HONG KONG—Hong Kong citizens rallying, the day the Chinese Communist Party celebrates itself. They’re appealing to the regime to stop persecuting Falun Dafa in China.
70 years since Communist rule began in China, and 20 years since the practice of Falun Gong was banned there. The communist regime launched a brutal persecution in 1999, including horrific accounts of torture, forced labor, and state-sanctioned organ harvesting.
“We have been holding fast to our faith and our appeal to stop the persecution,” said Yee Han Hui, Speaker of the Falun Dafa Association in Hong Kong. “We hope the Hong Kong citizens will follow suit and hold on to their appeals.”
The event, consisting of a rally and parade was initially denied approval by the police. Following an appeal, the rally was granted but the parade was not.
Peaceful Resistance
Richard Tsoi, Vice-Chairman Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China told NTD he believes in peaceful means to resolve problems in modern society.
“We should not become one of the authoritative regimes that use force to counteract,” said Tsoi. “That is a very fundamental thing. So that is why I am very much impressed by, and respect the way of Falun Gong practitioners.”
An organizer of the rally was assaulted by armed thugs after leaving the police station when appealing for the right of assembly. She was hit in the head with a weapon during the attack, leaving her bleeding.
Many participants at the event said they hope the rest of the world can help stand up to the atrocities.
“The legislation in other international communities should continue to press the Chinese government to truly respect the rights, including the right of religions, the right to freedom of expression of Chinese people,” said Tsoi.
Extradition
Hong Kong has been in turmoil over the last four months after protests started over a proposed extradition bill that would allow people to be sent to mainland China for trial.
“If they pass it through the government it’s going to be trouble for me too, for you, for everyone here,” said George Orfanos, an Australian visiting Hong Kong. “Because it gives them the right to grab people and take them back to China and you’ll never see them again. There’s no way to have a fair trial there. People get killed, and murdered, and tortured, and organ harvesting and the rest.”
The spiritual practice Falun Gong is still being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime in China today, and in Hong Kong with freedom eroding, people are exercising their freedom of belief to maintain their way of life.