(Minghui.org) Chen Yunlin, Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) Association for Relations across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), arrived in Taiwan on September 10 leading a cultural and creativity delegation. According to Taiwan Today, the visit was to involve exchanges on animation, film, music and television. As soon as they deplaned, the delegation faced protests from people of all walks of life.
Falun Gong practitioners hold up banners worded “Falun Dafa is great” in the airport terminal on the afternoon of September 10, as Chen Yunlin, Chairman of ARATS, and his delegation arrived to visit Taiwan.
Chairman Huang Kun-hui of the Taiwan Solidarity Union Party stated there is no religious freedom in mainland China. Armed police are stationed in Tibetan monasteries. Buddhist monks are forced to undergo "patriotic education" and are subjected to arbitrary arrests. The severe repression has caused a number of monks and other Tibetans to carry out self-immolation in protest. Since last year, over fifty self-immolations have occurred. The CCP not only persecutes Buddhists, but also Christians, especially those who are part of the underground church. Ironically, the ARATS delegation was to visit religious groups in Taiwan.
Canceling scheduled itinerary due to protests
Formosa TV reported that Chen Yunlin was scheduled to visit Huashan Park and Songshan Cultural and Creative Park on the afternoon of September 11. However, because of protests outside the parks by several hundred Falun Gong practitioners and other groups, Chen Yunlin cancelled the two trips under the pretext of a health issue. Other members of his delegation visited the parks as scheduled but entered via a side gate.
On the afternoon of September 11, Falun Gong practitioners and other groups staged a peaceful protest at Huashan Park, which Chen Yunlin planned to visit.
Falun Gong practitioner Lee Chiu-hua, a retired financial officer for a computer company, said, “Falun Dafa is great. Everyone has freedom of belief. Chen Yunlin should feel the Taiwan people’s kindness. So many law-abiding people practice Falun Gong. They should ponder, why does the CCP persecute Falun Gong? Why can't people in mainland China have freedom of belief?”
Chen Che of Human Rights Front initiated protests against Chen Yunlin through Facebook and other social media platforms. He called for protests in places that Chen Yunlin planned to visit. Chen Che said, “We object to Chen Yunlin and his delegation coming to Taiwan for a cultural exchange because the CCP is autocratic and totalitarian and CCP culture is full of lies and fake politics. We also protest Taiwan and the CCP engaging in such a deep level of cultural exchange. It is unwise.”
Huang Wen-ling, organizer of the Taiwan Solidarity Union Party, said that Taiwan has freedom of belief and freedom of speech, which do not exist in mainland China.
Chen Yunlin encounters Falun Gong practitioners wherever he visits
On the morning of September 12, Falun Gong practitioners held a protest in front of the Taoyuan Culture Bureau where Chen Yunlin planned to visit. A police officer surnamed Lin said that the Taiwanese people have become more rational and peaceful in their appeals and protests, which is an indication of Taiwan’s democracy becoming mature. Cheng Ju-hsiu, assistant to Legislative Council Member Luo Wen-Chin, said that Falun Gong practitioners would be arrested in Beijing if they expressed their requests like this [calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong in China]. Cheng said that this shows the biggest difference across the straits.
Falun Gong practitioners call out, “Falun Dafa is great! Stop persecuting Falun Gong!” in front of the Taoyuan Culture Bureau.
Chen Yunlin flew to Hualian on September 13. Falun Gong practitioners held banners along a stretch of road two hundred meters long outside the airport and called out, “Falun Dafa is great,” and, “Stop persecuting Falun Gong,” as the delegation's motorcade passed by. The protest was covered by reporters from Public Television and the Liberty Times.
Chen Yunlin’s motorcade encounters Falun Gong practitioners’ peaceful protest outside Hualian Airport (photograph by Liberty Times)
Chen Yunlin arrived at Hualian on the morning of September 13. When his motorcade left the airport, Falun Gong practitioners were present along the road outside the airport.
On the morning of September 14, practitioners stood along the highway and displayed large banners worded “Stop the persecution of Falun Gong” and “Bring Jiang Zemin, Luo Gan, Liu Jing and Zhou Yongkang to justice”
On September 14, the CCP delegation visited Chung Tai Chan Monastery. Along the highway to the monastery, Falun Gong practitioners held large banners worded “Stop the persecution of Falun Gong” and “Bring Jiang Zemin, Luo Gan, Liu Jing and Zhou Yongkang to justice.” Central News, Apple Daily and other media outlets interviewed a number of Falun Gong practitioners at the protest site.
Many media outlets cover Falun Gong practitioners’ protests
Formosa TV reported that Chen Yunlin visited the Taoyuan Culture Center on the afternoon of September 12, where approximately 70 to 80 Falun Gong practitioners protested the CCP outside the venue. In addition, County Council Members from the Democratic Progress Party held signs to protest Chen Yunlin.
Other media outlets including the Public TV station, Liberty Times, Central News, and Apple Daily also covered the practitioners’ protests.
Kaohsiung City Council member supports the protests
Regarding Chen Yunlin’s visit to Taiwan, Kaohsiung City Council Member Chen Li-na said, “For thirteen years, the CCP has persecuted Falun Gong practitioners, and even conducts live organ harvesting from them. Our government should pay attention to such bloody atrocities. Any economic and cultural exchange across the straits should not exclude human rights issues.”
Chen Li-na thought that Chen Yunlin and his delegation should listen to the voice of the Taiwanese people. Falun Gong practitioners’ protests has let the CCP know that the rest of the world cannot accept or tolerate the persecution.
Category: Rallies & Protests
