(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners from Chuanghu County, Nantou County, and Yunlin County gathered at the Changhua Railway Station on July 16, 2022, to raise awareness of the ongoing suppression of Falun Gong in China. Numerous elected officials joined the event to support practitioners and call for an end to the human rights atrocities in China. 

Falun Gong practitioners practice the exercises at the Changhua Railway Station on July 16, 2022

The event started at 4 p.m. with an exercise demo, banners, posters and a signature drive. In the evening the practitioners held a candlelight vigil. After the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began to suppress Falun Gong on July 20, 1999, more than 4,000 practitioners have lost their lives as a result of torture during police custody. 

Candlelight vigil with pictures of practitioners who died during the persecution

Say No to CCP

Changhua County Councilor Lai Tse-min

Lai Tse-min, Changhua County councilor, came to the event very early to support practitioners. “The CCP is a cruel and inhuman regime,” he remarked, “I am standing here to openly condemn the persecution against Falun Gong in China, especially the forced organ harvesting. I hope more people will join the efforts to stop the tragedy.”

In recent years, the CCP has extended its control and made inroads in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Tibet, and even Taiwan. Falun Gong practitioners’ activities could educate Taiwan residents about they cannot bow to the CCP, he said. This is very important because the CCP has been actively influencing and suppressing Taiwan. “We have to safeguard freedom and human rights. That is, we must make our voice clearer and clearer – say no to the CCP!” he said. 

He thanked practitioners for their persistent efforts over the years. He said international society had dreamed that the CCP would one day respect democracy and human rights, but reality shows us otherwise. Lai hopes more people will get to know Falun Gong and benefit from the practice. 

Changhua City Mayor Lin Shih-hsien

Lin Shih-hsien, mayor of Changhua City, has known Falun Gong for a long time. Because of its benefits to health and morality, the practice had about 100 million practitioners in mainland China in the late 90s. Because the number of practitioners exceeded that of the CCP, the then communist party leader Jiang Zemin out of jealousy launched a nationwide persecution campaign against the practice on July 20, 1999. 

“The persecution, especially forced organ harvesting, has violated the United Nations’ protection of basic human rights,” Lin said, “In fact, lawsuits against Jiang have been filed in a number of countries.”

Justice Will Triumph

Changhua County Councilor Lee Cheng-chi

Lee Cheng-chi, another Changhua County councilor, has been to Falun Gong practitioners’ events numerous times. In his speech, Lee said the consistent efforts of practitioners over the past 23 years have helped the general public to become aware of nature of the CCP. “The principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are universal values. One day, it will be welcomed back to mainland China,” he said. 

Lee said the mistreatment of Falun Gong with forced organ harvesting shows how cruel the CCP is regarding faith, human rights, and humanity. “Through Falun Gong practitioners, Taiwan residents and especially tourists from mainland China have learned the vicious nature of the CCP,” Lee said.

In the end, he thanked Falun Gong practitioners on behalf of people who have learned the truth about Falun Gong. “Justice will triumph and we hope the CCP will dissolve soon,” he said. 

Standing with Falun Gong Practitioners

Changhua County Councilor Chuang Sheng-han

Changhua County Councilor Chuang Sheng-han said he was in graduate school when the CCP started to persecute Falun Gong in 1999. When he traveled to mainland China in 2000, he was wondering why such a peaceful meditation system would be suppressed in China. He later heard that it was because the number of practitioners was already higher than that of the CCP members. Jiang Zemin, the CCP’s leader at the time, was envious and decided to suppress it. 

“Over the years, the CCP has exhausted its means to persecute Falun Gong, and all of them failed,” Chuang explained. Instead, practitioners have introduced the practice to many countries. 

Chuang said he also wanted to send best wishes to practitioners on behalf of Legislator Huang Shiou-Fang. Although Huang was unable to attend the event, Huang had sent a delegate to the activity and provided assistance with logistics so his team could stand together with Falun Gong practitioners. 

Supporting the Upright

Former National Assembly Member Yang Wen-ping

Yang Wen-ping started his speech by exclaiming: “Falun Gong is great!” It is a great pleasure to come to this event and meet Falun Gong practitioners as well as supporters.” 

He said traditional Chinese culture believed in heavenly laws, because the CCP is against humanity, it has violated such heavenly laws. “That is why the CCP is doomed,” he said, “Falun Gong will return to mainland China and bring the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to everyone.”

Although not a Falun Gong practitioner himself, Yang said he has always supported the right causes and helped the righteous. “Forced organ harvesting by the CCP is ruthless and only the CCP could do this kind of bad deed,” he said.

He said Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance will benefit the world. 

What the CCP Suppresses Is Good

He Candong from the Taiwan Transitional Justice Association

He Candong, chairman of the Taiwan Transitional Justice Association, said Falun Gong was introduced to the public in 1992. The principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance attracted lots of people and was soon popular in China. The CCP leader Jiang Zemin was afraid of losing control and issued an order to suppress Falun Gong. 

“The CCP does not allow things that are good,” he explained, “The better you are, the more it would suppress you. This is because the CCP itself is vicious.” 

On behalf of Taiwan residents, he thanked Falun Gong practitioners for helping people know the facts and make the right decision. 

A Joint Effort

Legislator Chen Su-yueh

Chen Su-yueh, a member of the Taiwan Legislature, said the rally was a grave event. She said forced organ harvesting is wrong and thanked Falun Gong practitioners for their peaceful efforts. 

She said freedom of belief should be protected and it is hard to imagine tragedies like forced organ harvesting could happen in modern society. “This is very serious and we can let things like this happen,” she said. 

She called on Taiwan residents to not participate in organ tourism. “It requires a joint effort from more people to stop such suppression,” she said, “We hope every one can live freely and safely without the shadow of fear.”

The CCP Should Not Exist 

Yang Tzu-hsien, the youngest candidate for the Chuanghua County Council, said he was happy to be at the event learning more about Falun Gong. “Since my school years, I have paid attention the harm of the CCP’s totalitarian regime on Taiwan,” he said, “Now the mistreatment that Falun Gong practitioners have suffered confirms this.”

He hopes to help spread what he learned about the persecution to more people. “A totalitarian regime like the CCP should not exist on the earth,” he said, “It is values such as Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance that should prosper and benefit the world.”