Our August newsletter reports on the kidnapping of Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng by the Chinese authorities. Gao has been a leading figure in the struggle with the government over the rights of Chinese citizens to speak out against the establishment. No news has been heard of him since his arrest two weeks ago.

Gao has played an important role in the long battle between right and wrong and has even spoken out against leading figures in the Chinese government.

We also have news of China's attempts to influence the Singapore government's decision to arrest and try 11 Falun Gong practitioners on charges of illegal assembly and harassment, which clearly go against all normal ideas of freedom of speech and assembly.

Editor

• The Arrest of Lawyer Gao Zhisheng Clearly Reveals the Evil Nature of the Chinese Communist Party
• Amnesty International Is Taking Urgent Action
• Gothenburg, Sweden: Peaceful Protest outside the Chinese Consulate
• Falun Gong Practitioner Sheng Yuan Holds Press Conference at National Press Club
• Renouncing the CCP in Paris
• United Kingdom: Falun Gong Practitioners Participate in the Edinburgh International Festival Cavalcade
• Singapore Practitioners Call on the International Community to Pay Attention to the Human Rights Problems in Singapore
• United Kingdom: London March Exposes Organ Harvesting Atrocities

The Arrest of Lawyer Gao Zhisheng Clearly Reveals the Evil Nature of the Chinese Communist Party

The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) media recently confirmed that agents from the Public Security Department in Beijing put Lawyer Gao Zhisheng in detention, claiming that he was "suspected of criminal activities."

Gao Zhisheng is innocent. The real criminal violating the law is none other than the Chinese Communist regime that has incarcerated Attorney Gao and placed his family members under house arrest. Many conscientious people inside and outside of China have signed a petition to condemn the atrocities committed by the CCP and demand the release of lawyer Gao. Numerous overseas organizations have also held rallies to voice their support for this lawyer and to demand his release.

Gao Zhisheng, a renowned human rights lawyer, who out of a sense of justice and conscience has written three open letters to the Chinese regime to speak up for Falun Gong, published his first open letter to appeal for Falun Gong on December 31, 2004. The letter was entitled "An Open Letter from Gao Zhisheng to the National People's Congress." It addressed the case of Huang Wei, a Shijiazhuang City resident and Falun Gong practitioner who was sent to forced labour, and encouraged people to start thinking about the legality of the persecution of Falun Gong.

He published his second open letter to leaders Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao on October 18, 2005. That letter addressed the topic, "Stop Persecuting Believers of Freedom and Mend Your Ties with the Chinese People." This letter, a brief investigation report of the persecution of Falun Gong in Shandong Province, also addressed the persecution in some other areas.

Mr. Gao's third open letter to the authorities followed on December 12, 2005. Its focus was, "We Must Immediately Stop the Brutal Atrocities that destroy our National Conscience and Morality." This letter, containing over 20,000 Chinese characters and much detail, in particular exposed the brutal sexual abuses inflicted on Falun Gong practitioners. This communication aroused great concern, both inside and outside China.

The persecution of Falun Gong is the most sensitive issue for the CCP authorities, and while they may show some tolerance to people speaking up for other groups, they will attack anyone who speaks out for Falun Gong. Lawyer Gao endured enormous pressure for having written open letters to the authorities in support of Falun Gong. All this has made him a thorn in the side of the CCP. He has endured constant harassment from secret agents and the police, right up to the day he was seized from his sister's place in Shandong Province on August 15, 2006.

The unlawful arrests of upright people who speak out for Falun Gong have shown even more clearly the CCP's reckless trampling of the law, as well as the severity of the behind-the-scenes persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. The CCP tries to placate the Chinese people by touting the perceived improvement of China's international status, achieved largely through attracting foreign investments and China's huge export to the world market.

The CCP overtly plays human rights games to deceive the international community, while covertly they persecute Falun Gong practitioners with cruel torture methods. The most recent revelations of for-profit organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners is only the tip of the iceberg in the CCP's systematic brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, chronicling the darkest page in the history book of mankind.

Lawyer Gao Zhisheng has truly understood the evil nature of the CCP through the most inhumane persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. He is keenly aware that the CCP holds not one iota of respect for the law in their persecution of Falun Gong. On December 13, 2005, the second day after he published his third open letter to the CCP authorities, he published a written declaration on the Epoch Times website that he was quitting the CCP. He wrote, "More than ten days (of investigation) are finished! However, I had started to completely lose my hope for the Chinese Communist Party...Gao Zhisheng, a CCP 'member' who has not paid the membership dues for a long time and has been absent from 'organization activities' for many years, declares that he quits the cruel, untrustworthy, inhumane, and evil party. This is the proudest day of my life."

The arrest of lawyer Gao Zhisheng has once again demonstrated that the CCP never observes the law. This is not a simple individual incident, because it reflects the desperate, insane operation of the state apparatus controlled by the CCP in their suppression of the people, as well as their mindset as they approach their demise. The CCP cannot go against the surging tide of millions of people denouncing their CCP membership.

The CCP's persecution of Falun Gong has been going on for over seven years; however, they have not only failed to force Falun Gong to submit, but have also brought themselves down. More and more people, like Attorney Gao Zhisheng, after having learned the truth, have started to show sympathy and support for Falun Gong. Good will be rewarded with good, and evil will meet with retribution. This is a heavenly principle.

It is inevitable that heaven will destroy the CCP. Those who support and participate in the persecution of Falun Gong will also go to their own destruction, along with the CCP.

Amnesty International Is Taking Urgent Action 

China: Further information on: Fear for safety/ death threats: Mr Gao Zhisheng

Amnesty International is taking urgent action to appeal for human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng.

PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 17/047/2006
22 August 2006

Further Information on UA 14/06 (ASA 17/001/2006, 19 January 2006) Fear for
safety/ death threats New concern: Fear of torture or ill-treatment

CHINA Gao Zhisheng (m), aged 42, human rights lawyer

Human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng was detained in Shandong Province on 15 August by police officers from Beijing. He is believed to be held incommunicado at an unknown location and is at risk of torture or ill-treatment.

Gao Zhisheng was detained while visiting his sister's house in Dongying City, Shandong Province. His sister has reportedly been warned not to tell anybody about his detention. The police have reportedly provided no reason for his detention to his family, but on 18 August the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that Gao Zhisheng was detained on suspicion of engaging in unspecified criminal activities. It is unclear where he is being held.

Gao Zhisheng's wife and two children have reportedly been confined to their home in Beijing by police officers who have been standing guard around their house since Gao Zhisheng was detained. They are prohibited from contacting anybody receiving visitors or contacting anyone. On 20 August, human rights lawyer Teng Biao and academic Jiao Guobiao attempted to visit Gao Zhisheng's wife and daughter. They managed to talk to his daughter briefly but she was quickly taken back into the house by a police officer guarding the home.
Immediately afterwards, the police took both Teng Biao and Jiao Guobiao to Xiaoguan Police Station in Chaoyang District. They were released after around one hour of questioning.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Gao Zhisheng is a director of the Beijing-based Shengzhi Law Office. He has taken on several high-profile cases and defended a number of activists, including human rights activist Yang Maodong (the subject of UA 32/06, ASA 17/008/2006, 9 February 2006 and follow-ups), Zheng Yichun, a journalist and former professor, sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for his online writings; and Pastor Cai Zhuohua, who has been imprisoned for three years for ‘illegal business practices', including printing and selling copies of the Bible.

In November 2005, the operations of the Shengzhi Law Office were suspended by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice for one year. One month later, Gao Zhisheng's licence to practice law was revoked. These events appear to be linked to his work in defence of activists, and in particular his publication of an open letter calling for religious freedom and an end to the ‘barbaric' persecution of the Falun Gong spiritual movement. Since then he has been subjected to continuous surveillance and other forms of harassment and intimidation by the authorities. In January 2006, Gao Zhisheng survived an apparent attempt on his life when he almost collided with a car (see original UA). He believed the incident was instigated by the authorities.

Gothenburg, Sweden: Peaceful Protest outside the Chinese Consulate

On Friday August 4th, Falun Gong practitioners from many parts of Sweden held a peaceful protest outside the Chinese Consulate in Gothenburg. The Consul General, Cui Jianchao, was having a farewell party, so there were many visitors who came to the Consulate, both Chinese and Swedish. Falun Gong practitioners thought that it was a good opportunity to inform the visitors about the cruel persecution that is still going on against Falun Gong practitioners in China. They especially wanted to highlight the Chinese Communist Party's organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners.

The practitioners displayed banners and appealed for an immediate stop to the atrocities taking place in China. Falun Gong practitioners also used a loudspeaker to inform people in Swedish and Chinese about the persecution. In the afternoon and evening there were many tourists and locals who saw the practitioner's banners and accepted informational fliers. There were quite a lot of people who passed by during the day. The Chinese Consulate is located near the centre of Gothenburg. On this day there was a European championship athletic event, which attracted many people to downtown Gothenburg.

When Falun Gong practitioners were holding this activity, staff from the Consulate came out to take pictures of the practitioners. Practitioners again offered advice to the Consulate staff, to desist from participating in this persecution. They told them that every person has his own responsibility and when this persecution ends, all who have participated in it will surely be brought to justice.

During the time that Cui Jianchao was Consul General he has played an active role in participating in this persecution of Falun Gong practitioners abroad. He has for example attempted to pressure the Swedish authorities to stop Falun Gong practitioners' weekly protest outside the Consulate. To Cui Jianchao who will be leaving Gothenburg, we want to say that Falun Gong practitioners will continue to hold peaceful protests outside the Chinese Consulate until this persecution ends. To speak and act when you are being treated unfairly is a human being's most basic right. We hope that the Consul General will come to understand how cruel and wrong this persecution is.

Falun Gong Practitioner Sheng Yuan Holds Press Conference at National Press Club

At 10 a.m. on August 11, 2006, pilot of China Eastern Airlines and Falun Gong practitioner Sheng Yuan explained his decision of staying in the U.S. to media in a press conference held at the National Press Club, Washington DC.

Background

Mr. Yuan has been a pilot for 18 years at China Eastern Airlines. He told an airport staff member about the persecution of Falun Gong prior to his flight to the United States on August 8, 2006 at Shanghai's Pudong Airport. He also introduced the "Nine Commentaries on Communist Party" and advised the staff member to renounce the CCP. The staff member reported him, and the police subsequently detained him. Because the flight crew could not be changed so close to the flight time, Mr. Yuan was allowed to board and arrived at Los Angeles International Airport at noon on August 8. At noon on August 9, Mr. Yuan announced his intention to seek asylum in the U.S. to avoid persecution in China upon his return.

Mr. Yuan said in the press conference, "I started to practise Falun Gong at the end of 1997 and the beginning of 1998. I was a little over 30 years old. Due to a heavy flight schedule, I flew to other countries for more than 20 days each month. I could not eat or sleep well because of adjusting to time differences every day. I became weak and felt tired even after walking a few steps. My teeth became loose. I felt that the future was quite bleak."

At that time, he flew to Los Angeles. A former colleague who lived in Los Angeles came to visit him and introduced Falun Gong to him by presenting him with a copy of Zhuan Falun and telling him about the health benefits and the wide spread of Falun Gong.

After returning to China, he found that many people practised in his residential area. Thus he started to learn and practise. Though he was busy and did not practise much, he found his health was improved and regained his confidence.

On July 20, 1999, he flew back to Shanghai from the U.S. As soon as everyone arrived at home, the airline officials called together those who practiced Falun Gong and held a forced brainwashing session. They were forced to read newspapers slandering Falun Gong and look at fabricated propaganda. The airline officials talked to them everyday and asked them to write a statement renouncing Falun Gong. Otherwise they would not be allowed to be a part of the flight crews.

Mr. Yuan said, "I felt very bad. I cried one day, the only time I have done so in my adult life. Why is it not allowed to practise such a good thing? The most painful point was that I wrote the statement of not practising Falun Gong against my conscience."

He said that he heard a lot about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners around him. For example, during a recent Shanghai Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference, many practitioners, including several from the area near his home, were arrested.

Renouncing the CCP in Paris

In March 2005, Mr. Yuan flew to Paris. He saw the Epoch Times and Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party in his hotel there.

Mr. Yuan was a CCP member. He said, "After reading the nine commentaries, I did not waste one minute and called the local service centre for withdrawal from the CCP. I used my true family name and stated my intent to renounce the CCP. I could not stay a part of such an evil organization, as I saw how the evil party persecuted so many fellow practitioners."

Airport Incident

On August 8, 2006, Mr. Yuan was one of the two pilots on the flight and was in charge of the return flight. A little after 2pm on that day, 310 passengers boarded the airplane. He saw a young security staff member standing there and greeted him. From his accent, Mr. Yuan knew that he was from Shandong Province and started to talk to him about the Nine Commentaries, the wave of withdrawals from the CCP, and the persecution of Falun Gong, and advised him to renounce the CCP. They talked for more than half an hour and the young man left. After a little while, he brought back four airport police. The police wanted to take Mr. Yuan away.

All the passengers were boarded already at that point. At the insistence of the flight crew and ground personnel, the police allowed Mr. Yuan to board but told him, "After you come back, we need to clear up this incident."

Mr. Yuan said that it is important to have people see the "Nine Commentaries", "Many Chinese people live amidst the CCP's lies. Many young people don't know the facts. The 'Nine Commentaries' provide the opportunity for Chinese people to learn the facts. People will be able to walk away from the CCP's lies and won't be deceived after reading the 'Nine Commentaries.'"

A Choice Made from the Heart

Mr. Yuan said, "On the way here, I thought about it over and over. I came to the U.S. often and never thought to live here because I have a comfortable and privileged life in China. I have family there. How can I leave so suddenly? But this time I thought it over and felt differently. Because the CCP is most afraid of the 'Nine Commentaries', I talked about the 'Nine Commentaries' and renouncing the CCP. It is the most sensitive topic in China. I saw the danger of my situation and got the idea to stay here."

Colleague's Good Wishes

Flight MU586, which Mr. Yuan was scheduled to pilot, landed in Shanghai at 6:30 p.m. local time on August 11. Three and half hours later, Mr. Yuan urged the CCP regime not to implicate his colleagues at the press conference.

When approached by overseas media, several colleagues of Mr. Yuan complimented his kindness and earnest nature. "He is kind to others, has great integrity, and is a sincere man. He is an honest man that doesn't lie." "He is very kind to friends and colleagues. He works very hard and is committed to his work. He has a good safety record and no accidents."

His colleague Mr. Zhang said, "Whatever happens, I hope that everything will turn out all right for him. Whatever he chooses, I hope he will be all right."

Practitioner Mr. Yang Qiansheng from Hunan Province Died from Repeated Blood Draws and Bone Marrow Removal

We appeal to international human rights organizations to investigate the death of Mr. Yang Qiansheng, a Falun Dafa practitioner from Hunan. Medical personnel from the 535 Military Hospital repeatedly drew his blood and removed his bone marrow over a ten-day period at the end of 2000, causing his death.

On the morning of December 13, 2000, Mr. Yang, in possession of Dafa truth-clarifying materials, passed through the train station at Sanxianqiao. Apparently the wind from a passing train was strong enough to knock Mr. Yang to the ground, but the train itself did not hit him. He lost consciousness. Train company employees sent him to the 535 Military Hospital. A medical check revealed a cut on the head, which they closed with three sutures. No life-threatening injuries were detected. Mr. Yang had by then come to and told the medical personnel he was a Falun Gong practitioner and needed no further hospitalization.

Mr. Yang asked the doctor to be discharged on December 14. He was clear-minded and energetic. His request was denied. His wife observed the medical chief and an unidentified person discussing that they wouldn't let the family member take part in the hospitalization. Mr. Yang refused to have an injection or take medicine. They then bound him to the bed. They pried open his mouth and pinched his nose to feed him the drug. They forcibly injected an unknown substance (a pink colour with white foam) into his body.

They drew his blood for seven consecutive days, 200 ml each day. Mr. Yang became unable to speak and was in a coma. His face was red. Seeing his suffering, his wife said to the doctor, "You drew his blood without his or his family's consent. You should stop it. He has no disease. He will leave the hospital at once!"

The doctor said, "He was sent here; consequently, the doctors should make the decision. You shouldn't interfere! It is not up to you to decide." They then started to draw his bone marrow and did so three times, one drawing every two days. He was placed under anaesthetic prior to each bone marrow draw. The family members' presence was denied and they were prevented from entering the door. They could only watch through the door window. Since then he had completely lost consciousness. When he left hospital 40 days later the doctor said, "He shouldn't fall, otherwise he will die."

Mr. Yang died on February 11, 2001, less than 20 days after he returned home. What was even more incongruous was when Mr. Yang's friends were holding his funeral procession, several people in a car came to the village and claimed they wanted to arrest Mr. Yang because he was a Falun Gong practitioner. The villagers said, "Yang Qiansheng has already died. They are holding his funeral procession. If you don't believe us, you can go have a look on your own." They went there and had a look, pretending that they knew nothing and then left.

Zhongfang County CCP Deputy Secretary in charge of the Political and Judiciary Committee: Zhang Huazhong
Secretary: Chen Yizhang (now he was promoted to Hecheng District CCP member)
County Head: Huang Qianyuan
Deputy Head: He Yongchun, 86-13907452182 (Cell)
Secretary of the County Political and Judiciary Committee: Yang Yingfu
Former Head of the 610 Office: Yang Changgou

The "610 Office" Officer: Lei Jianhua

535 Military Hospital: 86-745-2851787

President: Zhang Chunmin
Commissar: Pang Yongsheng
Bone Treatment Center:86-745-2851813

Head of No.2 Surgical Department: Qi Jiuchang, 86-745-2851813

United Kingdom: Falun Gong Practitioners Participate in the Edinburgh International Festival Cavalcade

On the 6th of August 2006, UK Falun Gong practitioners participated in the cavalcade of the 30th Edinburgh International Festival. This was the fifth year in a row that Falun Gong practitioners have taken part.

The Falun Gong section of the cavalcade included banners, a flag dancing formation, a float with exercise demonstrations and flying angels, drum players and a hanging picture of the Falun emblem. Practitioners on the float demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises. On the float there were also a few young practitioners in flying angel costumes holding ancient musical instruments. The audience kept applauding and waving to the float as it went by. The graceful moves of the drummers also won waves of applaud from the audience.

Small lotus flowers and bookmarks made by practitioners were especially popular. A young practitioner on the float kept waving to the camera crews. Many tourists looked for opportunities to take photos with young practitioners in costume before the cavalcade started.

The cavalcade of the Edinburgh International Festival is one of the largest parade shows in Scotland. More than three thousand people from all over the UK and Europe took part. Last year it attracted about one hundred eighty thousand spectators.

Of the six cavalcade photos posted on the BBC's Web site, three featured Falun Gong.

Singapore Practitioners Call on the International Community to Pay Attention to the Human Rights Problems in Singapore

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has carried out the genocidal persecution of Falun Gong for seven years, and Singapore Falun Gong practitioners have also clarified the facts about Falun Gong to the local people for seven years. During these seven years, practitioners in Singapore have also had to face unfair treatment by the Singapore government, including unreasonable expulsion of Chinese Falun Gong practitioners, some government officials' irresponsible and libellous remarks on Falun Gong in the media, and Falun Gong practitioners' being charged with crimes for their truth-clarifying activities.

Following the news report in Lianhe Zaobao on the upcoming visit of Li Lanqing, head of the CCP's 610 Office at the invitation of Lee Kuan Yew on May 28, 2006, a series of incidents ensued in Singapore. The Singapore police confiscated truth-clarifying display boards and banners that Falun Gong practitioners used to clarify the facts in front of the Chinese Embassy, Waterloo Street, Raffles Places and other places. The Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) and Ministry of Manpower created difficulties for Chinese Falun Gong practitioners, and unreasonably expelled them. There were also three charges brought against the practitioners. Chinese practitioner Chen Peiyu, 73, was one of the three practitioners who were originally charged with "harassment for displaying insulting writings" in front of the Chinese Embassy, but the court suddenly withdrew the charge against her one week prior to the court trial. Her five-year long-term social visit pass (due to expire in 2010) was revoked, and she was expelled by the ICA. The Singapore authorities treated an older woman in her 70s so unreasonably just because she protested the CCP regime's persecution of Falun Gong and told people about the CCP's genocidal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

Falun Gong practitioner Ng Chye Huey said that Singapore is arbitrarily charging and detaining its citizens and expelling legal residents for the sake of its own interests and in order to curry favour with the CCP. It is a sorrow and shame of humanity. The CCP's genocidal persecution of Falun Gong concerns all of humanity. The CCP's atrocities by killing practitioners for their organs is trampling upon human beings' dignity. Regarding such heinous acts, everybody should take action on the basis of morality. How the world reacts is a measure of each person's morality and conscience.

Many police officers told practitioners when confiscating the display boards and banners that they did not want to do so, but they were ordered to do so.

The Singapore authorities should not get involved in the persecution of Falun Gong in order to curry favour with the CCP. Regarding the Singapore government's unreasonable expulsion of Chinese Falun Gong practitioners and levelling charges against its citizens, Singapore practitioners call on the government, international organizations, human rights organizations and kind-hearted people to give support and help so as to resolve the crisis in Singapore.

Through the Singapore practitioners' seven-year persistent truth clarification, many people in Singapore have seen the brutality of the persecution, and Falun Gong practitioners' peacefulness and compassion. They have also seen how some individuals in the Singapore government treat Falun Gong practitioners.

Unfair treatment imposed upon Falun Gong practitioners by the Singapore authorities include:

1. On December 31, 2000, Falun Gong practitioners mourned 107 Falun Gong practitioners who had died as a result of the CCP's persecution in the MacRitchie Reservoir Park, and 15 of them were charged with "illegal assembly" by the police.
2. In February 2001, Lee Kuan Yew claimed in Lianhe Zaobao that Falun Gong has political affiliations.
3. In 2004, Falun Gong practitioners Mdm. Ng Chye Huay and Cheng Lujin were charged by the Central Police Division with "assembly without permit," and possessing and distributing VCDs without permit. The two practitioners were faced with 15 charges, and the court issued a verdict against them without sufficient evidence. The two practitioners appealed to the High Court, and the judge dismissed their appeal with the excuse that "Singapore is a small country."
4. In July 2006, Li Lanqing visited Singapore. Nine Falun Gong practitioners who peacefully distributed truth clarification flyers in groups of two to three on Orchid Road nine months ago were charged with "assembly without permit" by the Tanglin Police Division. Three practitioners who peacefully protested outside the Chinese Embassy were charged by the police with "harassment by displaying insulting writings." During this period, Chinese Falun Gong practitioners Nie Ge, Yang Yongli and Chen Peiyu were unreasonably asked to leave Singapore.
5. In 2006, Vice-Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng regarded Falun Gong practitioners' distribution of Falun Gong truth clarification materials, displaying photo boards and clarifying the truth as crimes. During the Singapore General Election, the Minister of Foreign Affairs made negative comments on Falun Gong practitioners.

United Kingdom: London March Exposes Organ Harvesting Atrocities

On Saturday August 26th, UK Falun Gong practitioners held a march through central London, letting people know about Falun Gong and the persecution that has been waged against the practice for the last seven years.

The march began at the Chinese Embassy, where Falun Gong practitioners have protested 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for over 4 years. The march moved down Regent Street and finished in Chinatown. A megaphone was used to let people know the purpose of the march: to call for an end to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) human rights abuses against Falun Gong.

Practitioners carried banners that exposed some of the CCP's persecution crimes against Falun Gong. A particular focus of the parade was letting people know how the CCP harvests organs from living Falun Gong practitioners and sells them to transplant seekers for vast profits. The victims' bodies are then cremated to hide the evidence. Thousands of practitioners are thought to have died this way.

A recent report authored by former Canadian Secretary of State (Asia Pacific) David Kilgour and Canadian human rights lawyer David Matas confirms that the horrifying organ harvesting abuses are occurring on a large scale against Falun Gong practitioners in China. The report called these abuses "a grotesque form of evil which, despite all the depravations humanity has seen, would be new to this planet."

Practitioners handed out a 16-page newspaper that goes into depth on the CCP's organ harvesting, as well as the reasons behind the persecution of Falun Gong. The newspaper also provided people with details on the Falun Gong practice, which consists of five sets of peaceful meditative exercises and the improvement of one's morality through living by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance.

As well as the newspapers, leaflets were handed out in both Chinese and English. Many people asked practitioners for more information or expressed their concern at the human rights atrocities.

After the march, smaller activities were held in several central London locations. Practitioners set up pavement poster displays so that people could learn more about Falun Gong and the persecution. Many people spent a long time looking at the posters and also watched demonstrations of the Falun Gong exercises. Petition signatures were collected as many people wanted to voice their opposition to the CCP's abuses and do their bit to help the suffering Falun Gong practitioners.