(Minghui.org) Twelve hundred Falun Gong practitioners gathered on Taipei Civic Square on April 21, 2019, to commemorate the April 25 peaceful appeal in Beijing. They did the exercises and informed people of the ongoing persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Several Taipei city council members attended the event and condemned the CCP's atrocities.
Over 1000 Falun Gong practitioners gathered to practice the exercises on Taipei Civic Square to commemorate the 20th anniversary of April 25th appeal.
Chang Chin-hua, director of the Taiwan Falun Dafa Association.
Chang Chin-hua, director of the Taiwan Falun Dafa Association said that the CCP attempted to slander Falun Gong by claiming the peaceful appeal was a siege on the government compound. The CCP used the appeal as an excuse to initiate the persecution on July 20, 1999, and continues the brutality today.
She said that, sadly, throughout these 20 years, hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been arrested, imprisoned, and tortured or killed. Despite the intense persecution, they have persisted in their spiritual belief, follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and continue to raise awareness of the persecution.
City Councilor Chang Mao-nan: Admires Practitioners' Spirit
City Councilor Chang Mao-nan condemned the CCP's atrocities.
Taipei city councilor Chang Mao-nan expressed his admiration for the practitioners' persistence. He said, “Falun Gong practitioners are very righteous and have persevered in their efforts to inform people of the persecution.”
He condemned the CCP's persecution and it's state-sanctioned organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners. He said he supported the practitioners and promised he would continue to do so in the future.
City Councilor Hong Chian-yi Stands with Falun Gong
City Councilor Hong Chian-yi
City Councilor Hong Chian-yi has been serving the public for 13 years. This is the 12th year he's participated in the rally to raise awareness of the persecution. He said that by sanctioning organ harvesting from living practitioners, the CCP violates human rights.
He said that he is not afraid of the CCP regime and he stands with Falun Gong practitioners. He called on more people to support practitioners' efforts and condemn the Party.
Hsinchu County Councilor Yu Hsiao-ching: The CCP's Persecution Destroys Families
Hsinchu County Councilor Yu Hsiao-ching.
Hsinchu County Councilor Yu Hsiao-ching traveled a long distance to attend the event. She said, “The peaceful appeal 20 years ago was used as an excuse to initiate the CCP's large scale arrest of Falun Gong practitioners. Many families have been ripped apart. Many children have become homeless.”
She said, “Taiwan people enjoy freedom and should never trust the CCP.”
Chinese Tourists Stop to Watch the Rally
Chinese tourists stopped to watch the rally and take photos.
The practitioners' solemn and peaceful commemoration of that historic event attracted passersby. Many paused; some took photos; others wished to learn more and read the information.
Groups of Chinese tourists walked past the solemn gathering. Some stopped by after visiting Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall or the Taipei 101 building. Others came from the Taipei 101 building and walked across Civic Square to the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall. Impressed by the large group of practitioners, some loudly exclaimed, “Falun Gong!”
As the Chinese tourists traversed Civic Square many tour guides explained that, “This is freedom of belief, speech, and assembly, freedoms which are legal and enjoyed in Taiwan.”
Category: April 25 Events
