The opening ceremony and press conference of the exhibition of Zhang
Cuiying's traditional Chinese paintings hosted by the Association of Supporting
Falun Gong Practitioners Applying for Refugee Protection were held in Asakusa
Kokayidou, Tokyo at 6:00 p.m. on November 29, 2001.
Mr. Makino Senxiu, Representative of Japanese
Congress gives speech in the press conference
Zhang Cuiying recounts her experience of
persecution for 8 months in China
Young practitioners present flowers to Zhang
Cuiying
The conference was hosted by Mr. Hirosesi Gehisa, the Chair of the Association, who is also a professor in Tokyo Industrial University. Firstly, Mr. Makino Senxiu, one of the initiators of the Supporting Association and a representative of Japanese Congress gave a speech. He said, "I learned from TV news reports that Chinese Falun Gong practitioners in Japan were refused to enter China when going back and were in a difficult situation of applying for refugee protection. I realized it was not a China issue, but a Japan issue too. As a congressman, I decided to offer my utmost assistance. I have always paid attention to human rights issues..." He said that as a man he could not tolerate Jiang Zemin regime's persecution of Falun Gong. He also said that he would motivate more congressmen to form a strong force to call on Jiang Zemin's regime to stop the persecution of Falun Gong and Japanese Government to approve the refugees' application.
The host, Mr. Hirosesi Gehisa expressed his appreciation to the media and then changed the topic to the key player of the conference, Zhang Cuiying, an invited guest from Australia and a Falun Gong practitioner. He introduced Zhang Cuiying and said, "She had drawing talent from a child. She became a renowned artist under the influence of a few famous Chinese artists. It seems to me that she was born for art and painting and her paintings are fruit of her heart." Later he said, "Zhang Cuiying had to stop painting because of her serious arthritis. She was fortunate to learn Falun Gong when she was disheartened towards life. Within only 7 days, she recovered completely like a miracle. However, she was tortured for 8 months in China for speaking a word of justice." He asked Zhang Cuiying to introduce her 8-month imprisonment.
Zhang Cuiying recounted her experience of being persecuted for 8 months in China for speaking a word of justice. She expressed her appreciation to those renowned people from every circle in Japan to offer her such a chance. She said that she would like to introduce to the kind-hearted Japanese people her experience of benefiting from Falun Gong and being persecuted for 8 months for believing in "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" and to get more just and kind people's understanding and support. All people present were touched by her determination in her belief of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance." Rui, the representative of refugee applicants, gave a speech to call on kind-hearted Japanese to support Falun Gong and help to stop the persecution of Falun Gong as soon as possible.
Later, during in the reception of the opening ceremony, Mr. Onibata Masanori, the chair of an attorneys' group gave a speech. He was the counsel for China in the postwar compensation judgment on the crimes that Japanese army unit 731 committed in China. He said that Falun Gong was not involved in politics and it was completely wrong for Jiang Zemin's regime to take violent measures to suppress all those he disliked. He called on Jiang Zemin's regime to stop the persecution of Falun Gong and wished that Chinese people had the freedom of thought.
After the press conference, reporters from Asia Radio Broadcasting Station and Foreign Students News interviewed Zhang Cuiying. Zhang Cuiying presented her paintings to the attorneys and members of the supporting association. Some people attending the conference asked her to sign the paintings they received. Mr. Hirosesi ordered the paintings he liked that very day. On the second morning, the secretary of congressman Makino bought a painting he liked. Zhang Cuiying arrived in Japan on November 27, 2001. Congressman Makino met her on November 28, 2001 and said that he would hang the paintings she presented in a suitable place. One attorney said before departing, "I am pleased to see you. I am very busy every day. Upon seeing your paintings, I calm down from my heart. I hope you will create more paintings to make people feel calm and peaceful."
For two days, there were numerous visitors to see the paintings. The exhibition location, Asakusa Kokayidou, is near Asakusa Temple, a famous tour site in Tokyo. Japanese practitioners distributed introductions of the exhibition. Many tourists from various countries and passers-by obtained the opportunity to meet and talk with the artist. Many eastern and western people signed the letter calling on China to stop the persecution of Falun Gong.
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