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Athens: Awakening Conscience By De Xiang in Athens
(Clearwisdom.net) The voice of Simma Holt echoes in Athen's Syntagma Square: "Thank God,
people from different parts of the world are expressing concern over this
unprecedented genocide. It is more evil than Hitler and Stalin's acts put
together. Leaders of the Chinese Communist Party label Falun Gong practitioners,
the kindest people in the world, with fabricated charges, arrest them, and carve
out their organs to make a profit. It's hard to imagine how the international
community could praise the moral values and humane principles that the Olympics
supposedly stand for under these circumstances...The human rights torch is
saying to China: 'The international community will jointly boycott the 2008
Olympics if the genocide does not stop.'" Simma Holt is a former Canadian
Parliament Member for Vancouver-Kingsway and a member of the Coalition to
Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG). This is also where human rights torches lit up the evening of August 9, 2007.
The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong, a non-profit
organization, hosted this event. Its members include more than 300 political
dignitaries, including doctors and lawyers, from around the world. More than 27
groups from five continents concerned about the human rights conditions in China
gathered and witnessed the grand ceremony that was held to encourage an effort
to end the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Locals and tourists alike, who
happened to pass by, also joined in the activity and expressed support for
boycotting the Chinese Communist regime's blood-stained Olympics and for
stopping the persecution of Falun Gong. Sami, an Athens member of Amnesty International said, "We all hope to
live in a peaceful place where our rights are respected. We are glad the human
rights torch is first lit in Athens, and I hope that more and more people will
take part in these activities. It's highly significant that people from five
continents have come to Athens to support human rights. I felt obligated to
participate in this event, and in fact, I think everyone is." Tourlas Charalampos, an economics student and also a member of Amnesty
International, shared his opinion on the Communist Party's harvesting Falun Gong
practitioners' organs: "I believe the allegation is true. China must stop
human rights violations such as live organ harvesting, regardless of the motive!
I'm truly concerned about the human rights situation in China. In order to
improve it, people must constantly pressure the government, and the
international community must keep stepping forward and voice protests in order
to end organ harvesting." Mr. Wang walked by the square pushing a small cart filled with merchandise.
He stopped to take part in the activities when he saw the opening ceremony. He
said to the interviewer that he had learned about the human rights torch event
from the Epoch Times newspaper and wanted to join, but did not know the
time or location. Miraculously, he passed by the square at the right time. He
could have earned some money by selling his merchandise, but he decided instead
to stay and participate. Mr. Wang said, "The Communist Party has never done anything good and
would persecute anyone who threatens its power [Editor's note: Falun Gong is
non-political and does not seek political power]; on the other hand, the
Party would hand out official positions to whoever praises it, regardless of
their character. The Party is truly villainous and shameless. It has used every
nice word and done every evil deed. The Party often boasts of its achievements
such as 'freedom, democracy and a happy life for the Chinese people,' but it's
all lies. When I read the subtitles in the Nine Commentaries on
the Communist Party, I thought they were excellent because they were
so true." Ms. Dai Zhizhen's husband was tortured to death in China for practicing Falun
Gong, leaving behind her and her young daughter. When asked about her thoughts
on the Party's harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners' organs, Ms. Dai answered,
"I think mankind absolutely cannot tolerate it. I feel anyone who
remains silent on this issue is disrespecting the dignity of mankind. One day,
when our children ask us, 'What were you doing when you heard about it [organ
harvesting]?' We will then have to face our conscience. Traditional Chinese
culture believes that goodness is rewarded and evil deeds are punished. I
believe we will face a final trial of conscience. I think if everyone steps
forward, then this crime will end. This is an urgent matter, and we must end it
as soon as possible." Ms. Dai continued, "We would not tolerate it if one person's organs were
harvested, not to mention that this is happening on such a large scale; it's
systematic genocide. I have a seven-year-old daughter. If someone is killed by
the Communist regime, what would happen to his wife, children, parents,
relatives and friends? The Party is not just persecuting one person; it is
hurting everyone. A little known fact is that the local police courageously counteracted
pressure from the Communist regime concerning the human rights torch lighting
ceremony. A CIPFG spokesman told the interviewer that the highest police bureau
in the south of Greece had approved the event. One hour before the activities
began, however, the police suddenly were pressured to cancel the event. In
response, the organizers calmly explained the widespread persecution and large
scale human rights violations in China, including the mass organ harvesting,
which touched the police officers present at the site of the activities. One
high-ranking officer was even moved to tears. In the end, with their conscience
and sense of justice, the police officers resisted orders from their superiors
and ensured the success of the torch lighting ceremony. Needless to say, the
pressure came from the Communist Party, which proves with each vicious attack
the truth contained in the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. Posting date: 8/16/2007 |