(Clearwisdom.net) On July 18, 2004, Governor of Sumatra Utara Mr. Rizal Nurdin proclaimed Falun Gong as one of the National Mass Sports that transcend nationalities, beliefs and are non-political.

Falun Dafa practitioners participate in parade on National Day

After Jiang's regime started the persecution of Falun Gong in China in 1999, citizens in the city of Medan, Indonesia were misled by Jiang regime's lies against Falun Gong spread by the local media. Local government and Chinese associations dared not to get in touch with Falun Gong practitioners. The Chinese Embassy constantly pressured the governments of different levels demanding them ban Falun Gong.

Through truth clarification of Falun Gong practitioners in Medan, the Ministry of Youth Physical Education in Sumatra Utara approved the registration of a local Falun Dafa Association (a branch of the Indonesia Falun Dafa Association), and acknowledged the legality of Falun Gong in Medan. Medan practitioners made further efforts to explain to different levels of government about the persecution of Falun Gong in China, and the benefits of Falun Gong to people's physical and mental well being. On July 18, 2004, the fifth year of Jiang's regime's persecution of Falun Gong, Governor of Sumatra Utara Mr. Rizal Nurdin proclaimed Falun Gong as one of the national mass sports.

On August 17, 2004, the National Day of Indonesia, Falun Gong practitioners were invited to participate in the National Day parade. Medan practitioners displayed the beauty of Falun Dafa through beautifully decorated float.

Every day, at 5:00p.m., a group of aboriginal Indonesian and Chinese would practice Falun Gong in Lapangan Merdeka in front of the city government of Medan. People familiar with them all know that they are practicing a Chinese traditional cultivation method. They have been practicing there for several years, and many people have learned the practice as a result.