Finland: Exposing the CCP's Atrocities in China during an EU Leaders Meeting

On October 20th 2006, Falun Gong practitioners in Finland arranged several small activities in Lahti during the time when the 25 EU heads of state and government had an informal meeting at Sibelius Hall.The practitioners wanted to tell the heads of state how the Chinese Communist Party has continued to persecute Falun Gong for over seven years.

A freezing cold wind was blowing that day when practitioners arrived in Lahti. They went to the place assigned for all demonstrators. After midday, the practitioners held a small parade that went through the city centre. They had boards with words “No CCP” (Chinese Communist Party) in Finnish, Russian and English. The parade got a lot of support from the public. Many people's faces lit up when they got a flyer. One old man who owned a small shop came out to thank practitioners and said, “It is a very good thing that you bring up this issue.”

Many local people received materials about the CCP’s crimes and learned about the persecution against Falun Gong, including how CCP institutions have harvested organs from living Falun Gong practitioners to sell for profit. A local radio station asked for a short interview. Practitioners told the reporter about the human rights violations happening in China, about the forced organ removals, and that an independent organisation in China should be allowed to investigate the organ harvesting.

After the parade, practitioners went to put up their banners near the heads of state meeting. They got help hanging up the banners from people who were there to demonstrate for other reasons. On the banners there were pictures of tortured practitioners. Many people signed their names on a petition to help end the persecution. When one practitioner gave a flyer to an old couple they handed money to her. But the practitioner gave them the money back and said that the best way they can show their support was by signing the petition.

The media showed lot of interest in Falun Gong. Several media organisations made interviews. This opportunity gave practitioners chances to bring up the organ harvesting again, and they also talked about the situation in Russia. They explained how several Falun Gong practitioners were refused a visa to visit Russia few weeks ago after Russia was influenced and pressured by the CCP. They also told reporters that they wish to let EU heads of state learn more about the atrocities going on in China against Falun Gong practitioners.

A Chinese practitioner told your reporter that it is totally impossible in China to have the freedom to express one's thoughts openly to the Government like practitioners were doing in Lahti. Chinese people are put in jail if they dare to say something against the CCP. When Falun Gong practitioners went to Beijing to ask the regime stop persecuting them, they were persecuted further. Today, the CCP uses many evil methods to persecute Falun Gong practitioners in China. The CCP was built on violence, terror, struggle and hatred. To this day, around 3,000 Falun Gong practitioners have lost their lives.