SAN DIEGO—Balboa Park was busy last Sunday with the usual local visitors and tourists who frequent the famous San Diego landmark. To some it was a weekend like any other, but for many others it was an opportunity to get a glimpse of the horrors that occur every day in China.
In the main thoroughfare of Balboa Park the San Diego Falun Dafa Association staged a public exhibition exposing the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in mainland China. Many passersby stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of pictures depicting the victims of atrocity, and stayed to read the detailed accounts of persecution displayed at the exhibit.
"I simply can't believe more people don't know about this," said one observer. "Why is the Chinese government doing this?"
A volunteer replied, "Because the CCP is the evil of our time. More people will learn about this if you feel moved enough to sign our petition."
The observer quickly obliged, "My prayers are with you people."
Falun Gong is a peaceful spiritual practice introduced to the public in Mainland China by Mr. Li Hongzhi in 1992. With more than 100 million practitioners worldwide, it is the most widely practiced form of qigong in history.
Despite a great deal of government acclaim, in 1999 the CCP reversed its stance on Falun Gong and banned the practice. A countrywide campaign ensued in which those who refused to quit the practice were arrested and Falun Gong books were burned. Many were sent to the "Reeducation Camps" and never returned, or were tortured to death.
The movement to publicly withdraw began nearly two years ago. As momentum continues to build, the number of withdrawals has reached more than 15 million people. With the central ruling membership of the Party numbering only 60 million, the Party's lifespan seems to be nearing its end.
On October 22 Jia Jia, the highest ranking CCP official yet to defect, left his tour group during a visit to Taiwan and is seeking political asylum. Jia is currently in Thailand on a visa.
Among his many titles, Jia is the General Secretary and Legal representative of the China Shanxi Science and Technology Experts Association. He is also a dedicated advocate of democracy.
At a Hong Kong interview he said, "Today I would like to be a model by severing ties with the CCP in public. I would also like to urge all the Chinese officials to quite the CCP using their real names. "If everyone quits the CCP in public, there will be no place for the CCP any longer. I want to be a model for the people."
A western volunteer read many of Jia's statements aloud during the rally. Ironically, several Chinese tourists happened to pass by as he was speaking and stared in disbelief.
Many Mainland Chinese people don't believe that there are non-Chinese Falun Gong practitioners abroad. Most of the tourists who approached the exhibit saw for themselves the truth the Communist government had hidden from them. After speaking with the Chinese practitioners, they took some information with them.
One exhibit volunteer summed up their efforts, "The exhibit's photos speak louder than words. If we're able to reach just a few people, then we've done our job, but the enormous number of people that stop and talk with us and sign our petition is encouraging. There are just so many people with good hearts… We will continue until the persecution ends."
The Anti Torture Exhibit is conducted every Sunday in Balboa Park from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in front of the Prado.
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