THE HAGUE, Netherlands—The Chinese Embassy refused to open its doors on April 24, even as dozens of visa applicants waited outside. According to a note posted on the front gate of the compound, the reason for not opening was the “demonstration in the surrounding area.” A group of Falun Gong practitioners were protesting the persecution of their spiritual practice in mainland China.
Some of those waiting to get into the Embassy had flights booked later that day or on the weekend. Confronted with the scene of 10-15 people protesting peacefully, both visa applicants and local police were puzzled by the Embassy’s decision not to open its doors. According to local police, the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs had contacted the Chinese embassy about the situation.
Jasper Fakkert, a 24 year old Student at the University of Amsterdam who practices Falun Gong said to The Epoch Times: “It seems to me that they [the Chinese embassy] are afraid of people knowing about the true situation in China. We are happy with the positive feedback we received from the police and visa applicants. It is a shame to see that the embassy doesn’t help the people with the visa applications. They could open at any moment and help the people, but it seems they try to use this as a method to put pressure on the local government to stop the demonstration, or even to turn the anger of the people who couldn’t apply for the visa towards us.” Jasper was one of the organizers of the demonstration.
“It is good to see that the local government and police support this demonstration, and that the people now know about what is happening in China,” he said.
Some of those waiting to get into the Embassy had flights booked later that day or on the weekend. Confronted with the scene of 10-15 people protesting peacefully, both visa applicants and local police were puzzled by the Embassy’s decision not to open its doors. According to local police, the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs had contacted the Chinese embassy about the situation.
Jasper Fakkert, a 24 year old Student at the University of Amsterdam who practices Falun Gong said to The Epoch Times: “It seems to me that they [the Chinese embassy] are afraid of people knowing about the true situation in China. We are happy with the positive feedback we received from the police and visa applicants. It is a shame to see that the embassy doesn’t help the people with the visa applications. They could open at any moment and help the people, but it seems they try to use this as a method to put pressure on the local government to stop the demonstration, or even to turn the anger of the people who couldn’t apply for the visa towards us.” Jasper was one of the organizers of the demonstration.
“It is good to see that the local government and police support this demonstration, and that the people now know about what is happening in China,” he said.
