Switzerland: Short Stories of Exposing the Persecution in the City of Bern

Swiss Falun Gong practitioners held an activity to promote Falun Gong in the Swiss capital city of Bern from 10 o’clock in the morning to 9 o’clock in the evening on October the 7th. As the Swiss Federal Parliament is holding its regular autumn session in Bern, all the parliament members gather in the city for meetings. In order to grasp this precious opportunity to raise awareness about the human rights abuses against people who practise Falun Gong in China, practitioners from other areas also came to support the locals. It was great to see several new practitioners attend the activity, too. Some practitioners dropped off display boards and helped set up before they went to work. Others came to support the activity after they finished work. Practitioners cooperated with one another and dedicated themselves to the activity. At the end of the day, more than two thousand German and French leaflets had been given out and several hundred petition signatures were collected.

The Mayor said, “I support you!”

All the members of the Federal Parliament came to the parliament building for meetings. Standing in front of the entrance, practitioners gave leaflets to the members and collected their petition signatures when they passed by. “You are fighting for human rights. Thank you,” said a parliament member after he received the leaflet and signed his name. Another parliament member said, “I know Falun Gong is very good. You have my full support.” We later discovered that he is a Mayor.

Two ballpoint pens for signatures

A government staff member who works in the federal building came out of the building to sign his name on the petition, but he found the pen had stopped working. He went into to his office and came back with two ballpoint pens which he gave to practitioners to use for the signature collection. Everyone was touched by his kindness.

Blessings from an Italian businessman

Practitioners encountered a very enthusiastic Italian businessman. After hearing about Falun Gong in more detail, he thanked the practitioners for the leaflet and explanations. He wished them success and good luck in the activity.

Shedding tears of sympathy

A western middle-aged lady looked at the photos displaying the history of Falun Gong very carefully. When she saw the sketches illustrating the torture methods designed to force Falun Gong practitioners to give up their beliefs, she could not help shedding tears. As she came towards practitioners to sign her name, she saw the bloody picture of David Liang, an Australian practitioner who was shot in South Africa when one of Jiang’s regime members was visiting the country, she said, “How could they be so merciless!” She continued to wipe away her tears even as she was about to leave.

Support from overseas Chinese

Several overseas Chinese people also got to find out the truth about Falun Gong. A local Chinese man had a very long conversation with practitioners. When they explained the persecution to him, he said he firmly believed what he saw and heard from practitioners. He continued to say that all of the social campaigns in China in the last fifty years had injured or killed many innocent people. During these campaigns, the media offered only one-sided propaganda every time. However, all of the campaigns were reversed and justice eventually prevailed. He said the same situation will apply to Falun Gong. As there are so many people affected by this persecution, it would be unacceptable to the public if this suppression were not reversed. After he left for a while, he came back and asked practitioners, “How can I help you? Do you accept donations?” Practitioners replied, “We thank you for your kindness, but we don’t accept any donations. All of the materials are prepared with money out of practitioners’ own pockets. Please tell others that Falun Dafa is good. It will be a great help and support to us.”

Another overseas Chinese man said he knows Falun Gong’s situation very well. He said his relatives in China had their house searched because they practise Falun Gong and were then imprisoned in a labour re-education camp. All of the Dafa books, exercise videotapes and CDs owned by his relatives were confiscated by the police. He was in such deep sorrow that tears filled his eyes. He said he would tell his friends the truth of the persecution.

Another overseas Chinese man got off the tram after he saw Falun Gong’s display. He walked towards practitioners and said, “Your peaceful appeal and activities to tell people the facts are very powerful. The Falun Gong situation will get better and better. I am sure you will achieve success in the end.” Practitioners gave him a leaflet and a music CD. He was so glad that kept saying thank you over and over again.