By SQ, Vision Times Singapore
On April 22, Falun Gong practitioners in Singapore gathered at Hong Lim Park to commemorate the 26th anniversary of the historic peaceful demonstration that took place in Beijing on April 25, 1999.
Just before the event began, Victor, vice president of the Singapore Falun Dafa Association, was seen adjusting paintings at the “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” art exhibition, which accompanied the gathering.
“We began holding this event in Hong Lim Park in the mid-2000s, just a few years after the April 25 appeal in 1999,” Victor explained. “The truth about Falun Gong still isn’t covered by mainstream media. People need to understand why we are being persecuted — it all started with Jiang Zemin, who fabricated charges to justify the suppression.”
An appeal that changed the course of history
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice rooted in meditation and moral teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance (真,善,忍). The practice was first taught to the public by Master Li Hongzhi in 1992.
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On April 25, 1999, tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners quietly gathered outside the State Council’s National Public Complaints and Proposals Administration in Beijing. They sought the release of more than 40 practitioners who had been detained in Tianjin and requested the right to practice their belief freely. This became the largest peaceful petition in modern Chinese history. After then-Premier Zhu Rongji met with representatives and addressed the concerns, the crowd dispersed calmly and in an orderly manner.
However, just three months later, in late July, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) reversed course and launched a full-scale suppression of Falun Gong within its borders. The decision was driven solely by Jiang Zemin, then head of the CCP, even though other members of the Politburo Standing Committee opposed it.
Michelle, a long-time practitioner, recalled the gravity of that day: “Many of us had experienced profound physical and mental benefits from Falun Gong — people who were previously battling cancer, paralysis, or other serious illnesses found recovery. So we stood up to speak the truth. We believed it was our responsibility to tell the government what we had experienced.”
She continued, “Even after 26 years of relentless persecution, Falun Gong has remained steadfast. No matter how badly we are misrepresented or attacked, we’ve never wavered in our principles.”
Victor echoed the sentiment: “Falun Gong helped restore our health and brought harmony to our families. It’s such a good practice, yet it’s still being persecuted, and most of the world doesn’t know the truth. That’s why we keep speaking out to clarify the truth.”
Why hold the event in Singapore?
Given that the original incident occurred over two decades ago and thousands of miles away, why continue commemorating it in Singapore?
Diana, a practicing lawyer and Falun Gong practitioner of 23 years, offered her reasoning: “This event is to build the awareness of what Falun Gong is about. A lot of people still do not understand what the practice is about. Many still believe the CCP’s narrative that Falun Gong practitioners have done something wrong. We want to clarify the truth.”
Her comments seemed to ring true when two men at the MRT station exit were seen pointing curiously at the event banners as they approached Hong Lim Park.
Diana also underscored the urgency of exposing the brutal reality behind the persecution: “It is also to show Singaporeans the evilness of the CCP and the vicious and wicked methods they use to torture and kill Falun Gong practitioners. Up to now, 26 years later, the persecution has not reduced — in fact, it has escalated. Organ harvesting is still happening in China.”
The term “organ harvesting” refers to the state-sanctioned removal of organs from living prisoners of conscience, primarily Falun Gong practitioners, but also including Muslim Uyghurs and Tibetans. This atrocity has drawn international condemnation.
According to China’s “White Paper on Missing Persons,” over 1 million people were reported missing in 2020 — though many experts suspect the actual number is even higher. Some fear these disappearances are linked to the underground organ trade. Chinese netizens have increasingly speculated that these individuals may have fallen victim to forced organ harvesting.
Michelle offered a sobering reflection: “Human dignity and basic values are what hold society together. If we allow organ harvesting, then we’ve lost the foundation of humanity.”
Impact beyond the numbers
So how many people does this event reach each year? Diana estimates that between 100 and 200 people express interest annually. Victor adds that the group distributes 200 to 300 informational materials each year.
But is it a worthwhile investment of time and resources? “Of course we hope to reach as many people as possible, but even if we can have only one person to change her mind and understand what Falun Gong is about, I think the effort is worth it,” said Diana.
Victor emphasized the event’s broader influence: “People are surprised to see so many Falun Gong practitioners. Mainly Chinese are shocked, because in China, you simply don’t see so many Falun Gong practitioners.”
He added, “Falun Gong practitioners in many countries organize events to commemorate the ‘4.25’ Appeal. When these [news] are made into materials and distributed in China, it shocks mainland Chinese to learn that Falun Gong practitioners are clarifying the truth in so many countries.”
By 5 p.m., over 60 practitioners dressed in yellow shirts and white pants stood in nine rows to perform the gentle Falun Gong exercises to soft music. Others handed out flyers, discussed the art exhibition, and engaged with passers-by.
Attendees came from all walks of life — including two young women from Denmark. Several mainland Chinese responded emotionally. Two young women and an elderly lady even chose to renounce their affiliations with the CCP’s youth organizations after learning about the persecution and forced organ harvesting.
Some Singaporeans signed up for a free nine-day Falun Gong introductory course. Others offered heartfelt encouragement: “You’re doing great work — keep it up!”
Diana concluded with a poignant message: “There will be a day when everyone has to answer a question: When you faced the choice between good and evil in life, which did you choose? Falun Gong that adheres to Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, or did you still believe the lies of the CCP? We believe that if a person makes the wrong choice, the future that awaits him will not be a good one.”
If she could say just one sentence to every Singaporean, she hopes they will remember this: “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is Good.”
Transformations through the practice
Mr. Ou, a 78-year-old Singaporean who ran a mining business in Indonesia for decades, began practicing Falun Gong nine years ago and credits it with transforming his life.
“My outlook on life transformed,” he said cheerfully.
He shared a story from ten years ago when he shipped two vessels of minerals from Indonesia to Xuzhou, China, earning about six million U.S. dollars. However, the Chinese dealer refused to pay, and all avenues for legal recourse led to corruption. Judges, lawyers, and police officers each demanded a cut.
“After I began practicing Falun Gong nine years ago, my view of life changed drastically and I gradually let it go. If I hadn’t practiced Falun Gong, I wouldn’t have taken it so lightly.”
Letting go of six million dollars is no small matter. Mr. Ou smiled and added, “I used to have a bad temper but after practicing, I became calmer.”
He also credited Falun Gong for his vitality. “When people say I’m 78, I will tell them, ‘Come, let’s go for a walk and see if you can keep up!’”
Victor, who began practicing in 2005, said his most significant change was in emotional regulation, which improved his relationships and work performance.
“In the past, I didn’t feel anything was wrong when I got angry. Now I see it differently: there must be something in my character cultivation yet to improve. I will reflect on my shortcomings. In the past, my emotions controlled me, but now I control my emotions.”
Victor also suffered from chronic insomnia before taking up Falun Gong. “An ex-colleague introduced me to Falun Gong, and after reading ‘Zhuan Falun’ (the main book of Falun Gong, written by Master Li Hongzhi), I understood the principles of ‘Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.’”
Everything changed. “Now when I lie down, I sleep in less than a minute, uninterrupted, till dawn.”
