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Slovakia: Touring Eastern Slovakia with a Petition Against the Persecution of Falun Gong (Photos)

Nov. 8, 2007

(Clearwisdom.net) From October 25 to 29, a petition tour took place through the cities of Presov, Vranov nad Toplou, Kosice and Svidnik in eastern Slovakia. The goal of the tour was to support the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners who have been persecuted in China since 1999.

On Thursday in Presov it was a rather rainy day, but the practitioners nevertheless set up their stands and table and asked passers by to sign the petition. People were not discouraged by the bad weather and they came to sign even under an umbrella. Many people remembered practitioners from previous events and asked whether the situation in China had improved. Practitioners could unfortunately only say that the persecution continues behind the scenes.

People of all ages came to sign the petition

In Vranov nad Toplou, the practitioners were welcomed by a nice sunny day. Curious local residents came to watch demonstrations of the five Falun Gong exercises and asked what the practitioners were doing. When they learned that people in China have lost their lives at the hands of the Communist Party just for practicing these exercises, they didn't hesitate to add their signature to the petition. People of all ages came to sign, from young children to the elderly.

On Saturday in Kosice, a reporter from the local newspaper Novy Cas came to interview the practitioners and later published an article about the persecution of Falun Gong and about the accompanying undertaking "silhouettes of compassion", where the passers-by could outline their silhouette on the pavement as an expression of solidarity with the victims of the communist regime. An elderly lady, who stopped at one of the silhouettes, signed and said "That chalk will be washed away by the rain. You should draw it with something more durable."

A reporter from a local newspaper interviewed practitioners

On Monday in Sabinov the practitioners met with the Mayor, who signed the petition. He was interested in details of the persecution and after learning the facts he wished the practitioners success in their efforts.

During the petition in the city there came small helpers - children - who curiously learned the exercises, helped to give out leaflets and asked passers-by to sign the petition. It was clear that they meant it from the bottom of their hearts.

Local children were very keen to help out

More than 1,300 people signed the petition during those four days, which proves the high solidarity and support the people in eastern Slovakia have for Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted in China.

Source: http://clearharmony.net/articles/200711/41948.html