(Minghui.org) Over 1,500 Falun Dafa practitioners in Taiwan gathered in front of the Taipei City Hall on the evening of July 16, 2023. They held a rally and candlelight vigil to commemorate the practitioners who refused to renounce their faith and lost their lives as a result of the persecution in China. Ten councilors from five cities across Taiwan joined the event and voiced their support for the practitioners’ persistent effort to end the persecution, which started on July 20, 1999.
Falun Dafa practitioners hold candlelight vigil on the evening of July 16, 2023 in front of the Taipei City Hall to commemorate the practitioners who died in the past 24 years of persecution.
From left to right: Tainan City Councilor Chu Cheng-Hsuan, Taipei City Councilor Hung Chien-yi, Taipei City Councilor William Hsu, Kaohsiung City Councilor Lina Chen, Falun Dafa human rights lawyer Theresa Chu, president of Taiwan Falun Dafa Association Hsiao Sung-Shan, New Taipei City Councilor Chung Hung-Jen, Taipei City Councilor Chang Wen-chieh, Kaohsiung City Councilor Chang Po-Yang, Tainan City Councilor Li Chong-lim, Hsinchu City Councilor Tseng Tzu-cheng, Taipei City Councilor Chieh Mei-Sha’s team director Chin Tse-Chu, and Taipei City Councilor Hsu Shu-Hua’s assistant Hung Chih-wei
Justice Requires Strength and Persistence
Taipei City Councilor William Hsu
Taipei City Councilor William Hsu said that it was his seventh year coming over to support the practitioners. “To achieve justice, it requires strength and persistence,” he said, “Democracy, freedom, human rights and prevention of commercializing organ transplants (by killing non-consenting prisoners of conscience) are the consensus across all political parties and stances. We condemn and boycott anything that goes against these universal values.”
Hsu also said that the Taipei City Council passed a motion to condemn the violent act of harvesting organs from living prisoners of conscience, and the legislators are working on passing bills to stop organ harvesting. “It’s a small step, but we need to work together to achieve a better future,” he said.
Taipei City Councilor Chang Wen-chieh said that her colleagues were working on legislation to stop live organ harvesting and she had co-sponsored the bill. “I hope that bill to stop live organ harvesting could be done in every city, and even in the world.” She encouraged the practitioners, “We have to let more people know about the facts of organ harvesting, so that more people can work together to stop the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Dafa.”
Falun Dafa Brings Positive Energy to Society
New Taipei City Councilor Chung Hung-Jen
New Taipei City Councilor Chung Hung-Jen said that he came with a heavy heart to mourn the Falun Dafa practitioners who lost their lives in the past 24 years of persecution. He said that Falun Dafa is a Buddhist school discipline that teaches Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. “It’s a force of kindness and brings positive energy to society. I don’t know why the CCP persecutes it,” he said.
Chung called on the Chinese communist regime to immediately stop the persecution. He expressed his support for the practitioners who persisted to speak the truth, “There is nothing wrong with practicing Falun Dafa, let’s work together [to end the persecution].”
“To Let More People Know the Truth”
Hsinchu City Councilor Tseng Tzu-cheng
“I want to express my highest respect to all Falun Dafa practitioners,” Hsinchu City Councilor Tseng Tzu-cheng bowed to the practitioners. He thanked the practitioners for letting more people see the CCP’s evil nature.
Tseng first met the practitioners a few years ago in a parade. “When I saw that everyone was disciplined and not making noise, I was very surprised,” he said. He later learned about the teachings of the practice and joined the practitioners’ activities.
“Why is a group with positive energy and belief persecuted? I find it hard to understand. China is ruled by the CCP, and only when the Party collapses will there be freedom of belief,” Tseng said.
In the end, he said that the power of justice will shine, and that he’ll continue to work with the practitioners to let more people know the truth, and to end the CCP’s reign.
The End of CCP and the Persecution Will Come
Tainan City Councilor Li Chong-lim
Tainan City Councilor Li Chong-lim said that he often saw the practitioners in one of Tainan’s busiest touristic spots. Out of curiosity he talked to the practitioners and learned about the health benefits of the practice and the horrific persecution in China. “This afternoon, many of us were at the parade. I saw some young people taking pictures. I believe that the practitioners will gradually influence and change more people, like they did with me, and that the public will understand how great Falun Dafa is, and the brutality that took place in the persecution,” he said.
Pointing at the banners behind him, he said, “Behind me the practitioners worked very hard to keep the banners steady and not be blown away by the gusty wind, so that everyone can read what is said on the banners. I believe ‘Heaven will eliminate the CCP and end the persecution’ will come true one day.”
Tainan City Councilor Chu Cheng-Hsuan
Tainan City Councilor Chu Cheng-Hsuan said that everyone in the world must know about the persecution and how the CCP violates human rights, “As long as the CCP feels threatened by any country or movement, it will target it without hesitation.”
He praised the practitioners for their hard work to expose the persecution and hold on to their belief in Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Besides condemning the CCP, he asked more people to stand up and support the practitioners.
Everyone Should Pay Attention to Human Rights Violation
Kaohsiung City Councilor Lina Chen
Kaohsiung City Councilor Lina Chen said that the principles of Falun Dafa are a must for improving one’s personality, and that they should be abided by when one pursues his goals in life. “Why persecute such a good teaching that tries to make everyone a better person?” she asked. She wished that everyone would keep the principles in mind.
Chen said that the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa and the atrocity of live organ harvesting are absolutely evil and inhumane. “If the CCP did not stop the persecution, it would be of no use no matter how it tried to convince the world that it values human rights. Most of the western countries did not trust China on this issue,” she said.
She further stressed, “The persecution of Falun Dafa is an issue that everyone should pay attention to. I hope that more people can learn the truth online or from the Falun Dafa books, and use their own discernment to tell good from evil, and understand why the practitioners sacrifice weekends and vacation days to speak out.”
Kaohsiung City Councilor Chang Po-Yang
Kaohsiung City Councilor Chang Po-Yang paid respect to the practitioners’ tireless effort in the past 24 years. “I would like to express my highest respect and thank you for letting more Taiwanese friends know the spirit of Falun Dafa. In Kaohsiung, if you want to see Falun Dafa practitioners, just go to Ruifeng Night Market and they are there [to raise awareness] on the weekends,” he said.
He continued to say that it takes strong will to fight against the persecution, which is a hard thing to do, for 24 years. The CCP exposed its evil nature and fear for the practice in the persecution. He said that he felt proud to side with the practitioners, “Through our support for Falun Dafa, we let more people see the CCP’s tyranny, and our voice lets more people know the truth.”
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Category: July 20 Events
