"Next weekend (22-25 January) the Chinese regime will be arriving in Paris. Among the 5000 people coming, there will be many Chinese high officials. The image is one of a beautiful cultural show, friendship between nations … but yet there is also a hidden dark side - many have been excluded from the festivities."

One German practitioner described the responses he received after he telling people that Xiong Wei had been released. “After hearing the news of Xiong Wei’s release, I went to several stores where I put the “Free Xiong Wei” postcards and told them the good news. I express my appreciation to them by giving the workers Dafa postcards with pictures of Lilies on them.

On January the 16th, UK and Cambridge Chinese Student together with the Scholar’s Associations organised a 2004 Spring Festive Gala. Over 1300 people attended the show. Falun Gong practitioners also joined in the celebrations, and displayed Dafa programmes on a colour TV near the entrance. This added to the festive spirit of the activities.

In order to avoid further persecution, Chu Tong and Yu Chao were forced to give up their highly paid jobs and leave home, taking their son with them. In August 2002, Yu Chao and Chu Tong were arrested in Beijing by agents from the National Security Bureau and "610 Office." According to an October 2002 report on Minghui Net, Chu Tong's father could not return home because he didn't want to be sent to a brainwashing class.

Cui Ningning insisted on unconditional release and had the courage to uphold her belief in Truthfulness - Compassion - Tolerance, which cost her her life. The detention centre police initially did not pay any attention at all, until her health had severely deteriorated and she was near death. Afraid to take responsibility, the police released her on July 18, 2003. Eleven days after her release, Cui Ningning died at home.

Due to the brutality of their methods, the tube didn't always feed into the oesophagus but also went down the trachea. This vile method of torture damaged her lungs tremendously and caused her to cough constantly. She suffered from extreme pain in her lungs and grew thinner and thinner. To shirk their responsibility, the detention centre claimed that she had contracted tuberculosis, and asked her family to obtain a medical parole for her and take her home. From that time on her health declined to the point where she could hardly walk.

Labour camp police took Dafa practitioners, mostly female, to two different tents sites for torture every day. The police officers dug a hole about 2.5 feet by about 5.5 feet deep in a vegetable field. In an attempt to persuade the practitioners to give up their belief, they would throw one practitioner in the hole and threaten to bury her alive. They even buried some Dafa practitioners up to their necks, leaving only their heads above ground.

Since July 20, 1999, one practitioner enrolled at the university has been sent to a labour camp, at least five practitioners have been illegally detained while their homes were ransacked, three practitioners have lost their jobs, at least two students have been expelled from school, and two practitioners have been sent to a brainwashing centre. The school officials at the university deceived all the students by telling them lies about the situation of students who were Falun Gong practitioners, forced everyone to publicly state their attitude towards Falun Gong, and coerced students to produce 10,000 signatures against Falun Gong or face repercussions.

I’ve experienced tough times after obtaining Dafa. One time after I came back from Fa-study, my husband was so angry that he produced a 30cm long fruit knife. He cut my clothes and threatened, “You are lucky that you ran away. If you had been too slow, I’d have killed you with this knife.” After this, things became better. Now I’ve become more flexibility in spreading the Fa and practising the exercises. I used to feel afraid after Fa-study and think in my mind, “Oh, I’ll be scolded when I get home.” However, after changing my mind: I said to myself that I cannot be afraid. It’s sacred for us to learn Dafa. We’ll have a high level in the future. What am I afraid of?” When I have righteous thoughts, I am no longer afraid.

An outdoor performance sponsored by Taipei New Culture Promotion Association, was held at the Public TV 53 Square on January 3, 2004 in Taipei. The performance called "Feast of Beauty" featured established Falun Gong practitioner artists and Falun Gong practitioner art groups. Many passersby came to watch and give their support for Falun Gong.