By Falung Dafa practitioners from Melbourne
On the afternoon of April 24, 2004, in order to allow
more people to learn about facts of the nearly five-year persecution, more than
60 Falun Gong practitioners from Melbourne went to the City Plaza
in Downtown area to expose the Jiang’s group’s ruthless persecution
of Falun Gong through a symbolic trial on the perpetrator Jiang Zemin.
At 3 p.m., the symbolic trial began. The judge announced the 10 monstrous
crimes including genocide and crimes against humanity committed by Jiang. Four
witnesses successively gave testimony in the court. They directly and specifically
exposed the inhuman crimes and deceits with their personal experiences.
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Symbolic trial on Jiang
On the left-hand-side of the tribunal, a simulated jail demonstrated the persecution
of Falun Gong happening in China. Jail guards tortured three practitioners.
One was hung on the roof; one was locked in a small cell, and another was tied
on a “tiger bench”(1). At the same time, the jail guards ceaselessly
beat them with electric batons and a whip in an attempt to force them to renounce
their belief in Falun Gong. One who portrayed a persecuted practitioner introduced
to passersby after the performance, that he was arrested in Beijing in 1999
simply because he spoke up for Falun Gong. Because he refused to give up his
belief in Falun Dafa, he suffered all kinds of tortures. What he demonstrated
today was only one of the numerous methods of tortures applied on Falun Gong
practitioners in China’s jails or labor camps. He also told people that
the atrocities are still going on in China.
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Simulated tortures reflect the brutality of the persecution of Falun Gong
in China
On another side of the plaza, many practitioners held up signs that read,
“Stop killing women and senior people!” “Stop the persecution of Falun Gong,”
large photos (evidence of the persecution) and various-size wreaths (commemorating
the practitioners who died from the persecution). At the rear side of the plaza,
practitioners unfurled eye-catching banners that read, “Bring Jiang Zemin to
Justice,” “Persecution is going on in China,” “Falun Dafa is great,” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance”
in both Chinese and English to display the theme of this event to spectators.
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Spectators are deeply moved
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Truth-clarifying display boards
The City Plaza is located at the intersection of Collin and Swanston streets
in Melbourne downtown. It was opposite to the Melbourne City Hall. Numerous
people came and went. Some of them stopped to watch, some took pictures with
their cameras, and some took the initiative to ask for information about Falun
Dafa. Passengers on buses passing by also watched the scene through the windows.
They did not want to miss this solemn event.
The symbolic trial was repeated five times in a row. Many passersby watched
the entire trial. Seeing the atrocity displayed before eyes, many Chinese students
did not turn around to avoid encountering practitioners like what they usually
did in the past, this time, they sincerely accepted the truth-clarifying materials.
During the court interval, an Australian young man introduced to other passersby
who watched the tribunal with him that he knew about the persecution long time
ago. He said that this was the most evil and inhuman persecution and Falun Gong
practitioners were simply seeking their very basic rights: belief and practice.
He said that Falun Dafa is practiced in more than 60 countries around the world
and China is the only country that bans the practice. He questioned, “How could
such a country, where fundamental human rights are not ensured, be allowed to
host the Olympic games? If it is indeed allowed, how many Olympic athletes who
have beliefs would be locked in China, this huge jail?”
A tour group from China also stopped to watch. One of them who looked like
a cadre asked a practitioner by the roadside, “How much money do you make to
do this kind of anti-government thing?” The practitioner replied, “In China,
Falun Gong practitioners have only request to stop the persecution, and enjoy
the freedom to practice Falun Gong as people in other countries do. We are just
voluntarily speaking out for them because they are not allowed to voice their
wishes themselves. We can not just listen to one-sided stories, instead, we
should look with our own eyes and think with our own mind.” His heartfelt words
touched this group of tourists. One after another, they asked for the truth-clarifying
booklets, newsletters and video CDs. They also used the last two pieces of film
in their camera to shoot the large background scene. We hoped they would record
what they had seen and bring the photos to their families and friends.
An Australian Christian said to a practitioner after watching the tribunal,
“Although I believe in Jesus, I admire you, practitioners of Falun Dafa, because
your are peacefully fighting for your fundamental rights under violence and
dangers. In face of threat, you still resolutely uphold your belief.”
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(1)Tiger Bench: Practitioners are forced to sit on a small iron bench that
is approximately 20 cm (6 inches) tall with their knees tied together. With
their hands tied behind their backs or sometimes placed on their knees, they
are forced to sit straight up and look straight ahead. They are not allowed
to turn their heads, close their eyes, talk to anyone or move at all. Several
inmates are assigned to watch over the practitioners and force them?to remain
motionless while sitting on the bench. Usually some hard objects are inserted
underneath the practitioners’ lower legs or ankles to make it harder for
them to tolerate this abuse (see illustration on <http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2001/11/24/16156.html>)
Posting date: 27/April/2004
Original article date: 26/April/2004
Category: Australian News
