(Clearwisdom.net) On December 9 and 10, 2005, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Portugal. During this time, Falun Gong practitioners from Portugal, Spain, and other European countries gathered in Lisbon and held a series of activities, demanding that Wen Jiabao and the Chinese government stop the persecution of Falun Gong and unconditionally release all imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners.
Calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong in China
Portuguese yearning for facts of Falun Gong
At midday on the 9th, Falun Gong practitioners held an activity to collect petition signatures on Rossio Square, the busiest and most crowded area in Lisbon. A large number of Portuguese people were anxious to find out about what's happening in China. Practitioners explained to them that Falun Gong is a cultivation practice for improving the mind and body. They also exposed the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) persecution of Falun Gong. People stood around the photos of torture and silently learned about the unimaginable torments suffered by Falun Gong practitioners in Mainland China. They were deeply moved, and signed the petition to show their sympathy and support for Falun Gong.
In the early morning of the 10th, Falun Gong practitioners gathered outside the Hotel Ritz where Wen Jiabao was staying. Practitioners displayed banners reading, "Falun Gong is Great," and "Bring Jiang Zemin, Luo Gan, Liu Jing and Zhou Yongkang to Justice." Kind-hearted Portuguese people, after seeing the banners, came to ask about what the Chinese banners said, what Falun Gong is and why the CCP wants to persecute it. Practitioners answered their questions one by one and gave them informational leaflets. People who learned the truth gave the practitioners the thumbs-up sign or honked their car horns to express their support. Patrolling police who learned the truth smiled and waved. They were very willing to receive the leaflets.
Calling to bring Jiang, Luo, Liu and Zhou to justice
A middle-aged Portuguese person asked a practitioner why the CCP persecutes Falun Gong. The practitioner replied, "The CCP does not allow freedom of belief or any ideas other than their own. It does not allow people to be good by following Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, the principles of Falun Gong. Good people are being beaten and put into prison. Over the six years of the persecution, 2,791 practitioners are verified to have been persecuted to death. Today the Chinese Premier comes here, and we Falun Gong practitioners are asking him to stop the persecution and punish the criminals." Upon hearing this, the Portuguese man took a leaflet at once and said, "You're doing very well, you are remarkable." He bowed, and pressed his hands together to the practitioner to express his esteem.
Chinese people support Falun Gong
The local Chinese people also stopped to find out more. A young man drove his car nearby just to see the banners. When the car stopped, he kept on saying "Falun Gong is great!" and, "Bring Jiang Zemin, Luo Gan, Liu Jing, Zhou Yongkang to justice!" He gave the practitioners the thumbs-up sign and said, "Well done, I support you." Then he drove off. Later, a car full of Chinese people passed by and stopped in front of the banners. After reading the banners they smiled and waved to practitioners, and then left. On the road opposite the event, there was a group of Chinese officials who couldn't take their eyes off the banners. After reading them, they smiled broadly and some were even discussing them.
Embarrassed Chinese officials
After seeing the Chinese banners across the road, an elderly Portuguese man wanted to know what they meant. Two Chinese officials also happened to be reading the banners. The elderly man politely greeted them in English, and they replied in the same manner. The elderly man asked, "Could you help me please?" The officials nodded. The old man pointed at the banners and said, "Could you please tell me what the banners say?" The officials instantly showed embarrassment, with their heads hung low. They did not reply and hurriedly left. The man was quite puzzled. A practitioner went up to him, and asked him with a smile, "This is a Falun Gong flyer; would you like to read it?" The man was delighted to receive the material, and retold the story of how he wanted to find out the meaning of the banners. The practitioner translated them for him immediately. He was very grateful and left satisfied.
When the practitioners holding banners saw crowds of Chinese officials carefully reading the banners, the practitioners passionately shouted, "Falun Gong is great. Fellow Chinese people, greetings. Falun Gong is great!" Upon seeing the friendliness of the practitioners, these officials were a bit troubled. They did not reply and could only lower their heads and walk away in a hurry.
On December 10th, practitioners gathered outside the Hotel Ritz where Wen Jiabao was staying. Practitioners displayed banners, told people about the persecution of Falun Gong and demanded that the prime criminals and other high-ranking officials involved in the persecution be brought to justice. The practitioners used loudspeakers and called out loudly, "Falun Gong is good. Stop persecuting Falun Gong. Bring Jiang Zemin to justice." Their actions attracted the interest and attention of reporters who were attending the press conference inside the hotel. Reporters from radio stations, television stations, magazine agencies and newspaper agencies all came to interview practitioners. Some recorded, some filmed, and some took pictures. They interviewed the practitioners against the beautiful background music of "Pudu."
TSF, a well-known local radio station, repeatedly broadcast its report that same afternoon about the trade between China and Portugal and also about Falun Gong practitioners' activities to bring Jiang Zemin, Luo Gan, Liu Jing and Zhou Yongkang to justice. Radio Renascence broadcasted an interview with a practitioner in detail. Among the topics covered, were, what is Falun Gong? Why is it being persecuted by the CCP? While welcoming Wen Jiabao here, Falun Gong practitioners are also requesting him to stop the persecution of Falun Gong and punish the murderers and other high-ranking officials involved in the suppression. One of Portugal's major TV stations, SIC TV, broadcast an interview with a Falun Gong practitioner during its news at 8 p.m. on December 9th. They reported, "Falun Gong practitioners' intentions are quite clear. One is to welcome Wen Jiabao to Portugal, and the other is to stop the persecution of Falun Gong. Over the last six years of suppression, there have already been more than two thousand practitioners who have died as a result of torture." Through these reports, the people of Portugal were able learn the truth of Falun Gong.
Wen Jiabao's return journey
At 3 p.m. on December 10th, Wen Jiabao departed from the hotel and started on his journey back to China. A motorcade was closely following behind Wen Jiabao's car and the Chinese officials opened all their car windows. At this point, practitioners were holding banners outside, with the message: "Falun Gong is good. Bring Jiang Zemin to justice! Stop persecuting Falun Gong!" The words on the banners clearly came into their view and the calls for justice filled their ears. Some of them were smiling, some waving and some were even giving the practitioners the thumbs-up.
Seeing the banners, listening to the practitioners' calls to stop the persecution and to bring the prime criminals to justice, Wen Jiabao left the hotel and embarked on his return journey.
http://clearharmony.net/articles/200512/30534.html
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Category: Rallies & Protests
