(Minghui.org) Thousands of Falun Dafa practitioners from Europe, America, Australia, and Asia gathered in New York City on May 17-19, 2013 to participate in the annual Falun Dafa experience sharing conference and related activities.

A grand march was held to show people the benefits of the practice and to raise awareness about the brutal persecution Falun Gong practitioners experience in China. This was the largest Falun Dafa activity in size and scale outside of China since the persecution started in July 1999.

Benefitting Physically and Mentally from Practicing Falun Gong

Hugo from Chile

Hugo is a practitioner from Chile. He thought the parade was “magnificent,” and that it was great to see so many practitioners together. Hugo began practicing Falun Gong ten years ago. After reading a news report on the practice, he contacted local practitioners, who taught him the exercises.

Hugo was still a student at the time and he had not passed a test for two years. His family was very worried about him. After he learned Falun Gong, he passed all his tests, his family was very happy, and he began to accomplish more in his life.

Erik Rusch from Germany

Erik Rusch from Germany is 33 years old. A retired soldier, he is now a teacher. While he was still in the military in 2002, he found out that he had digestive system problems. “I was being treated in the best hospital in Germany. I ran into a Falun Gong practitioner, and he asked me if I wanted to practice. I went to a park with him and quickly learned the five exercises. I felt amazing when I meditated for the first time. Afterward, I knew I had completely recovered, and I left the hospital.”

Erik did not trust anyone when he was in the military. There were many fights, and everyone hated each other. He decided to leave and become a teacher. “Falun Dafa helped me to be considerate of others everywhere I went. People then me treated me nicely as well. It’s important that I do well in the first place.”

Jesus (right) from Cuba, and Federilo from Argentina

Jesus from Cuba has been practicing for just a year. He felt that he found a new life when he found Falun Dafa. He wants to return to his true self. He was happy to be with so many practitioners and experience a strong, positive energy.

Learn to Look at Things Positively

Federilo from Argentina is also a new practitioner. He was looking for the purpose of life until he encountered Falun Dafa. He quickly accepted the teachings and changed tremendously. He began to look at things, especially people, in a more positive light. He had once been a very negative person, and life was not easy for him. Falun Dafa helped him. Federilo wanted to come to Chinatown to tell the Chinese people, “Falun Dafa is good.”

“I have strong predestined relationship with Chinese people”

Nikolai from Switzerland

Nikolai from Switzerland became a practitioner in 2006. He will soon be going to college to study German and Chinese. He believes that it is important for him to speak Chinese well so that he can talk to the Chinese people and clarify the facts about the persecution of Falun Gong to them.

Nikolai has been to Hong Kong several times to clarify the truth to Chinese tourists. “Though I don’t speak Chinese, I can still give them fliers,” he said. He said that it was hard work clarifying the truth in Hong Kong, having to carry a lot of materials and set up the posters. “I knew all the hard work was worth it when I saw so many Chinese understand the truth of the evil persecution.”

Nikolai also has gone to tourist sites in Switzerland with a Chinese practitioner. He learned the practice at a Falun Dafa activity in Lucerne. “After I became a practitioner, I became more tolerant. I was also able to stay cool-headed when I was in trouble.”

“The CCP’s propaganda led us to find Falun Gong”

Mother and daughter from South Korea

Li Qianxiu and Pu Youying, mother and daughter, began practicing Falun Dafa in September 2000. When they saw the Chinese regime’s propaganda that smeared and defamed Falun Dafa, Li decided to find out what it really was. She became a practitioner. “I have changed from being an irritable person to a considerate one, thanks to Teacher,” she said.

Pu said that she followed her mother and became a practitioner when she was 13 years old. “I am able to treat others kindly no matter how they treat me. As a result, I am always happy. Before I practiced, I was very weak and often had nose bleeds. As soon as I began to read the teachings, the nose bleeds stopped. I am very grateful to Master.”

“The persecution should end”

Hanna from France

Hanna is a financial analyst from France. She began practicing Falun Dafa in 2011. She was very excited to be in New York with practitioners from around the world. “Each time I am at an event like this with other practitioners, I get very emotional and often cry.” She wanted to help more people to understand the brutal nature of the persecution so that it will end quickly. “It’s time,” she said.

Hanna said that she feels sad when she sees photos that were taken before the persecution, when tens of thousands of practitioners in China were able to practice freely and openly together, “I hope we will seen scenes like this in China again soon.”

Chinese version available

CATEGORY: Other Community Events

(Minghui.org) As the anniversary of the Zhongnanhai April 25 event neared, the Chaoyang City Political and Legal Affairs Committee (610 Office) in Liaoning Province called in staff member from various levels in its counties and townships for training sessions on ways to monitor and persecute Falun Gong practitioners. In the city and its surrounding areas, over 10 practitioners have recently been illegally arrested.

Political and Legal Affairs Committee secretary Zhao Jing, director of Chaoyang Police Department Shi Xinli, and 610 Office head Zheng Shaolin planned and implemented the operations.

On April 21, 2013, four Falun Gong practitioners from Jianping County–Dong Shuju, Yuan Ruilian, Chen Shuyun, and Zheng Cuifen–were distrubuting Shen Yun DVDs when the police arrested them.

Practitioners Yang and Wu were clarifying the facts about Falun Gong in Taohua Market on April 25 when they were ambushed by plainclothes police. The two were illegally arrested and are being held in Beishan Detention Center in Xidayingzi.

A police officer from Chaoyang City Developing District arrested Ms. Li Suyun on April 24. She was later released.

Xitaiji Village security director Guo Fengquan, along with director Xu Ruifeng from Jiangjiawopu Township Police Station, Liang Jingwei, Li Hongwei, Fan Yushu, and Lu Chunjun, led a raid on the home of practitioner Ms. Cheng Xiangqin on April 27 at around 5:00 p.m. She was held at the Beipiao City Detention Center.

Practitioners Xie Jianping and Zhou Shuguang were reported when they were handing out Shen Yun DVDs on April 28. They were arrested by officers from Hongshan Police Station and held in Jianping County Detention Center.

A senior practitioner named Guo from Liucheng Town was also arrested.

Practitioner Chen Guilan was arrested in Chaoyang City Center market on March 3, 2013, and will soon face sentencing.

Perpetrators:

Zhao Jing, secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee

Shi Xinli, police department director

Pan Zhanxian, Jiangping County Police Department deputy director

Jiang Jie, Jiangping County Domestic Security director

Zhao Qiang, Chaoyang County Domestic Security director

Contact information:

Chaoyang City Police Department
Shi Xinli, director: +86-421-3806001 (Office), +86-15566799999 (Cell), +86-13889892255 (Cell)

Chaoyang City Domestic Security
Dong Wensheng, director: +86-421-3801039 (Office), +86-13634951230 (Cell)
Zhao Jing,
Political and Legal Affairs Committee secretary: +86-421-2612917 (Office), +86-421-2965069, +86-13188153606 (Cell)

City 610 Office:
Zheng Xuelin, director: +86-421-2620610 (Office), +86-421-2516699, +86-13304213010 (Cell)
Lan Guilin, detention center director: +86-13591890052 (Cell)

Chinese version available

CATEGORY: Accounts of Persecution

(Minghui.org) Presiding judges Hou Feng and Li Gang from the Huangdao Development Zone Court secretly sentenced Ms. Gao Lihong to three years and Ms. Hou Ruilan to one year on March 22, 2013.

Ms. Hou still suffers from a variety of ailments due to the persecution. All her hair has turned gray. She has lost her hearing and is emaciated but is still being held. Ms. Gao’s family has repeatedly tried to see her but to no avail. Ms. Gao has appealed to the higher court, but neither she nor her family have received a response.

It has been seven months since the two women were arrested. The authorities have not allowed anyone to see them. Ms. Gao has a two-year-old daughter who cries for her mother every day.

After Ms. Gao started practicing Falun Gong, she became a kind person and lived according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Since 2003, she has donated tens of thousands of yuan to the Qingdao City Charity Organization, anonymously. Ms. Gao’s mother took the donor card to show the police and asked them why they would arrest such a good person. Ms. Gao has small children at home that need her love and care. The police did not show any sympathy.

Ms. Gao, Ms. Hou, and 10 other practitioners were arrested on September 8, 2012. They were tried in the Huangdao Development Zone Court on December12, 2012. Before the trial, Ms. Gao’s lawyer was denied entrance by the judge. Judge Li Gang told Ms. Gao’s family, “If Gao’s lawyer comes to the court to plead guilty for her, then he is welcome. Otherwise, he is not. I will lose face if I let him come in to defend her.”

Individuals and units involved:Court of Huangdao Development Zone in Qingdao CityWang Guangjin, director (newly appointed): +86-532-86988366Hou Feng, presiding judge: +86-532-86988370, +86-13370846005(Cell)Li Gang, judge: +86-532-86988437, +86-15853256665(Cell)

Police Stations making the arrests:
Changjianglu Police Station:Zhang Penglu, captain: +86-13905429567(Cell), +86-532-66581501
Huangdao Police Station:Ren Zongshun, captain: +86-13869811827(Cell), +86-532-66581601
Xuejiadao Police Station:Ding Wei, captain: +86-13863918298(Cell), +86-532-66581551
Xin’an Police Station:Wang Xing, captain: +86-13869868595(Cell)
Liuhuabo Police Station:Zhang Hai, captain: +86-13953210677(Cell), +86-532-66581671
Hongshiya Police Station:Wang Yutang, captain: +86-15908982777(Cell), +86-532-66581681

Chinese version available

CATEGORY: Accounts of Persecution

“Falun Dafa is good”

“Celebrating the 21st Anniversary of Falun Dafa Spreading around the World”

“The World needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”

“Celebrating World Falun Dafa Day”

Chinese version available

CATEGORY: Dafa Day Celebrations

(Minghui.org) After 3:00 p.m. on April 16, 2013, two lawyers were extremely indignant in front of the Changan District Court in Shijiazhuang City, claiming right in front of cameras that they had encountered “judicial hooligans.” They had been defending a woman who had been defamed as “unlawfully keeping state secrets.” In court, the prosecutor and judge worked together to fabricate this case. Eventually the judge refused to go downstairs to meet with the lawyers and refused to answer their phone calls. The lawyers were unable to get any of the documents they needed and were kept waiting at the door.

An Innocent Woman Was Defamed as “Unlawfully Keeping State Secrets”

Last year on February 25, a policeman named Du Conglin from Sifang Police Station, Shijiazhuang City worked together with someone else to arrest Ms. Qiu Liying, who resided at the employee housing of the Shijiazhuang Oil Refinery Factory. They detained her in Cell No. 304 of the Shijiazhuang No. 2 Detention Center. At the end of March, the Changan District Procurator’s Office tried to verify the facts with Ms. Qiu Liying, who discovered that key evidence taken from interrogation statements on February 26, 2012 had actually been fabricated by Du Conglin. The records of the detention center and the Cell No. 304 also confirmed that there had been no interrogation of Ms. Qiu Liying on February 26, 2012. On April 10, the Changan Police Station of Shijiazhuang City issued a “release certificate” with an official stamp to Ms. Qiu, on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence.

However Du Conglin and the Sifang Police would not allow Ms. Qiu to go home. They directly picked her up from the detention center and took her to the Shijiazhuang City Forced Labor Camp. They unlawfully detained Ms. Qiu and at the same time, used all kinds of means to fabricate charges against her.Later they claimed that in Qiu Liying’s computer, they had found a copy of secret state documents. Du also found six of Ms. Qiu’s neighbors and asked them to testify that no one else resided at Ms. Qiu’s home, so as to “prove” that the secret documents belonged to her. Then he worked together with two prosecutors named Yu Shufeng and Zhao Zhuangtao from the Changan District Procurator Office to re-arrest and prosecute Ms. Qiu on the charge of “unlawfully keeping state secret documents.”

The So-called “State Secret Documents” Can Be Found on the Internet

Du Conglin was very firm in claiming that he found the document of “Public Notice No. 2000-39” on Qiu Liying’s computer. This was directly denied by Ms. Qiu. Later her defense attorneys, Zheng Jianwei and Liang Xiaojun, discovered that these type of documents had been widespread over the internet for many years. Many lawyers had these documents and there was absolutely nothing secret about them. The agency that Du Conglin and Zhao Zhuangtao entrusted to verify the “secrets” was not at all qualified.

The Enforcement Officers Act Like Hooligan Gangsters

The two lawyers discovered that this was a very simple case after they carefully investigated and researched it: The police, including Du Conglin, obviously committed the unlawful detention, fabricated the evidence, defamed a good person and violated the law. The facts were clear. The prosecutors, Zhao Zhuangtao and Yu Shufeng, disregarded the facts and the law, and in spite of the fact that they knew the police had fabricated evidence, cooked up the offense and defamed a good person. They disregarded the facts and the law, and still approved of the arrest and prosecution of the practitioners. So the lawyers decided to help Ms. Qiu to prosecute the offenders. At the same time, they also asked the court to review this matter, and asked for a recess so as to restore justice to Ms. Qiu.

However the Changan District court disregarded these facts. They refused to notify the individuals involved, and even refused to follow the law to give public notice. In court, they did not ask the prosecutor, Zhao Zhuangtao, who had already become an accused person, to stay away from the matter. They also totally ignored the defense lawyer’s request to cancel the procedures because of the fabricated evidence. The judges in court, Wang Xu and Tian Dianying, and the prosecutors, Zhao Zhuangtao and Shi Yan, acted shamelessly and persisted in persecuting Ms. Qiu. Tian Dianying (judge) was threatening and laughing at the lawyers: “If you have grounds, then bring charges against me!” In facing this kind of situation, Ms. Qiu Liying who had been wrongfully detained for over a year, announced with indignation that starting from April 16, she would refuse to wear the inmate uniform, refuse to do the forced labor, and would go on a hunger strike to protest. She asked for an end to her unlawful detention. Tian Dianying (judge) said that this had nothing to do with the court, and that it was Qiu’s own business. Tian Dianying had several times stopped Qiu Liying from defending herself, and did not allow her to mention Falun Gong, claiming that it had nothing to do with the case.

The Judge and the Prosecutors Claim in Public: “Without Committing Wrong Deeds, Will You Pay My Salary?”

The two lawyers sincerely hoped that the Chang’an District Court of Shijiazhuang City could deal with the case according to the law, so as to restore justice to Ms. Qiu. The lawyers advised them sincerely: “Being judicial staff, if you do not follow the law in dealing with these matters, if you do not safeguard the fairness and justice of the court, and instead stubbornly violate the law, we will bring a lawsuit against you. That is why we advise you not to endorse this evil. Don’t do this dirty job and commit evil deeds; otherwise you will receive retribution.”

The judge named Tian Dianying said in public: “If I did not do this job, are you going to pay my salary?” He implied that he must do what the Communist regime requires, rather than uphold justice, in order to keep his job. He also argued with the lawyers about the issue of “retribution,” saying he was not afraid of it.

Stop the Crimes

Currently Ms. Qiu Liying is on a hunger strike against the persecution and is being detained at the Shijiazhuang No. 2 Detention Center. Ms. Qiu’s friends and family are very upset about the imprisonment and are worried about her. Ms. Qiu has a mother who is over 80 years old and who is paralyzed in bed, waiting for her daughter to return to look after her. Her mother really misses her and is worried about her. The family appeals to all kind-hearted people to pay attention to Ms. Qiu Liying, who is in great danger and suffering terribly.

The two lawyers, Zheng Jianwei and Liang Xiaojun, have solemnly advised the persons in charge of the Shijiazhuang No. 2 detention center and the hospital that they are responsible for the physical health and the safety of Ms. Qiu Liying, and must ensure that Ms. Qiu Liying does not receive any physical punishment or torture, including forced-feeding. Other people from the legal profession also came to Shijiazhuang to show their concern about Ms. Qiu’s situation and safety. This case of a Shijiazhuang woman who was maliciously defamed has roused great interest and response over the internet and many people support Ms. Qiu Liying.

Individuals directly involved in persecuting Ms. Qiu Liying:Chang’an District Court:Court Director Liu XikuiDeputy Director in charge of the criminal cases, Fei WeiqiCriminal Court One: Wang Xu (in charge of Ms. Qiu Liying’s case): +86-311-85033133, +86-13081008679(Cell)Judge dealing with Ms. Qiu’s case, Tian Dianying: +86-13832312521(Cell)

Chang’an District Procurature Office:Section Chief of the Prosecution: Yu Shufeng: +86-311-85187809(Office), +86-311-85871046(Home), +86-13933869180(Cell)Prosecutors in charge: Shi Yan, Zhao ZhuangtaoHead of the Prosecutors: Zhang Weixin (resume his job on February 2012)Wang Xiaoyan (mainly in charge of the Qiu’s case)

Chang’an District Police Department:Director: Liu Xiao (the former director for the No. 2 Detention Center)Shifang Police Substation (arresting Ms. Qiu and fabricating the unlawful charges)

Police: Du Conglin: +86-13931976770 (Cell)Wang Qingtai: +86-13931176289(Cell)Wang Changzhan (in charge of the Qiu’s case: +86-311-80862344(Office)Director Zhen Jianhua: +86-13930110055(Cell)Deputy Director Wang Zhanjun: +86-15831102699(Cell)

Shijiazhuang No. 2 Detention Center:Deputy Director: Li Zhanfa: +86-311-87755202(Office)

Related article:

http://en.minghui.org/html/articles/2012/7/26/134627.html

石家庄邱立英遭“上架子”酷刑-面临非法起诉

http://en.minghui.org/html/articles/2012/8/15/134958.html

石家庄警察图谋制造冤案加重迫害邱立英

http://en.minghui.org/html/articles/2013/3/7/138395.html

石家庄邱立英被劫持一年，被扣泄密罪开庭

http://en.minghui.org/html/articles/2013/3/16/138523.html

河北邱立英遭迫害-亲友控诉办案人员违法

Chinese version available

CATEGORY: Accounts of Persecution

By Shi Xinhong

(Minghui.org) My name is Shi Xinhong and I am a Falun Gong practitioner from the Changping District in Beijing. I am retired from the Beijing No. 2 Woolen Mill. I was overjoyed when I started to practice Falun Gong in 1996, and have benefited tremendously physically and mentally. My health improved rapidly shortly after I began to practice and I was always in good spirits. I strictly followed the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and the requirements that Master had set forth for practitioners. However, such a wonderful practice was oppressed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) under the leadership of Jiang Zemin. The persecution of Falun Gong began in July 1999, and practitioners were brutally tortured. This is my account of what I suffered for adhering to my faith.

Persecuted in Forced Labor Camps for Four and a Half Years

Because I refused to renounce my belief in Falun Dafa, I was illegally sentenced to forced labor twice, and spent a total of four and a half years in forced labor camps between 2004 and 2012.

The guards at the Beijing Women’s Forced Labor Camp, Squad No. 4, once organized a meeting to slander Falun Gong publicly. When a person cursed the founder of Falun Gong, I stood up and walked toward the podium. Two guards stopped me and asked what I was doing. I told them that I wanted to represent all the Falun Gong practitioners in the squad to make a solemn announcement. I explained to them that I wanted to announce all that had been said and written to slander Falun Dafa at the labor camp was invalid because it didn’t reflect our true selves.

The guards panicked and used all their strength to push me back to the office. Team lead Zhang Shoufen threatened to send me to the “intensive training team” of the camp. I told her, “I am not afraid. It’s not easy to come here, so I might as well make it worthwhile. I want to see every corner of this camp so when I get out I can tell people about the evil things that happen here.” Realizing that her threat didn’t work, Zhang changed her tone of voice and said, “The ‘intensive training team’ is not a place anybody can go as they wish. They don’t have room for you. We will ‘train’ you right here in Squad No. 4.”

Abuses Suffered in the Forced Labor Camp

After that, the guards started to lock me up every day in the warehouse. They made me sit in the corner of the warehouse on a brick wall less than a meter square and assigned two inmates to monitor me. I was not allowed to go to sleep until late at night or to use the bathroom when I needed to. After a while I was not able to relieve myself and it became extremely painful and itchy to urinate. My abdomen was distended. It didn’t matter how I explained to the guards and the inmates that my condition was caused by not being able to relieve myself and having to hold my urine for long periods of time, they ignored me.

One day, I overheard that someone from a different organization was giving a tour at the camp so I shouted, “They won’t let me use the bathroom and I have developed a condition because of it–I have blood in my urine.” The guards were all afraid. Team lead Zhang Shoufen said, “I’ll take you to see a doctor if you stop shouting.” Sure enough, they took me to the camp clinic. The doctor touched my belly and said that I had a tumor. They called an ambulance and were going to take me to a hospital for surgery. I said, “I don’t have a tumor. It is caused by not being able to use the bathroom, and I will be fine as long as I am allowed to use it.” The guard who took me there said, “Don’t listen to her. The bathroom at our squad is always open. Whoever wants to use it can use it. Nobody cares.”

I insisted on going to the bathroom at the time, but the guards wouldn’t let me. The ambulance arrived after a while. While being escorted to the ambulance, I ran away and went into a nearby bathroom when the guards weren’t paying attention. I locked the bathroom door and tried to urinate. The guards came kicking the door and told me to hurry up. Twenty minutes later, I finally was able to urinate. Once I came out of the bathroom I asked to be examined again. After the exam, the doctor said, “Her belly has softened up dramatically. You should not deny her use of the bathroom, otherwise her condition could become a real problem.”

Seeing that their trick didn’t work, the guards used a different way to torture me and started to force me to do hard labor. They made me work in the vegetable beds alone during the winter. It was so cold that the top three inches of the soil was frozen and all I had was a shovel as a tool. I didn’t know how to make a vegetable plot so I dug a few holes. I worked for a few hours straight and sweat profusely.

As soon as I stopped to catch my breath, they yelled at me and said, “Who told you that you could rest?” I had to work non-stop. Although I was older, I was very healthy since I practiced Falun Gong, and I didn’t feel tired at all. The guards all wore heavy jackets over a layer of cotton padded jackets and still seemed to feel very cold. I only had a light blouse and a long sleeve t-shirt on, yet I didn’t feel cold. The guards also thought it was odd–they didn’t know that it was because I practiced Falun Gong that I seemed extraordinary. I later gradually came to realize that forced labor is also a form of persecution, because I had not broken the law. What is wrong with believing in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance? So I refused to work.

An “attack team” was created by the camp officials in March 2006, specifically to persecute Falun Gong practitioners who refused to “transform.” There were three guards assigned to “attack” me, including Li Ziping and Zhang Ran. The guards assigned criminal inmates to torture me every day. My ration of food was not even enough for a child. I protested and the guard yelled, “You think it’s too little? Well, you won’t be getting any from now on!” After that, I was only given a small piece of steamed bun each day with no vegetables or water. When I ate the small piece of bun, I had to sit on a small stool in a standard military posture.

I was only allowed to use the bathroom once each day at 2 a.m., accompanied by a criminal inmate. Sometimes I was forced to go back before I could finish. My cell was very cold, and I had very little to cover myself with. I was not allowed to sleep very long to begin with, and I often woke up because of the cold after sleeping only for a little while.

In order to “transform” me, guard Li Ziping made me sit on a small stool, put my hands on my knees, and form a line with my feet by putting the backs of my heels together. Then she made me bring my knees together. I couldn’t do it so Li Ziping assigned inmates to put their feet against mine to hold them in place, and then pushed my knees toward the center. It hurt as much as being on a tiger bench. The mobility in my legs decreased as a result and has yet to completely recover.

The guards employed numerous methods to torture me. They later made me sit on only one corner of a stool for long periods of time. After sitting for a while, I felt as if I were sitting on the edge of a cliff. It seemed to me that if I moved ever so slightly I would fall into the abyss. The fear of falling made me mentally distressed and physically exhausted. Ever since then, I have experienced pain and numbness from the waist down and have difficulties urinating and defecating.

Retirement Pension Withheld and Pay Increase Denied

I was released when my term ended. I am retired from the Beijing No. 2 Woolen Mill. Li Xinhui and two other company officials refused to pay me my retirement pension for the past two years. They also denied me twice when I was supposed to get a raise. When I went in and asked for my pension, the officials evaded responsibility, and I have not yet been compensated.

What I have been subjected to is only a tiny tip of the iceberg. The Communist regime continues to arrest and persecute practitioners of Falun Dafa. We call upon everyone and all international organizations to uphold justice and help to stop the atrocities against Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Chinese version available

CATEGORY: Torture of Women

(Minghui.org) The New York Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference was held on Sunday, May 19, 2013, at the IZOD Center. More than 8,000 Falun Dafa practitioners from 53 countries around the world attended the event. Master Li Hongzhi came to teach the Fa during the morning session. All disciples stood up and welcomed Master with warm, enthusiastic applause.

This was the largest international experience-sharing conference since the communist regime started persecuting Falun Gong in China in 1999. The New York conference in May 2012 was attended by over 7,000 Dafa practitioners, while the one in 2011 had over 5,000 attendees from over 40 countries.

Master Li Hongzhi teaches the Fa at the New York
Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference on May 19, 2013

Master Li arrived after the first practitioner had shared his cultivation experience. Revered Master compassionately taught the Fa to practitioners for nearly two hours. At the end of the Fa teaching, all disciples once again stood up and applauded enthusiastically, with deep gratitude.

Master Li Hongzhi taught the Fa for nearly two hours.
This photo was taken right before Master left the stage

Solemn and Serene

The conference took place at the IZOD Center, located in the greater New York area. The center, which houses a large sports arena, sits in northern New Jersey, across the Hudson River from the island of Manhattan.

Venue of the 2013 New York Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference

The crowd in Izod Center, the venue of the conference

The atmosphere in the conference hall was solemn and serene. Flowers were beautifully arranged on the stage. On top hung a huge, bright banner reading, “2013 New York Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference” in both English and Chinese.

Two vertical banners, bearing verses from Master’s poem, “The Fa Rectifies the Cosmos” from Hong Yin II, were also hung on each side of the stage:

“Compassion can harmonize Heaven and Earth, ushering in spring
Righteous thoughts can save the people in this world”

With five electronic screens, practitioners sitting in any corner of the conference hall could all see the stage. Other electronic screens around the venue displayed verses of Master’s various poems from Hong Yin, urging disciples to be diligent in cultivation.

During the experience-sharing session, several Western and Chinese practitioners from the U.S. and around the world shared how they cherish the opportunity to cultivate, study the Fa and improve themselves on the path of cultivation. They also spoke about how they persevere in saving sentient beings despite difficulties and hardships.

Shen Yun Performing Arts: Creating Miracles with Righteous Belief

Artists from Shen Yun Performing Arts shared their cultivation experience in the video titled “Our Path,” shown during the conference.

Within just a few years, Shen Yun Performing Arts has grown from experiencing the hardships of getting established to becoming the world’s premier performing arts company, creating countless miracles in the process.

With steadfast righteous thoughts and belief, Shen Yun performers have put tremendous efforts into improving their skills, which enabled them to make incredible progress very quickly. With their solid cultivation, sincere and seamless cooperation as a group, and selfless devotion, they have created a miracle unfathomable in the performing arts world.

In their taped interviews, Shen Yun artists reaffirmed that their success could not have been possible without taking cultivation and the desire to assist Master in rectifying the Fa and saving sentient beings as the foundation. They have worked non-stop each year, touring the world and saving numerous sentient beings.

In their sharing, each of the artists expressed deep gratitude and appreciation to revered Master.

Elevating Through Promoting Shen Yun

Mr. He from Rhode Island, Ms. Sun from New York, and Ms. Zhang from Canada each shared their experience of promoting Shen Yun in their respective locale.

While coordinating the promotion of Shen Yun in Rhode Island, Mr. He paid special attention to studying the Fa, through which he constantly received hints from Master on how to improve. At the same time, he made efforts to facilitate the cooperation between practitioners. He was able to harmonize and balance the tasks of Shen Yun promotion, personal work and collecting signatures for a White House petition calling for the end of forced organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners in China. As a result, each aspect complemented the others and played a positive role.

Ms. Zhang also shared her experience of coordinating Shen Yun promotion. She talked about how she looked within after falling down and injuring herself, how she let go of her resentment and cultivated compassion, and how she made efforts to strengthen the cooperation of practitioners as a whole.

Ms. Sun talked about how she improved in her cultivation through putting up Shen Yun posters. When she visited business owners to persuade them to let her put up posters, she constantly purified her thoughts and got rid of human notions. In the process, she overcame her laziness, broke through layers upon layers of obstacles set up by the evil, and tried her utmost to do everything well.

Making Breakthroughs in Fa-Validation Projects

Ms. Fu from Argentina talked about how Dafa practitioners have persistently clarified the facts about Falun Gong in Chinatown and in front of the Chinese Consulate in Argentina, dissolving the evil and saving Chinese people there.

Under the pressure from the Chinese communist regime, an Argentine court had reversed the original ruling and canceled the order of arrest for Jiang Zemin, the head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) who spearheaded the persecution in 1999. With Dafa practitioners’ unwavering efforts, the supreme court recently revoked the lower court’s action, re-opening the case against Jiang Zemin.

Caroline from Australia shared how local practitioners recently made a breakthrough in clarifying the facts to the government and mainstream media about the Chinese regime’s atrocious crime of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. Practitioners put saving sentient beings as the top priority, making continuous efforts to clarify the facts to the media, government officials at different levels, and society at large.

As a result of these efforts, a legislation has now been proposed in Australian Parliament to make it a criminal offense to go oversees for a transplant with unethically obtained or trafficked organs. In addition, the media has extensively reported on Huang Jiefu, a transplant surgeon and former Minister of Health of the CCP involved in harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners, bringing the issue into national focus and beyond.

Persevering in Clarifying the Truth and Saving People

Mr. Huang from Taiwan is a physician who began practicing Falun Gong in 2002. In line with his expertise and position, he has extensively clarified the facts to the medical community about forced organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners in China. In the process, he constantly looked within, let go of the ego, and improved in cooperating with other practitioners to save more sentient beings.

Fourteen-year-old Ms. Sun came abroad from China a short while ago. She soon joined the young disciples overseas in making phone calls to China to persuade people there to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. Studying the Fa regularly and having a heartfelt wish to save sentient beings has enabled this shy girl to speak naturally and confidently on the phone. Within six months, she has helped dozens of Chinese people to quit the CCP organizations.

Rising in Cultivation while Doing Sales for the Media

Deborah is a Stanford University graduate who began practicing Falun Gong in 2010. She operated an art business before moving to New York in 2012 to become a photographer for the English Epoch Times. Subsequently, she joined the sales team.

Working at the Epoch Times has enabled Deborah to make rapid progress in cultivation and change her deeply rooted human notions. Through this experience, she has become ever more clear on the importance of saving sentient beings while solidly cultivating oneself. This April, she and her teammates broke the newspaper’s sales records.

The Fa conference lasted from 9:30 a.m. till 6 p.m. As they left the conference venue and said their goodbyes, Dafa practitioners set off to make new breakthroughs on their paths of cultivation. Master’s Fa teaching and fellow practitioners’ sharing has led them to ponder how to become more diligent in cultivation, study the Fa solidly, let go of all human attachments, unconditionally cooperate with each other, and save more sentient beings.

Chinese version available

CATEGORY: Experience Sharing Conferences Worldwide

In the letter, Congressman Smith strongly condemned the Chinese Communist Party for its persecution of Falun Gong in the past 14 years. He indicated that he planned to reintroduce legislation which will deny entry into the U.S. to any senior leader of the Chinese government and members of their family and members of any branch of the security police who have committed serious human rights violations.

Congress of the United States

House of Representatives

May 17, 2013

Dear friends,

I would like to welcome the 8000 plus Falun Dafa practitioners from different cities of the United States and more than 100 countries in the world, including China, to the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area who are to attend the international Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference and activities of raising awareness of human rights violations in China during May 17th to 19th, 2013.

The injustice and human rights violations of 70 plus million peaceful citizens in China who practice “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance” are totally unacceptable. As Co-chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), I have received extensive testimonies underscoring that the situation in China has gotten worse. The crackdown is pervasive and severe.

The millions of Falun Dafa practitioners in China – and even at one point those here in the United States – have been subjected to acts of violence and assault, property theft and destruction, illegal wiretapping, harassment, intimidation and persecution. In China thousands of practitioners of the peaceful practice have been killed. Hundreds of thousands have been detained and more than 100,000 have been sentenced to forced labor camps, typically without trial. Now the Chinese government is using similar tactics against its burgeoning civil society.

Rest assured I will continue to work to expose the Chinese government’s brutal 14 years persecution of Falun Gong and work toward securing their inalienable rights of religious freedom. In December, I hosted a CECC hearing on the persecution of Falun Gong, and I hosted a joint subcommittee hearing on organ harvesting last September. To further our efforts, I plan to re-introduce legislation which will deny entry into the U.S. to any senior leader of the Chinese government and members of their family who derive benefit from policies or actions that target democratic activists, persecute ethnic minorities, or participated in the trafficking and forcible return of North Korean refugees or the coercive birth limitation policies. My legislation will also bar entry to members of any branch of the security police who have participated in the violent repression of any individual or leaders of religious practices, democracy advocates, human rights lawyers, worker’s right advocates or independent media, journalists, or internet users. I will continue to fight for the freedom and basic rights of the Falun Gong and all those in China who continue to have their human rights and fundamental freedoms abused by the Chinese Communist dictatorship.

I heartily wish all of you a fruitful and successful conference.

Sincerely,

Christopher H. Smith

Chinese version available

CATEGORY: Support/Recognition

Mother and daughter learn the Falun Gong exercises

Falun Gong practitioners demonstrate the exercises and clarify the truth

Passers-by were attracted to the gentle exercise movements and peaceful music. A young mother and daughter watched the first two exercises being performed, then enthusiastically joined in on the next two. Although her daughter was very young, she paid very close attention.

One lady stopped by to say that she was thankful to have had the opportunity to hear about Falun Gong and expressed a keen interest in learning the five exercises. She said she wasn’t aware that the practice had spread to so many countries.

One elderly gentleman approached the Falun Gong booth holding a copy of Zhuan Falun in his hand. He had bought the book after reading a flyer in another city. He decided to read the book on his own, since there wasn’t anyone else in Fürth practicing Falun Gong at that time.

When he heard that practitioners from surrounding cities were scheduled to attend the city-sponsored event, he knew that he had to come. He was very excited about meeting everyone and prepared a list of questions relating to the practice. He was both surprised and happy to find out that Master Li Hongzhi had written many other publications, too.

An elderly lady carefully watched each movement of the exercises. She then approached the practitioners and told them that she had been looking for a cultivation practice that she felt comfortable with. After a brief conversation, she decided that she wanted to start practicing Falun Dafa. She asked how much the book, Falun Gong cost, then realized that she didn’t have enough money on her to buy the book. When she was told that she could have it for free, she was overjoyed. She promised to cherish the book and study it well.

The practitioners also collected signatures, petitioning the German government to investigate the Chinese Communist Party’s crime of live organ harvesting. The petition also called for the release of Ruimei Ma, a Falun Gong practitioner in mainland China who is imprisoned in a labor camp for distributing truth-clarification materials.

The practitioners’ rescue activities had caught the attention of the local media, politicians, and city residents. People everywhere signed the petition, expressing their concern for Ms. Ma’s safety and their desire for her early release. Her son, Lebin Ding, resides in Germany and is currently studying for his internship.

A young lady signed the petition, then left her business card with the practitioners, asking them to keep her informed of the ongoing persecution in China. She took some Dafa-related fliers with her, saying that she would hand them out to some Chinese people at her university. As the festival wound down, many residents expressed that they were happy that practitioners had made the effort to introduce Falun Dafa in their city.

Chinese version available

CATEGORY: Other Community Events