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Media Coverage of the Arrest of Taiwan Falun Gong Practitioner Chun Ting-pang in China

June 24, 2012 |  

(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioner Chung Ting-pang, manager of Hsinchu High Tech Company, went to visit relatives in Jiangxi Province, China, on June 15. On his way back to Taiwan he was seized by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) police at Ganzhou Airport to have him “assist in the investigation of Falun Gong.” Media outlets in Taiwan expressed concern over the safety of Taiwanese in China.

MSN News Channel: Taiwanese practicing Falun Gong is arrested by CCP

On June 22, the MSN news channel reported Mr. Chung’s arrest in a report titled “Taiwanese Practicing Falun Gong is Arrested by CCP.” The report stated that Chung Ting-pang, manager of Hsinchu High Tech Company and a Falun Gong practitioner, went to visit relatives in Jiangxi Province on June 15. CCP police at Ganzhou Airport arrested him on his way back to Taiwan, to have him "assist in the investigation of Falun Gong members." Mr. Chung’s family, accompanied by legislative council members and a Taiwan Falun Dafa Association representative, held a press conference on June 22 at the Legislative Council and urged the government to contact mainland authorities to release him.

Mr. Chung’s wife said that Mr. Chung is 53 years old and has one son and one daughter. He is honest and always kind to others. His father, a veteran, came to Taiwan in 1949 and passed away 15 years ago. Mr. Chung has two half-brothers in China and often provides assistance to them. Mr. Chung has practiced Falun Gong for some time.

Mr. Chung’s wife said, “My husband was scheduled to return to Taiwan on June 18. After his relatives saw him off at the Ganzhou Airport, he has not had any contact with his family in Taiwan. His relatives looked for him through different relations and discovered that local police had taken him away. The reason for his unlawful detention is that he was needed to ‘assist in the investigation of Falun Gong.'” She said, “Don’t kill my husband.”

Mr. Chung’s mother urged the government to help her son. She wept and said, “I wish the mainland would release my son soon. Falun Dafa is great. It is not wrong to practice Falun Gong. Falun Gong should not be persecuted in China.”

The Taiwan Falun Dafa Association also issued a list of 14 instances of Taiwan practitioners being arrested or sentenced in China. Director Chang Ching-hsi said that the longest imprisonment was for Cheng Xi. She returned to Shenzhen to visit relatives in 2002 and was imprisoned for four years. Officials in China involved in arresting Falun Gong practitioners get promoted. Legislative Council Member You Mei-nu said it was ridiculous that when governments across the strait talked about agreeing on safety, there was an active case.

Apple Daily: Falun Gong practitioner detained in China, family members demand release

Hong Kong's Apple Daily reported on June 22 that Chung Ting-pang visited relatives in Jiangxi on June 15 and was taken away by National Security Bureau personnel to “assist in the investigation of Falun Gong.” No one knows his whereabouts. Mr. Chung’s mother and wife, and Legislative Council Members Cheng Li-chun and You Mei-nu held a press conference, urging the government to step forward to rescue him.

Central News

Central News reported on June 22 that Taiwan businessman Chung Ting-pang’s family said that Mr. Chung went to China to visit relatives on June 15. He was scheduled to return to Taiwan on June 18 but appeared to have been detained by police. His family called on the government to rescue him.

Ma Shao-chang, deputy secretary-general of the Strait Exchange Foundation, said in an interview after receiving the petition from Mr. Chung’s family on the morning of June 19, that the the foundation had sent a letter to the mainland's Association for Cross-Strait Relations, and requested assistance from the mainland authorities.

Voice of America

Voice of America reported that Legislative Council member You Mei-nu, who follows human rights issues across the straits, said Mr. Chung’s family did not know of his plight or whereabouts. It was ridiculous that when governments across the strait talk about agreeing to invest in safety, there was an active “violation.”

She said, “We call on Ma’s government to ensure the personal safety of Taiwan people in China if we are to sign an agreement to invest in safety.”

Taipei Times

Taipei Times reported that regarding Chung Ting-pang’s arrest in China, Legislative Council member Cheng Li-chun urged the CCP to respect freedom of belief and release Chung Ting-pang unconditionally. She called on Taiwan’s Ma government to safeguard the safety of Taiwanese in China.