(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners in Taiwan gathered at Freedom Square in Taipei in the evening on July 20, 2013. They lit candles in memory of their fellow practitioners who died in China as a result of persecution for their steadfast belief. Representatives from all walks of life spoke at the event to show their support for practitioners’ effort in trying to end the 14-year-long suppression and to call upon the Chinese regime to immediately stop the persecution.
Many speak at the candlelight vigil in Taipei calling for an immediate end to the persecution of Falun Gong in China
President of Falun Dafa Association: Live Organ Removal Dehumanizing
Professor Chang Ching-Hsi, president of Falun Dafa Association, talked about the brutal suppression that was launched on July 20, 1999. The Chinese Communist regime, in the name of organ transplantation, removed organs from unlawfully detained Falun Gong practitioners while they were still alive and sold their organs for lucrative profits. This fact is supported by evidence independently obtained by David Kilgour, former member of Canadian Parliament, and David Matas, Canadian human rights attorney.
“The persecution lasted 14 years and is still ongoing. Falun Gong practitioners still hold their belief and righteous thoughts. We sincerely thank those who showed their support and help while practitioners went through the hardest time,” Prof. Chang said.
Human Rights Lawyers’ Appeal
Lawyer Teresa Chu speaks at the candlelight vigil
Attorney Teresa Chu, spokesperson for the Falun Gong Human Rights Lawyers Working Group, said that over 140 million Chinese people have quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations. As long as the persecution lasts, practitioners' efforts to end it will not stop.
Ms. Chu said that the culprits who carry out organ removal have not yet been apprehended and the details of the crimes are not yet known. The Working Group asked those who have participated to provide any information and evidence they have related to the crime of organ removal. Also, any person or government that holds information of the CCP’s crime of organ removal should expose them because they have crucial evidence of crimes against humanity. Last, members of the Working Group hope that the United Nation and governments of other countries will stand up and together help end this most evil and unprecedented persecution.
President of Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance: Do Everything It Can to Stop Organ Removal
Wu Shumin speaks at the candlelight vigil
Mr. Wu Shu-Min, President of Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan, said that many years ago medical professionals in Taiwan began to pay close attention to the inhuman organ removal from living practitioners in China and held many activities trying to raise more awareness. Recently international human rights advocates came to Taiwan and held a hearing at the Legislative Yuan. They called on the legislature to make laws prohibiting people in Taiwan from going to China to receive organ transplants. “It’s a very important step. The medical professionals will do everything they can to stop the inhumane organ harvesting!” said Mr. Wu.
Human Rights Movie Director: Evil Can Never Be Covered Up
Chen Yu-Ching, “Truth should be made known.”
Chen Yu-Ching, human rights movie director and convener of Amnesty International (AI) Taiwan, said that AI has long supported prisoners of conscience worldwide. Recently AI has paid close attention to the human rights condition of Falun Gong practitioners, the largest group of prisoners of conscience in China. She said that AI collects signatures on the streets and sent them to Chinese leaders, hoping they will release the wrongly imprisoned practitioners. “The truth should be made known and evil must always be exposed,” said Chen.
Taipei City Councilor: Work Together to End the Persecution
Lee Ching-Feng, Taipei City Councilor, encouraged everyone to work together to end the persecution in China.
Lee Ching-Feng, Taipei City Councilor, voiced support for the universal value of human rights. He said that the current human rights condition in China is worrisome, especially since two human rights lawyers have been detained in China within the last two days. “I hope that we can all contribute our efforts and work together to end the persecution and this calamity in China,” Mr. Lee concluded.
Taipei City Councilor: Let Falun Gong Flourish in China
Taipei city councilor Hung Chien-Yi says that the world knows that the CCP is harvesting Falun Gong practitioners’ organs.
Hung Chien-Yi, Taipei city councilor, asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping to understand that “Faun Gong is an open, legitimate, and just group fighting for human rights.” “In free democratic Taiwan, the practitioners are respected and treated fairly by the government. They are allowed to practice and express themselves.”
Mr. Hung called upon Chinese leader Xi to unconditionally release Falun Gong practitioner Chen Zhenping and stop the persecution in China. “Everyone knows that the CCP harvests practitioners’ organs while they are still alive. This must stop. We also hope that Falun Gong, besides being respected by the rest of the world, can be respected by all Chinese people and can flourish in China,” he said.
Chinese Law Professor: Judgment Day is Quickly Approaching
Yuan Hongbing, exiled Chinese writer and distinguished chair professor at Kainan University Department of Law, described the CCP tyranny as the Bastille Prison of the East, one that's directly responsible for tens of millions of corrupt officials, policemen, military officers, and hundreds of thousands of prisons. He observed that even though the persecution has gone on for 14 years, practitioners have still firmly held onto their belief. “I can definitely tell the world that, justice will win, faith will win, and the tyrannical CCP will lose.” “This darkest time will pass and the judgment day for the CCP’s savage crimes against humanity will quickly arrive,” Professor Yuan said.
Chinese Tourists Amazed Upon Seeing the Vigil
A sea of candles that represent justice
Practitioners hold pictures of their fellow practitioners who died in the persecution in China.
Practitioners at Freedom Square commemorate those who died in the persecution of Falun Gong in the past 14 years.
Tourists from China stare in amazed silence at the candlelight vigil.
As night approached, one could gradually see a sea of candle lights that represented justice. A bus filled with tourists from China parked in front of the square. Many hurried off the bus and took several pictures. The tour guide told them, “It’s an opportunity hard to come by. Let’s take some pictures before we leave.” Even as the bus drove away, the tourists were still taking pictures.
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Category: July 20 Events
