NEW YORK, April 25th, 2002 (Falun Dafa Information Center) - Three years ago today, an historic event unfolded in the center of Beijing, China - over 10,000 citizens from different areas gathered in front of the State Council Appeals Office near the central government leadership compound in the first completely peaceful, large-scale appeal for civil rights by Chinese citizens in their more than 5,000 year history.

Many government leaders and observers felt the incident was dignified and demonstrated good will. China's Communist leader, Jiang Zemin, however, formulated very different ideas. In communications made available to the Falun Dafa Information Center and verified by a source inside China, it becomes clear that Jiang seized the opportunity of this event to use Falun Gong as a pawn to launch a political campaign with the purpose of consolidating his power base and advancing his own political ambitions.

Jiang would have the world believe this was a politically motivated gathering to "besiege" the central government compound, and has since used the event to justify a nearly 3-year campaign of terror against innocent Chinese citizens who practice Falun Gong.

Several prominent Western journalists were present on that day, and reported in detail the passive, quiet nature of the gathering. Multiple photographs and videos of the event confirm their stories. Still, many news organizations continue to repeat Jiang's regime's characterization of the event.

Actually, the facts of this event are simple and clear:

• Chinese Officials Told Practitioners and Supporters of Falun Gong to go to Beijing: A few days prior to the incident, people in the nearby city of Tianjin had been beaten and detained while visiting the office of a local newspaper to clarify the truth regarding accusations that were made in a slanderous article. The paper had initially concluded they had made a mistake and offered to rectify the situation. Soon after, however, officials in Tianjin were contacted by Beijing officials and instructed to tell people there that they must take their appeal to the State Council Appeals Office in Beijing.
• People Came to the State Council Appeals Office, Not Zhongnanhai: Word soon spread to nearby regions and people came individually and in groups, to the State Council Appeals Office in Beijing where they were then directed by police and government officials to line up along the streets next to Zhongnanhai, the Central Government compound. The people quietly agreed and proceeded to wait with no banners, and no slogans, for their appeal to be heard.
• A Peaceful Resolution Was Reached: Soon, the demonstrators were given an opportunity to make their appeal, those detained in Tianjin were released, and all the people around Zhongnanhai went home quietly, satisfied that their legal appeal had been handled properly by the government officials.

Some observers marveled at the orderliness of the gathering, commenting that the participants must be highly disciplined and/or highly organized. However, for those who practice Falun Gong, which espouses the virtues of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, non-violent, orderly appeal is a natural manifestation that springs from a lifestyle centered on cultivating these virtues within themselves. It allowed a large number of people - many of whom did not know each other - to come together without prior training or organization, and peacefully appeal to their leadership in order to right the wrongs dealt out in Tianjin, and let the appeals office know the true situation.

Over the past three years, those who practice Falun Gong around the world have demonstrated repeatedly their commitment to compassion and non-violence in seeking a solution to the crisis in China. Confronted at home with state-sponsored terrorism, those who practice and support Falun Gong have chosen to take a noble path, facing down hatred and evil with benevolence, patience and quiet strength.

And it is working.

For three years now, citizens of China have withstood the assault, and remained strong, while around the world more people every day are learning the truth, and increasing their efforts to put an end to this reign of terror.

Today, the eyes of the world are focused on the Middle East and other regions, where violence seems to beget more violence in a seemingly endless cycle. In these uneasy times, when divisiveness and the threat of terrorism cast their dark shadow around the world, the peaceful resilience of these gentle people will not only fortify those in China to overcome the persecution by Jiang's regime, but also bring much needed inspiration and guidance to us all in dealing with the conflict and hatred we face around the world.

Three years ago today, this civil rights action began in China. It has continued to this very day, remaining true to the spirit of compassion and non-violence. As we have seen throughout history when violent, senseless persecution is met with such patience and quiet strength, the result is inevitable. As the ancient Chinese proverb observes, "Good will be rewarded with good, and evil with evil."

We shall overcome.

Background

A comprehensive report on the events surrounding the "April 25th Incident" and the alarming communications issued by President Jiang Zemin during this time is available at: http://www.faluninfo.net/SpecialTopics/april25abridged.html

In this report, we present the actual events that transpired around the State Council Appeals Office, demonstrating that this gathering was merely a peaceful and legal appeal, and was, to a large extent, coordinated by Chinese government officials themselves. Additionally, this report contains information verified by the Falun Dafa Information Center with an inside source demonstrating that the persecution of Falun Gong, initiated and enforced by Jiang Zemin, had little or nothing to do with the nature of Falun Gong itself, as Jiang voiced suspicions that the people assembled outside the State Council Appeals Office had been orchestrated by rival senior officials within the Chinese government itself or by foreign forces. In an apparent attempt to solidify his power base, therefore, he stated that immediate action was needed to crush Falun Gong at all costs.