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Commemorating a Chinese repression

Peace of Mind
Last Updated 24 July 2009, 16:13 IST

Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is a peaceful spiritual practice for self-improvement based on the principles of ‘truthfulness, compassion and tolerance.’ It was introduced by Li Hongzhi in May 1992 in China. Falun Dafa is widely practiced in 114 countries regardless of race, gender and social strata. According to a survey conducted by the Chinese Communist regime itself: by January 1999 there were 70 million people practicing Falun Dafa in mainland China alone.

It happened in China at midnight of July 20, 1999. Under the veil of darkness, police dragged hundreds of innocent people from their homes, forcing them into prisons and detention centres because they practiced Falun Gong. The growing popularity was perceived as a threat to the Communist regime.

So on July 22, 1999, Falun Gong was formally outlawed across the land, marking the official beginning of a state-engineered hate campaign that has lasted 10 long years.

Orchestrated by China’s ex-president Jiang Zemin, the persecution is unprecedented for its devious nature and virulent scope. It has branded millions of peace-loving citizens enemies of the state and sought to destroy them.

Under orders from the top, ‘no means are too excessive’ in the mad drive to eradicate Falun Gong. Police and labour camp authorities have to fulfil quotas for the number of practitioners they can ‘transform’ and they are free to use any method which includes imprisonment, torture and killing.

Attrocity

Families have been torn apart and homes ransacked and destroyed. The families, friends and colleagues of more than one hundred million practitioners have been implicated by association.

Throughout the past 10 years, Falun Gong practitioners all over the world have continued with an unprecedented campaign that is strictly non-violent and non-political. Through the internet and the web sites they have built up a worldwide network; and human rights organisations, prominent non-governmental organisations and politicians and leaders of various governments have joined a chorus of voices, condemning the Chinese Communist Party’s 10-year persecution.

“It is also a time for hope. Ten years after the CCP sought to crush Falun Gong countless Chinese citizens continue to find peace and spiritual fulfilment through the practice, and more and more people are peacefully standing up for their rights to do just that,” said Levi Browde, executive director of the Falun Dafa Information Centre.

Falun Dafa was introduced in India in October 2000 in Delhi by practitioners who came from Sweden, Singapore, Finland and USA. It was introduced to the other metros, cities and towns.

Falun Dafa has been introduced in over 70 schools, colleges and educational institutions in Karnataka and other states.

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(Published 24 July 2009, 16:13 IST)

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