(Minghui.org) On the 25th of April, 1999, 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners voluntarily and peacefully petitioned at the Beijing Appeals Centre, in accordance with the law of peaceful petitioning. It shocked the world as the largest, yet most peaceful and rational of all petitions. The whole process was quiet, peaceful, and orderly. Falun Gong practitioners demonstrated the calm and rationality for which the international community has spoken highly of them.

The main reason for the petition on April 25, 1999, was that the Tianjin police officers had unreasonably arrested 45 Tianjin Falun Gong practitioners the day before, and refused to release them. Another, more serious reason is that CCP political thugs had been persecuting Falun Gong. Since 1996, the CCP had disallowed the publication and distribution of the book that teaches people to be compassionate, Zhuan Falun. Since 1997, the Ministry of Public Security had already been harassing Falun Gong practitioners during their group practice. The petition put forward three requirements: To release the arrested Tianjin practitioners, to allow Zhuan Falun to be legitimately published, and to allow Falun Gong practitioners a legitimate environment in which to practice cultivation. However, the CCP had begun its persecution before April 25. It wasn't the April 25 appeal that led to the persecution; rather, the April 25 petition was in accordance with the law to counter the persecution. It was the evil nature of the CCP and Jiang Zemin that instigated the persecution.

The April 25 appeal was about upholding the right to faith, and the right to be a good person. This right is the legitimate right of all Chinese people. In the past 13 years, Falun Gong practitioners have been counteracting the persecution and clarifying the truth. It definitely hasn't been for themselves, it's been for all people. That Falun Gong practitioners are counteracting the persecution, is admittedly to uphold their own right to speech and faith. But don't such rights belong to all of the Chinese people? The brutal persecution of Falun Gong is undermining the rule of law. Don't such means impact all citizens? How will there ever be justice and integrity in Chinese society if the CCP tramples kindness and spreads lies and rumours. Anyone could be the next victim. While Falun Gong practitioners are upholding their own rights, they're also upholding the rights of all Chinese people, and safeguarding the righteous in society.

In today's crisis-ridden, corrupt environment of fraud and those that see people dying but don't help them, environmental destruction, etc., everyone has a sense of insecurity and sees no way out. The root of all these crises is the moral decay caused by the CCP culture. The CCP culture has destroyed traditional culture, thereby not allowing people to believe that good and evil have their consequences, and causing people to lose control of themselves. The CCP promotes, “falsehood, evil and struggle.” With each political movement good is suppressed and evil is nurtured. The corruption of CCP officials is leading the rapid decline of morality. The CCP has even infiltrated overseas and has bought overseas media and officials, exporting the Party culture of “falsehood, evil and struggle.” The CCP has caused crises to break out that will affect not only China, but the whole world.

Who can resist the CCP's “falsehood, evil and struggle?” In this world, who is able to hold fast to one's conscience in the face of practical benefits and pressure? Who is willing to pay to maintain society's morality and justice, allowing for a peaceful China?

Falun Gong practitioners are this kind of group. Falun Gong teaches people to follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, to consider others, and to not harm others, even if they are suffering or faced with practical benefits. Practitioners are honest and dedicated people; they are honest businessmen, doctors who do not accept red envelopes (money), dedicated engineers, teachers, etc. Despite the CCP having exhausted the national expenditure in the past 13 years to persecute Falun Gong, Falun Gong practitioners remain standing strong. Falun Gong practitioners have the right to tell the truth and counter the persecution, and in the face of the CCP's “falsehood, evil and struggle,” to remain faithful to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, as good people. Even if the CCP uses all of the state apparatuses to slander and torture Falun Gong practitioners, Falun Gong practitioners will still refuse to renounce their faith. Such insistent people are the most trustworthy type of people.

Throughout all of the CCP's political campaigns, no one has ever been able to survive for more than a few days. But Falun Gong practitioners have proved to be indomitable even after 13 years! Prior to the CCP's persecution, Falun Gong had already made a far-reaching impact, both in China and abroad. After 13 years of counteracting the persecution, Falun Gong practitioners have become even more steadfast. Falun Gong texts have been translated into over 30 different languages, and Falun Gong has spread widely to over 100 different countries. One can't say this is not a miracle.

Falun Gong's strength doesn't come from any political power. On the contrary, Falun Gong has absolutely no interest in political power. Falun Gong practitioners are powerful because of their sincerity, kindness and patience. They are peaceful and rational and they're never violent. They just want to be good people, to tell the truth, and to peacefully persevere in resisting tyranny. This type of power is one that guns can't beat, nor tanks crush. This type of power is the power from one's inner self. This type of power allows people to see hope. This type of person will not abandon morality nor justice in the face of practical benefits or pressure. This type of person is the cornerstone that safeguards society's morality. Recognise Falun Gong, help Falun Gong practitioners to counter the persecution. Allow these good people the right to be good people, so they can lead the people of society to do good. As such, Chinese society will be able to pass through danger, peacefully heading toward the future.

For more than 10 years of counteracting the persecution and clarifying the truth, Falun Gong practitioners have done so selflessly, and have asked for nothing in return. They will not meddle with whatever political power, just as in Taiwan, never getting involved with the green or blue political parties. They just wish for all people to understand that Falun Gong teaches people to do good deeds and that Falun Gong is being slandered and persecuted by the CCP. They just hope for people to be clear on the truth and not be deceived by the CCP's lies. Those that are clear on the truth will have a beautiful future.