Monday, Jul 21, 2003

Activists practice Falun Gong exercises during an event in Taipei's Ta-an Park yesterday to protest against China's suppression of the movement. The Taiwan Falun Dafa [Association] held a memorial service yesterday to highlight its appeal for people to file lawsuits against Chinese President [Jiang] for genocide.

"However, we are not able to accuse Jiang in Taiwan because there is no Taiwanese law against genocide," said Chang Ching-hsi, director of the [association].

The [association] held a memorial ceremony yesterday at Ta-an Forest Park for the Chinese Falun Gong members who suffered during [ Jiang regime's] crackdown on the group on July 20, 1999. The institute has held a memorial service every year since 2000.

To support Falun Gong members who are persecuted in China, the institute has appealed for public support for a global trial of Jiang on genocide charges.

Jiang ordered a crackdown on Falun Gong on July 20, 1999 and large-scale arrests began shortly afterward.

Two days later, Jiang banned the practice altogether, but this did not stop people in China from practicing Falun Gong exercises.

Chang, who is a professor in the economics department at National Taiwan University, said official statistics show that some 700 Falun Gong members have died from [ Jiang regime's] abuse, but the actual figure could be as high as 7,000.

About 500 Falun Gong members showed up for yesterday's ceremony, all dressed in yellow t-shirts emblazoned with slogans such as "Falun Dafa Is Good" During the event, Falun Gong exercises were performed and taught, its music sung and films played.

Representatives from the KMT, DPP and TSU attended the ceremony as well as prominent literary figures such as Contemporary Monthly magazine's editor-in-chief Chin Heng-wei.

Falun Gong member Yang Ching-tsung said colleagues were concerned about the persecution of their fellow members in China.

"Sometimes we send mail and make telephone calls to the relevant authorities or organizations to tell them about our concerns," Yang said.

A similar commemoration ceremony was held in Kaohsiung yesterday.

"We hope that we can get public support for a global trial for Jiang," said Yu Chih-jung the Falun Gong member in charge of the Kaohsiung event.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/07/21/2003060278