News and Events from around the World -- June 2, 2007

Issued by Clearwisdom Net

Content

  • Taiwan: Legislative Council Member Condemns the CCP's Persecution of Falun Gong Practitioners in Hong Kong

  • Falun Gong Practitioners Asked to Speak to San Diego Christian Church Meeting About Organ Harvesting in China



  • Taiwan: Legislative Council Member Condemns the CCP's Persecution of Falun Gong Practitioners in Hong Kong

    On May 31, 2007, the Falun Dafa Association in Taiwan and the Legislative Council Member Ms. Tian Chiu-Jin held a press conference, condemning the CCP's actions to intensify the persecution of Falun Gong before July 1st. Mr. Chang Ching-his, representative for the Falun Dafa Association of Taiwan, said that the CCP has escalated the persecution of Falun Gong in Hong Kong leading up to the tenth anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Mainland China control.

    The persecution of Falun Gong has become an indicator of China's insincerity in keeping its promise of "One Country, Two Systems" in Hong Kong.

    Four Falun Gong practitioners from Hong Kong and one family member of a Hong Kong practitioner have been arrested by the CCP in the last year. In May, a practitioner from Hong Kong and a family member of a practitioner from Hong Kong were arrested in Shenzhen.

    Moreover, Falun Gong practitioners' truth-clarifying booths and the service center for quitting the party in Hong Kong were attacked recently.

    Attendees of the press conference included Chief Executive of the Human Rights Lawyer Association in Asia Ms. Theresa Chu Woan-chyi, Professor Ming Chu-cheng from Taiwan University and Mr. Chang Shanhe, a representative of Falun Gong practitioners in Hong Kong.

    The CCP Displays Its Shamelessness

    Ms. Chu Woan-chyi exposed the attacks in Hong Kong. The CCP's agents poured red paint on Falun Gong practitioners' booths at public places, such as parks or streets, and cursed at or insulted Falun Gong practitioners. They collected practitioners' names, took videos of and beat practitioners. However, the Hong Kong government didn't actively take actions to stop those attacks.

    Ms. Chu emphasized that the human rights situation in China is abysmal. The CCP has extended its brand of state-sponsored terrorism and persecution to Taiwan and Hong Kong.

    Ms. Chu pointed out that Taiwanese Falun Gong practitioners were also videotaped by the CCP's agents when they participated in activities in Hong Kong. From 2001 to 2005, about 250 Taiwanese practitioners were blacklisted and refused entry to Hong Kong. The CCP officials arrested a family member of a Hong Kong practitioner and told her that the CCP will arrest every Hong Kong practitioner who enters China.

    Ms. Chu said that the CCP's behavior shows that they are shameless and the promise of "one country two systems" is a lie.

    Ms. Chu pointed out that many democracy movement activists and council members in Hong Kong support Falun Gong, because they know that democracy in Hong Kong would be badly undermined if Falun Gong practitioners didn't expose the CCP's persecution.

    Mr. Chang Shanhe testified with his own experiences that at Falun Gong practitioners' truth-clarifying booths, many Chinese tourists were eager to find out information that is blocked by the CCP in China.

    Prof. Ming pointed out that many people in Hong Kong moved to other countries around 1997. He said that the CCP thought they could keep their power in Hong Kong by violence, but they are wrong. He pointed out that the CCP's behavior only shows people how shameless they are.

    Ms. Chu said that it is a shame that after an 8-year long persecution of Falun Gong, there are still many governments in the world which ignore this issue, and many media outlets try to avoid this topic.

    Legislative Council Member Calls for Awareness

    Legislative Council Member Ms. Tian Chiu-Jin has requested the Taiwanese government to offer information about the persecution of Falun Gong to Taiwanese businessmen and tourists who are going to China, helping them know about where they are going.

    Ms. Tian called upon politicians in Taiwan to confront the persecution of Falun Gong. She hoped that people who do not think it matters if the CCP governs Taiwan will see how brutal the persecution is.

    Ms. Tian hoped that the presidential candidates would express their opinions on the persecution of Falun Gong and tell the public what action they would take to help stop it.

    Prof. Ming pointed out that helping Falun Gong practitioners in Hong Kong amounts to helping to protect democracy in Hong Kong.

    Mr. Chang called for the protection of Falun Gong practitioners. He said that helping others is helping oneself.


    Falun Gong Practitioners invited to Speak to San Diego Christian Church Meeting About Organ Harvesting in China

    Falun Dafa practitioners were invited by University Christian Church of San Diego to present information about the crimes of torture and organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners in China to the Church Vision Team for the purpose of spreading the information to their regional and national affiliated member churches and eventually taking it to the World Council of Churches in order to help put an end to these crimes.

    Jack Johnston, a member of the board of San Diego's University Christian Church, met and spoke with Falun Dafa practitioners at an anti-torture exhibit in Balboa Park, where practitioners were exposing the persecution and the mass organ harvesting from living Falun Dafa practitioners by the Chinese communist regime.

    Mr. Johnston was very shocked. He immediately signed the petition to President Bush and the U.S. Congress calling for a congressional hearing and investigation into the charges of organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners in China. Mr. Johnston also took several brochures and said he would bring the issue up with the board members of his church. He said that this are a church committed to speaking out about social injustice and crimes against humanity.

    Subsequently, two practitioners were asked to give a presentation to the Church Vision Team on May 16. The team wanted to know more about Falun Dafa, its founder, Master Li, and the reason for the persecution. They also asked about materials, articles and web site links, they could use to inform themselves and pass on to other church groups.

    Falun Gong practitioners explain to the Vision Team members of San Diego's University Christian Church about the organ harvesting crime in China

    She said that she has been a Falun Dafa practitioner for only two years, but her health improved tremendously after practicing the exercises for only a few months. She said this is a very good practice that benefits body and mind. She said she grew up in Germany right after World War II and because of the Nazi atrocities in her birth country, she feels a deep sense of responsibility to speak out against the terrible crimes committed against Falun Gong.

    The church's Vision Team members listened attentively to the presentation.

    They were deeply troubled by the cruel and atrocious acts of persecution perpetrated upon Falun Gong practitioners in China. They had asked practitioners to give a 10-minute presentation, but kept listening and asking questions for over 30 minutes.

    Mr. Jack Johnston introduced the two Falun Dafa practitioners to the Vision Team and shared with everyone about his own background as a martial arts student and his understanding of the benefits of Qi-gong.

    After the presentation the Church Vision Team members were visibly shaken by what they had learned from the two practitioners. They warmly thanked the practitioners and said they would do what they could to help stop these atrocities. Mr. Johnston accompanied the practitioners to their cars and said, "My hope is that this eventually gets to the World Council of Churches, introduced from our national office."