August 21, 2001

Over a month now, posters line the center railings of Jannowitzbruecke (Jannowitz Bridge). Protected by a plastic sheath, a number informs passer-by of the latest numbers of deaths. Every few days, the numerals are changed with a felt marker to denote the climbing numbers. The numbers show how many of the more than 70 million Falun Gong practitioners in China have died at the hands of Beijing's government enforcers. The number is larger than 250, so say the Falun Gong practitioners who have erected a tent and set up a table on the bridge.

"We get the latest information from Chinese relatives' letters, from incarcerated persons or from the Internet," says 47-year-old Wolfgang Blau who has participated in this effort for weeks now. The railings display photographs of those murdered, framed in plastic flowers. In spite of their protest efforts, Mr. Blau and his co-protesters see themselves as nonpolitical. Oblivious to the loud traffic noises, they are pursuing the ancient Chinese qiqong exercises. They close their eyes and slowly move their arms around their bodies. When doing Falun Gong it is not only the body that calms down. It is good for the soul also, says he, and so it is also written in the books by [Mr. Li Hongzhi].

In contrast to Mrs. Yi Wang-Hammelgarn, [...] Mr. Wolfgang Blau is new to Berlin. Mr. Blau, originally from the Palatinate in Germany, came to Berlin at the beginning of July, recently arrived from New York where he had worked as artisan interior painter. It was in New York where he had learned Falung Gong at a health fair. At present he lives in a mobile home close to the bridge.

Jannowitz Bridge was not a chance location for the practitioners. The site is across the street from the Chinese Consulate, which is presently being situated. This consulate is located in the building of the former Union headquarters of the old Communist Sector of Berlin's Germany, behind a high fence, darkened windows and displaying plaster-of-Paris lions at the gate. Up until now the diplomats have not reacted to the goings-on across the street from their front door. They also refused to receive a letter, which 150 Falun Gong practitioners attempted to deliver to the consulate on July 21st. [...]

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