Poland: 168 Hours in Front of the Chinese Embassy

Today is the final day of the 168-hour continuous peaceful appeal in front of the Chinese Embassy in Warsaw, the capital of Poland. Practitioners from Sweden, England, America, Canada and Poland all attended this event which was the first time that an activity has taken place in front of the Chinese Embassy in Poland. The atmosphere was very solemn and special as the practitioners continued to practise the Falun Gong exercises and do the Fa Zheng Nian meditation. The first day saw the arrival of many different media reporters including those from a radio station, the Polish Press Agency and Poland’s largest newspaper. The very supportive coverage displayed both the Polish people’s support for Falun Dafa and their disdain for the brutal persecutory tactics of Jiang Zemin’s regime. On the fifth day of the appeal, a volunteer from the Polish branch of Amnesty International organised a candlelight vigil to accompany the practitioners’ appeal. This vigil was for people who support the practitioners peacefully appealing against Jiang’s persecution and attracted a crowd of over twenty people, members of both Amnesty International and other Human rights Groups.

Many passers by asked how they could help end the persecution and added their name to a petition in support of the practitioners in China. One Swedish couple brought a rose for the practitioners and placed it front of them during their appeal. Many people stopped by and asked if they could bring the practitioners hot food and drinks. A lady who lives opposite the Embassy told practitioners how she has been looking for a way of becoming a better and healthier person but could come up with no answers. She turned her head towards the Heavens and asked for help; the next morning when she opened her curtains, there was a group of Falun Gong practitioners appealing opposite her flat! She immediately approached them and told them that she wanted to learn Falun Dafa. Practitioners presented her with a copy of Zhuan Falun [the main book of Falun Dafa] that she started to read as soon as she got home. Many other people stopped by and denounced the persecution expressing their support for the Falun Dafa practitioners and how beautiful the exercises looked. An eighty-year-old woman told practitioners that she is so glad that some people in the world still care about others whilst another person expressed their amazement that there were people who were prepared to sit through the heavy rain and cold for something that they believe in so strongly.

A police guard was placed next to the practitioners for the full 168 hours. The officers were very protective of the practitioners because they are aware of the underhand means used by Chinese Embassies in other countries. The police came and chatted with the practitioners on the first day and after learning that they would stay for 168 hours said, “we will now see what you are made of!” The police were correct and the heavy downpours of rain and the very cold weather really did test the practitioners’ determination. However, upon seeing the pure heart and adamantine will of the practitioners, the police approached them again. They said, “You are different from other protestors: you look neat, dress well, you always smile, you are very peaceful and are no trouble.” The officers revealed how protesters usually behave themselves until the police walk around the block and then begin to cause trouble. They were touched by the demeanour of the Falun gong practitioners and were left with a very high regard for Falun Dafa.

The presence at the Embassy and the great media coverage allowed more Polish people to learn about the beauty of Falun Dafa and the evil deeds of Jiang Zemin. Many Polish people expressed a desire to learn the exercises at the local practice site and the whole event was very successful.