(Minghui.org) When Yu was our village secretary in 1998, there were many Falun Gong practitioners in our village. He permitted them to do the Falun Gong exercises outside the village office. Yu also invited them inside the building during bad weather.
After former Chinese Communist Party leader Jiang Zemin launched the persecution of Falun Gong, practitioners appealed to the government for the right to practice their faith. Some went to Beijing, some went the to city government, and some went to the local village government.
A local government official approached Yu and said, “A lot of the Falun Gong petitioners came from your village. I was told you let them do the exercises outside your office.”
“I don't know about other places,” Yu said, “but I know the practitioners in my village are good people. Before they practiced Falun Gong, some didn't pay their electric bills. But now, they pay on time. Some didn't give their parents-in-law an allowance, even after we talked to them many times. But after they started to practice Falun Gong, they began supporting their in-laws. When they did the exercises outside my office, they always kept the yard clean. They also did many other good deeds.”
Before Yu finished, the official interrupted, “The instruction is from above. From now on, no one is allowed to practice Falun Gong, and definitely not outside your office.”
We wanted to tell the government the goodness of Falun Gong and to restore our Master's reputation, so we went to appeal again and again, but we were taken back to our village every time.
When I was brought back from Beijing, Yu approached us. He wanted to help, but his hands were tied. However, he did not abuse us like the others, and he did not blame us for creating problems for him. He just asked if we had eaten and then brought us food.
We were taken back to the village and detained in the local police precinct for a number of days. Yu always tried to help us. His superior threatened to withhold his salary and bonus if anyone from our village petitioned again for the right to practice Falun Gong.
Yu smiled and said, “As I see it, the Communist Party only knows how to start movements and does not let people live in peace. I’m telling you, no matter what, you can't let my villagers go hungry.” He also told the director of the local police precinct, “Don’t beat any Falun Gong practitioners from my village.”
In Yu’s eyes, we practitioners were the best villagers, and he hoped we could go home soon.
After some time, Yu came to see us again. He said, “I don’t have the power [to free you], but I noticed you guys haven't had a shower in many days. So, I promised the chief to bring you guys back after letting you out to take a shower.”
It has been many years since Yu left the party secretary post. Wherever he goes, he tells people that Falun Gong is good and that Master Li is great. This is all because he witnessed how practitioners live by Falun Gong’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.