(Clearwisdom.net) Romania, located in the northeast of the Balkan Peninsula, has the world famous Danube Biosphere Reserve—a delta where the Danube River meets the Black Sea, also the largest delta in Europe. The capital of Romania, Bucharest, located on a plain where branches of the Danube pass through, has beautiful scenery.

Behind the peaceful landscapes lies a tumultuous past. Romania was the only Eastern Bloc country to overthrow its Communist regime violently. On December 17, 1989, over ten thousand residents of Timisoara, the second largest city of Romania, took to the streets to protest the tyranny of the Communist dictator. In a few days, the wave expanded to the whole nation. On December 25, the Romanian Communist Party was overturned and the dictator, Ceausescu, was executed. The Romanians experienced great suffering under the Communist Party's rule so they can empathize with Falun Gong practitioners who are persecuted brutally by the Chinese Communist Party for their belief in Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

Falun Dafa, also called Falun Gong, is based on the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. The practice has spread to over one hundred countries and more than 100 million people have benefited from it. In 1998, Romania had its first Falun Dafa exercise teaching class. Books written by Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, were also translated into Romanian and published. The Falun Dafa Association of Romania was established on February 18, 2003.

The Happiest Day of My Life

Many Romanians saw the public outdoor practice or heard about Falun Gong from friends and relatives. Falun Dafa practitioner Dana recalled, “I started practicing Falun Gong on July 1, 2001. At that time I found a small ad in a newspaper in Bucharest, mentioning free qigong courses. I had heard brief things about the practice and I wanted to know more about it. I became even more interested when I saw that the courses were free of charge -- a situation so seldom seen in my country. I went to the park where the practice site was and I practiced together with the other people gathered there. ”

Mia, from Romania, works in a biology research institute in America. She said, "The happiest day of my life was the day I learned Falun Dafa. Romania used to be communist and I know how Communists persecute people with beliefs. I can imagine how inhumane and brutal the persecution of Falun Dafa is in China. I hope it ends soon and practitioners in China, where the practice started, can practice openly and freely."

Former Romanian President Sends Greetings on Falun Dafa Day

For over ten years, Falun Dafa practitioners around the world have been persistently clarifying the truth and opposing the persecution. The governments and people of the world have gradually learned the truth about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. On May 12, 2010, Dr. Emil Constantinescu, the former president of Romania, wrote a letter to the Romanian Falun Dafa Association in recognition of the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance on the occasion of World Falun Dafa Day.

Dr. Constantinescu was the president of Romania from 1996 to 2000. In his letter he wrote, “The principles promoted by Falun Dafa - Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance - can help us all, whatever our beliefs may be, in our attempt to improve our life and the perspective of life. These principles help us cherish the most important thing for us, as human beings: the concern for the less fortunate ones, the sacrifice, loyalty and dedication.”

At the same time, Ms. Lucica Humeniuc, co-president of the Romanian Independent Society of Human Rights, wrote the following letter to the Romanian Falun Dafa Association in recognition of World Falun Dafa Day. In the letter, she wrote, “On this day of celebration, I wish to congratulate the Falun Gong, which reminds us of wonderful principles that ennobles each of us. ”

Media Reports on the Persecution of Falun Gong

On November 5, 2001, a press conference was held in Cluj-Napoca City, with the theme of "Stop the Killing! SOS! Urgent: Rescue Falun Gong Practitioners Persecuted in China."

Practitioners exposed the inhuman torture used against Falun Gong practitioners in China by the Jiang Zemin regime and the state terrorist behavior of the "610 Office." Reporters were shocked by the information. After the conference, some of them expressed their thanks to the practitioners for speaking out.

Among about a dozen reporters at the event, two were from local radio and TV stations. The local TV and radio station reporters interviewed the practitioners.

From October 12 to 18, 2009, the Art of Truth, Compassion, Tolerance International Exhibition was held in Anaid Art Gallery in Bucharest. A lot of visitors viewed the paintings and were stunned by the fine artistry as well as the brutal torture of the persecution. Romanian major culture TV channel TVR Cultural reported on the opening ceremony and interviewed Falun Dafa practitioners.

Three special guests gave speeches at the opening ceremony. They were Art Historian Ms. Dragu Mariana, who works for the Romanian National Art Museum, Co-President of SIRDO for Human Rights Ms. Lucica Humenius, and the vice-president of an important political party, professor Oprean Ion. They praised the artworks of the exhibition, commenting that they were pure, bright, peaceful and true and that they bring people hope.

Having Experienced the Evil Nature of the Communist Party, Romanians Support Falun Gong Practitioners' Efforts to Stop the Persecution

On the weekend of May 28-29, 2005, Romanian Falun Gong practitioners went to Suceava to promote Falun Gong and raise awareness of the brutal persecution inflicted on practitioners by the Chinese Communist Party. They handed out leaflets about Falun Gong to tourists in the park.

Two older women said with emotion, "What the evil Chinese Communist Party has done is the same as what Ceausescu (the former dictator of the Romanian Communist Party) did in order to hold onto power. They do not allow any different voices; they simply deprive people of their freedom of speech." She gave an example and explained that, "In the past, they secretly monitored telephone conversations. Whoever uttered unusual remarks could be reported to the higher authorities, which made everyone extremely scared."

On June 4, 2005, Romanian practitioners went to the beautiful and ancient city of Brasov to promote Falun Gong. On the main square, practitioners demonstrated the exercises. Passersby stopped to view a photo exhibition revealing the CCP's brutality toward peaceful Falun Gong practitioners. Many then signed a petition calling for an end to the persecution.

Romanian President Condemns Communist Rule as "Illegitimate and Criminal"

Romanian President Traian Basescu condemned Romania's Communist regime as "illegitimate and criminal" in a speech delivered at a special Romanian Parliamentary session on December 18, 2006. His remarks garnered widespread attention.

President Basescu presented the Parliament with an officially commissioned report on Romania's Communist era, which condemned the regime for killing hundreds of thousands of citizens and ruining the lives of millions during its rule.

President Basescu called upon Members of Parliament to support his condemnation and offer sympathy to the victims of the Communist regime, in accordance with the European Commission's decision No. 1481 passed on January 25, 2006. The president expressed regret and compassion for the regime's victims on behalf of the Romanian state, apologizing to those who suffered, to their families and to all those who, in one way or another, saw their lives ruined by the dictatorship.

Former Cezch Republic President Vaclav Havel, Bulgaria's former President Jelio Jelev, former Polish President and Nobel Peace laureate Lech Walesa, former Romanian President Emil Constantinescu, and Romania's former King Mihai, Prince Radu, and Princess Margareta also attended the session to shore up support.

During the recess, President Basescu and several former Presidents of Eastern European countries received the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party from practitioners. They were delighted to see this book.

Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tacireanu sat next to the President during his speech to show support for the President's condemnation of Communism.