens" group of the Falun Gong parade group demonstrated their performances in advance of the parade's scheduled beginning. Shortly after the Divine Land Marching Band performed, several dozen security guards rushed into the Band, rudely snatching Falun Dafa banners and musical instruments. Over a dozen members of the legal aid organization blocked the security guards from their violent attempts. The security guards then surrounded and attacked members of the legal aid organization.

Practitioners stood their ground and shouted loudly, "Falun Dafa Is Great!" "Falun Dafa Is Great!" Nearly three hundred Falun Gong practitioners continuously shouted, and the security guards gradually calmed down. Practitioners started singing "Falun Dafa Is Great!" and "Coming for You." The singing continued until the security guards started listening to the members of the legal aid organization and Falun Gong practitioners explained to them about how Falun Gong group was unilaterally canceled from participating in the city celebration parade. Not until then did the security guards learn that the Indonesian government had succumbed to CCP interference and unfairly treated the Falun Gong group. Finally, the security guards allowed the Divine Land Marching Band and waist drummers to perform before the buses came to fetch the practitioners.

After the performances, and when Falun Gong practitioners left the site, people nearby warmly applauded, and many people shook hands with practitioners to say goodbye. The atmosphere was harmonious and peaceful.