Sunday, October 15, 2000
By PAUL COWAN, EDMONTON SUN
Their emblem may be a swastika, but Edmonton followers of Falun Gong see it as a symbol of good luck against the oppression the group has suffered in China.
Around a dozen followers of the Chinese Falun Gong movement gathered yesterday at Gazebo Park, next to the Old Strathcona Farmer's Market, to publicize persecution against their fellow members in China.
"We get a few people who think we are associated with Hitler or white supremacists or something but that just doesn't make sense when you see how many Chinese people are involved," said movement member Tom Ozimek.
"We explain to them that the swastika is a very ancient symbol of good fortune and is held in high regard by Greeks, Persians, people in South America and the Japanese."
Followers of Falun Gong do their meditative exercises at Gazebo Park every Saturday morning, but yesterday put on an information display to highlight the plight of members in China.
"People are being tortured to death, persecuted and losing their jobs," said another member, Chi Yeh.
"The Communist government is afraid because Falun Gong people outnumber Communists in China 70 million to 60 million.
"The government says Falun Gong is [...]."
Ozimek said Falun Gong is based on ancient Buddha school practices and teachings.
"The core principles are truthfulness, compassion and forbearance," he explained.
The group was collecting signatures yesterday for a petition expressing concern about the treatment of Falun Gong members in China.
They intend to send the petition to the House of Commons.
Their literature alleges more than 50 followers of the movement have been killed by the Chinese government and more than 5,000 are in jail or mental institutions.
They want Canadians to contact their Member of Parliament and Prime Minister Jean Chretien, and ask the federal government to publicly condemn what is happening in China.
Category: Falun Dafa in the Media
