(Minghui.org) In the theme of "Preserving Kindness and Ending the Persecution of Falun Gong," Falun Gong practitioners held a candlelight vigil and parade in Taipei, Taiwan on July 22, 2012, commemorating the 13th anniversary of China's persecution on Falun Gong, which began on July 20, 1999. The purpose of the events was to show the beauty of Falun Gong, to raise the public awareness of China's cruel persecution of Falun Gong, and to call upon the public help end the persecution.
More than 1000 Falun Gong practitioners gathered at Taipei's Freedom Square at about 7:00 p.m.for the candlelight vigil in the theme of "Preserving Kindness and Ending the Persecution of Falun Gong"
The parade began at Hsin-Yi Square across from Taipei 101 at 3:00 p.m., passed Sun Yat-Sian Memorial Hall, the popular commercial district on Chong-Hsiao East Road, and ended at Freedom Square across from Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, where the candlelight vigil would be held. More than 1000 candlesticks were lit at dusk.
Supporting this year's Falun Gong memorial event were prominent guests, including Yu Shi-Kun, former Premier of Taiwan's Executive Yuan (the executive branch of the Taiwanese government); Professor Hu Yuan-Hui, president of Excellent Journalism Award and former general manager of Taiwan Public Television Service; Dr. Hong Ching-I, chairman of Indigenous People's Cultural Foundation; Ms. Chiang Yue-Chin, chief of staff of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP); Legislator Yu Mei-Nu; Chiu Huang-Chuan, vice chairman of the Asia Branch of Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) and former chairman of the Taiwan Association for Human Rights; Professor Hsiao Song-Shan of National Taiwan Ocean University and chairman of the Taiwan Branch of Global Mission to Rescue Persecuted Falun Gong Practitioners (GMR); and Teresa Chu, human rights attorney and the spokesperson of the Falun Gong attorney group in Taiwan.
Professor Chang Ching-Hsi, chairman of Falun Gong Association in Taiwan and Professor at National Taiwan University
In his speech, Dr. Chang Ching-Hsi said that it is a disgrace to humanity that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) should be allowed to persecute a good religious group, and that the persecution is actually extending to Taiwan. Mr. Chung Ting-Pang, a Falun Gong practitioner from Taiwan and an IT manager in Taoyuan, was arrested in China and being illegally detained. Dr. Chang called upon international society to actively assist ending the persecution and rescue innocent Falun Gong practitioners.
Ms. Teresa Chu said that Falun Gong practitioners, who conduct themselves according to Falun Gong's cultivation principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, have been protesting the Chinese Communist Party's persecution for 13 years. Many officials from China's political and legal systems, including the extra judicial 610 Office, that have actively engaged in the persecution of Falun Gong have been fired or stripped of power. She believes those who are sustaining the persecution of Falun Gong in China will soon fall from power and collapse. Yet she assured those listening that Falun Gong practitioners around the world will not stop their efforts for as long as the persecution continues.
Chiu Huang-Chuan, vice chairman of the Asia Branch of Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) and former chairman of the Taiwan Association for Human Rights
Chiu Huang-Chuan said that one would be assisting the Chinese Communist Party in its atrocities against humanity if one does not care about its violations of Falun Gong practitioners' human rights—because anyone of us could be the next victim.
Professor Hsiao Song-Shan of National Taiwan Ocean University and chairman of the Taiwan Branch of Global Mission to Rescue Persecuted Falun Gong Practitioners (GMR)
Yu Shi-Kun, former premier of Taiwan's Executive Yuan (the executive branch of the Taiwanese government)
Yu Shi-Kun said the Taiwanese people should take action and pay attention to Mr. Chung Ting-Pang. He hopes that Mr. Chung will soon be released and that people in China will soon be able to live a life of freedom and democracy, like people in Taiwan.
Professor Hu Yuan-Hui, president of Excellent Journalism Award and former general manager of Taiwan Public Television Service
In his speech, Professor Hu Yuan-Hui asked why the Chinese communist regime still exists and why so many people continue to be persecuted by it. He believes it is because we appease them—we let them get away with it, and we are silent in the face of their atrocities. He said if kind people are afraid to speak out for the victims, then they are accomplices to the criminals. He urged people to be concerned about Mr. Chung Ting-Pang, as he is currently detained in China as a citizen of Taiwan. He urges all media to report on the incident.
Dr. Hong Ching-I, chairman of Indigenous People's Cultural Foundation
Dr. Hong Ching-I called the Chinese Communist Party the most evil political regime in the world, because it is opposed to nature, humanity, religion, traditional culture, and morality. He added that the regime has never stopped using its taxpayers' money and its state-run media to suppress Falun Gong and persecute Falun Gong practitioners. By doing so, it is destroying mankind's conscience and basic human rights. He calls the persecution of Falun Gong the persecution of all of China and all human beings.
Candlelight vigil in the theme of "Preserving Kindness and Ending the Persecution of Falun Gong"
A young lady came to watch the event after a friend who practices Falun Gong informed her of it. She was amazed upon seeing the powerful performance of Falun Gong's Celestial Marching Band. She noticed that the band consists of both old and very young members. She thought they were remarkable to be able to complete the parade of about 6.5 kilometers. She stayed to watch the candlelight vigil until she had to leave.
The young lady said she has a good understanding of China's persecution of Falun Gong. She also knows that many people in the western hemisphere practice Falun Gong. When she asked about the meaning of the candlelight vigil, a Falun Gong practitioner explained, "We mourn for those fellow Falun Gong practitioners who have died or are dying for persevering in their faith and conscience. We also take the opportunity to raise the public awareness on the cruel persecution and call upon all kindhearted and righteous people to end the persecution soon."
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Category: July 20 Events
