(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners held a rally in Fribourg on July 28 to condemn the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 22-year-long persecution. Dominique de Buman, veteran Swiss politician, former chairman of the Federal Assembly, and former mayor of Fribourg sent a letter of support. Two current members of the Fribourg Cantonal Council were present and voiced their support. 

Practitioners demonstrate the exercises during the event to protest the CCP’s persecution on July 28.

This is the fifth and last stop in a series of activities practitioners held in Switzerland this year to call attention to the CCP’s 22-year-long persecution. Since July 15, Swiss practitioners have held activities in Geneva, the capital of the canton of Geneva (Genève); Neuchâtel, the capital of the canton of Neuchâtel; Lausanne, the capital of the canton of Vaud; and Delémont, the capital of Jura canton. Fourteen federal assembly members, members of state councils and city councilors sent letters of support, condemning the CCP's persecution. Many passersby in these places signed the petition to condemn the persecution.

Fribourg has been the border between the Swiss-French and German-speaking regions since the early Middle Ages. It is a bilingual city and residents speak both French and German. The unique Fribourg funicular connects the lower town and the center of Fribourg. The funicular was opened in 1899 and is a listed historical monument that is unique in Europe.

Falun Dafa practitioners went to the Place Georges Python in the downtown area and demonstrated the exercises. They talked to people about the CCP’s brutal persecution and its state-sanctioned organ harvesting from practitioners. Erika Schnyder and Hubert Dafflon, members of the Fribourg Grand Council, came and addressed the rally to support practitioners’ efforts against the persecution.

Former Federal Assembly Chairman: Governments Should Condemn These Killings 

Dominique de Buman, former chairman of the Federal Assembly, sent a letter of support. He stated, “I support the struggles of Falun Gong practitioners over the years in order to (enable them) to have the right to be respected for their beliefs, their (physical and mental) integrity, and even their physical integrity to be respected.”

Dominique de Buman, former chairman of the Federal Assembly

He wrote, “Human rights democracies and governments should clearly condemn the killings carried out by China (the CCP).”

“As the former chairman of the Swiss Federal Assembly, I expect the Federal Assembly to bravely and consistently condemn concentration camps and genocide practices that are shameful and dangerous for all mankind.”

Member Schnyder of the Fribourg Grand Council: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Is Essential Values for Everyone

Erica Schneider, a member of the Fribourg Grand Council, believes that Falun Gong’s effort against the persecution “is indeed a cause worth defending.” 

She said, “We are wholeheartedly with you, because we know that you (Falun Dafa practitioners) are being persecuted and tortured. Your family members are being killed.”

“No matter whether it is practitioners or others, (live organ harvesting) is unacceptable.” 

Erica Schneider, a member of the Fribourg Grand Council

She said that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is essential values for everyone and that she believes in high moral values. 

Member Dafflon of the Fribourg Grand Council: Your Kindness Is Commendable

Hubert Dafflon, a member of the Fribourg Grand Council, said in his speech, “We are very supportive of you, your struggle, your courage and your actions. The Fribourg Council will also support your actions in the future.” 

Hubert Dafflon, a member of the Fribourg Grand Council

“The harvesting of organs from non-volunteers has completely surpassed the bottom line. It is totally unacceptable and intolerable,” he said. “I don't want this to happen to anyone.”

He told practitioners, “Your actions and your kindness are commendable. We are with you wholeheartedly.”

Passersby Sign Petition Against the Persecution

The rain stopped around 10 a.m., and there were more passersby. Some stopped to learn what the event was about, and signed the petition against the persecution.

People learned about Falun Dafa and signed the petition against the persecution.

One woman who signed the petition said, “I don't think we can be indifferent to the injustice that is happening. We must unite. Indifference is the worst thing in the world.”

Quentin Manzoni (right) and (Meily Huang)

Quentin Manzoni, a 20-year-old man, and Meily Huang, an 18-year-old girl, both signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution. Manzoni said, “I think (live organ harvesting) is very bad.” Meily said, “The CCP has covered up a lot of things, but we have heard of them.”

Manzoni wished that the Swiss government would listen to the petition and take action to help stop the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa.

Encouraging Practitioners in China to Uphold Their Belief

Chantal Peguiron said that she was touched when saw practitioners peacefully protesting. She accepted a flyer and said that the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are wonderful. She said, “If the entire world follows these principles, it would be peaceful.” 

Ms. Peguiron said, “Live organ harvesting is truly shocking to me. Falun Dafa practitioners are kind. They have not done anything wrong, but they are arrested. This must stop.” 

She hopes practitioners in China can uphold their beliefs and she encouraged all practitioners to be filled with courage when facing persecution.

Background: What is Falun Dafa?

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people have embraced the teachings—which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance as well as five gentle exercises—and experienced uplifted health and well-being.

Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline's growing popularity as a threat to the CCP's atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, issued an order to ban the practice.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 22 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. More have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.

There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply the organ transplant industry.

Under Jiang's personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.