Senior member of an NGO in Finland: "We oppose any behavior that will do harm to children"

Before Luo Gan's arrival in Finland, two Falun Gong practitioners visited some NGOs (non-governmental organizations) to introduce Falun Gong and the persecution in China. Practitioners told them that Luo Gan, who was on his way to Finland, was one of the chief persecutors of Falun Gong practitioners and was the subject of a genocide lawsuit by practitioners in Iceland, where he had stayed before coming to Finland.

After learning the facts about Falun Gong, one senior NGO member said, "I did not quite understand Falun Gong before. I will certainly give your materials to our superiors. And I will inform all of our members about your activity. We oppose any behavior that will do harm to children, not just to children, but also to other groups."

Four Falun Gong practitioners from different countries visited different government agencies as soon as they arrived in Finland to tell them about Falun Gong. In an unfamiliar country, unable to communicate in the local language and with a tight schedule, they rented a car and driver. Practitioners told the driver that they came from different countries because Luo Gan, one of the instigators of the persecution of Falun Gong, was coming to Finland that evening. Before the arrival of Luo Gan, they would hurry to the government agencies to tell the Finnish government that this visitor is the head of the "610 Office," a Chinese Gestapo-like organization that operates above the law in China and has caused thousands of Falun Gong practitioners to be persecuted to death, serious injury or physical disability. On top of this, numerous practitioners have been deprived of their jobs and their right to receive an education.

After learning the truth about Falun Gong, the driver told one of the practitioners, "You are a brave woman and I will visit your web site to understand Falun Gong more."

When Luo Gan arrived at Rovaniemi City, practitioners were given permission to stage a peaceful sit-in appeal outside the airport. Practitioners arrived on time, and so did two reporters from the "Lapin Kansa" newspaper from Lapland in Northern Finland. The reporters interviewed a Finnish practitioner who was once detained because he unfolded a banner reading "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" on Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

As Luo Gan's plane was about to land, officials from the Chinese embassy restlessly walked to and fro at the airport exit. They asked the police to order the practitioners to drop their banners and leave. Under pressure from the Chinese authorities, police asked the practitioners to end their appeal because their permitted time was over, but they were allowed to remain near the airport. Practitioners did not want to go against local regulations so they found another place to continue their appeal and their activity of sending forth righteous thoughts.

During the entire process, the reporters stayed with the practitioners. They could sense the practitioners' peaceful behavior and their sincere wish to bring this persecution to an immediate end. The minutes ticked away, but Luo Gan and his entourage did not show up. The police left and so did the reporters. A moment later, the reporters drove back. One of them waved to practitioners and shouted, "You are so marvelous! They went through the forest and ran away."

The next day, "Lapin Kansa" newspaper published a very positive report on Falun Gong on the first page entitled "The Chinese Leader Avoids Direct Contact. They Take a Track and Disappeared."

Before Luo Gan's plane arrived at Rovaniemi, several practitioners stopped by the Santa Claus village on their way to the airport. They sent forth righteous thoughts and wore clothes with the words "Falun Dafa" and "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" printed on them. They also had their picture taken with Santa Claus. One Western practitioner took out a leaflet printed in Finnish and handed it to Santa Claus, saying, "I just have one wish. I wish you could read this material before the Chinese guests come."

The practitioners gave the cashier a leaflet. After reading the leaflet, she asked, "Is it you who faxed us the information?" "Yes," answered the practitioners. She replied, "This morning we were still discussing this issue. But I happen to be working while that person comes here. That is too bad. He reminded me of Hitler in Finland during World War II. I have no choice but to serve this person, and I really can do nothing about it."

One of the practitioners forgot something that she left on the counter, and called to ask about it the next day. As soon as the practitioner told the clerk her name, the clerk immediately knew who she was. When she went back, the clerk was already waiting at the entrance. After seeing each other, the clerk explained, "Yesterday we were forced to serve the Chinese delegation. We felt sorry about that. This morning we read the newspaper and we all support you." Another clerk said, "Santa Clause is so nice and Lapland is so beautiful. How can we let such a terrible person come here? These officials came here by their own personal plane to bargain with us. That is very disgusting."

Another group of practitioners were in the Santa Claus village when Luo Gan visited. After Luo Gan left in a hurry, the rest of his entourage wanted to have a photo taken with Santa Claus. Santa Claus said, "Only kind children can get Christmas gifts. Are you kind people?"

When Luo Gan was going to leave Finland, several practitioners went to the police station to tell them the truth about Falun Gong and ask for permission to appeal at the airport. After arriving at the police station, they asked the police if they had heard of Falun Gong. The police said, "We had not heard of you before. But our colleagues once said that you are easy to get along with and they even brought back material for us to read. I read them carefully. We also watched the news on TV and know why you went there." Because the policeman could not decide if he could guarantee us permission, he said that he would ask his superior and would have an answer the following day.

The next morning when the police station opened, practitioners were there. The officer in charge said, "We did not have much of an understanding of you yesterday, but today you can stay here for as long as you want." A practitioner asked "Do you know we are peaceful?" and the officer replied, "Yes. Now we understand you."

At noon time, when Luo Gan was at the airport to take a plane to leave Finland, officials from the Chinese embassy again asked the police officer on duty to disband us or to order us to move further away. The officer said, "We cannot do that, because they have been guaranteed permission." Later, the Chinese officials asked the airport staff to talk with the police, and the police still gave the same answer. They continued to make the same request; the police just smiled without saying anything.

Luo Gan's plane left Finland in fog. When one Finnish official came out of the airport, two practitioners handed him Dafa materials. The official introduced himself, "I am the General Secretary of Lapland Province. I understand what you are worried about. I will give your materials to the Governor."

At the downtown square of Rovaniemi City, practitioners demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises to the local citizens and gave them Dafa materials.

On the first day when practitioners were about to leave, two young girls were watching our demonstration and asked, "Could you teach us to practice the meditation?" They sat on the ground with their legs crossed. One of the practitioners taught them the fifth exercise of Falun Gong, the sitting meditation. The girls left with satisfaction.

The next day, many people took leaflets. They told us that they had read the reports in newspapers and would like to learn more about Falun Gong. Over one thousand leaflets were handed out in only two hours. One passer-by said, "I watched the report on TV. It condemned the persecution of Falun Gong. We support you." One boy shouted while pressing his bike bell, "You did a very good job." An elderly gentleman took one leaflet and read it. After reading it, he came toward the practitioners and said, "The truth will win. God bless you."

Published: Friday, 19 September 2003

URL: www.clearharmony.net/articles/200309/15225.html