July 25, 2003 Friday Final Edition

Four years ago on the night of July 20 1999, Chinese authorities started their nation-wide persecution of Falun Gong. On that night, tens of thousands of innocent people were abducted by police from their quiet homes and taken to forced labour camps for no just reason.

On the fourth anniversary of our persecution, we thank the Canadian people, media and government for helping a peaceful grassroots meditation practice to defend itself against the crushing hammer of the world's most powerful totalitarian regime.

I want to thank the Guelph Mercury for displaying incredible breadth of mind to Falun Gong, for publishing many of our editorials and even featuring articles about Falun Gong. You have seriously aided in raising public awareness and saving those whose lives remain at great risk in Mainland China.

Beginning in 1992, Falun Gong (a simple and peaceful meditation practice) enjoyed seven years of strong media and government support in China. However, after a government survey revealed that the number of people practicing Falun Gong in China (70 million) exceeded the Chinese Communist Party membership (60 million) the support stopped.

Jiang Zemin, China's leader at that time displayed an irrational insecurity over such a huge number of people in China sharing a common belief. He started using media in China to spread hate propaganda about Falun Gong. The utilized media provided Jiang a means to justify his persecution to the public; those who saw through the ploy were too frightened to speak out.

Whereas before July 20, 1999, the media in China reported the great social and health benefits of Falun Gong, nowadays, only slander and deceit are reported about Falun Gong in China. Outside of China, responsible media worldwide continue to help us voice the truth about this awful persecution against innocent people.

After four years of violent persecution, Falun Gong has not only stood its ground but also, it has become a household name around the world. The Falun Gong movement has gained the respect and support around the world from Amnesty International to the United States Senate.

In Canada, hundreds of thousands of citizens, all levels of the Canadian Government and most importantly the Canadian media, have come together to expose the plight of the now respected and publicly supported Falun Gong, this support has directly helped to free 5 of 15 Canadian related practitioners from torture in China.

At first many people didn't know the truth of the persecution in. Our mere survival is due in part to the Canadian Media's outstanding support, most definitely including the Guelph Mercury's contributions.

Only now can I truly appreciate the value of living in a free and just society, where our media can be responsible to the people, report the truth and serve in the name of justice.

David Meek

Guelph