(Clearwisdom.net) On January 8, 2005, nearly 4,000 Falun Gong practitioners from all over Taiwan and overseas gathered at the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial in spite of the cold weather and drizzle. The practitioners held photos, banners, and posters showing the Jiang faction's brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. They formed a six-kilometer-long "Great Wall of Justice" in Taipei, to call for an end to the persecution. There were seven trucks with live anti-torture exhibitions (torture reenactments) moving along East Chonghsiao Road, which touched many residents along the roadside.
The Falun Dafa Association of Taiwan held a press conference at 10:30 a.m. Attendees included Mr. Chang Ching-his, Director of the Falun Dafa Association of Taiwan, Ms. Chu Wanchi, representative of Attorneys for Global Trial of Jiang Zemin, and Mr. Liu Binghua, General Secretary of the Taiwan Association for Rescuing Falun Gong Practitioners Being Persecuted. Reporters from many media including AP, Taiwan TV, China TV, and Education Radio Broadcasting Station covered the event. On January 9, there will be a Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference held in Taipei at the International Trade Center and about 5,000 practitioners are expected to attend.
Nineteen Practitioners Tortured to Death Every Month in China, the Biggest Human Rights Persecution in the 21st Century
Based on Clearwisdom.net, from July 1999 to January 2, 2005, at least 1,247 practitioners have been tortured to death and there are 19 deaths on average each month. The average age of the practitioners killed is 46 years old. The number of deaths is still escalating and the actual numbers are far more than the verified death cases. Among the deaths, there were 643 women (51.56%) of which 27 sexually assaulted to death, with an average age of 47; 593 men (47.55%) with an average age of 45; and 11 people (0.88%) of unknown gender. The highest number of death cases occurred in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Sichuan, and Hubei Provinces (listed in order of highest to lowest).
Based on the estimation of the "World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong" (WOIPFG), the Chinese Communist regime embezzles a quarter of China's national income to persecute Falun Gong, including paying a large number of officials in the 610 Office, building labor camps and brainwashing bases throughout China, ordering police to monitor and arrest Falun Gong practitioners, ordering media to defame or slander Falun Gong, and dispatching spies and thugs to harass Falun Gong practitioners around the world.
Mr. Chang Ching-his described the persecution as the worst in the 21st century. Since there were several dozens of millions of Falun Gong practitioners in China before the persecution, if one includes their family members and colleagues who are also affected, the number of people being persecuted may already be well over one hundred million. The torture means are extremely cruel, and the persecution is basically a "policy of genocide."
Jiang Zemin launched the persecution in 1999 and ordered the establishment of the 610 Office to systemically persecute Falun Gong throughout China. He issued the order to "Damage their reputation, bankrupt them financially, destroy them physically" and "No one will be held responsible if Falun Gong practitioners are beaten to death, just count them as suicide" and "No investigation [of any death of a practitioner] is needed, just have the body cremated."
Mr. Chang called on all circles in Taiwan to pay attention to the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners, and appealed to the media to report the facts.
The Worst Human Rights Abuse and Largest Global Human Rights Lawsuit in the 21st Century
Attorney Ms. Zhu Wanchi introduced the lawsuits around the world against the perpetrators, including Jiang Zemin and 17 other high-ranking Chinese officials for their crimes of genocide, torture and crimes against humanity. Forty-seven lawsuits have been filed in 28 countries, with more than 40 attorneys participating in the lawsuits. Lawsuits against Jiang Zemin have been filed in 13 countries.
Ms. Zhu pointed out that there have been successful cases. For example, Zhao Zhifei, Director of the Public Security Bureau of Hubei Province was declared guilty of torture and crimes against humanity. Pan Xinchun, Vice Consul in Toronto for the Chinese Consulate, was found guilty of libel.
Ms. Zhu stressed that this was the biggest global human rights lawsuit since those of World War II. The wining cases indicate that righteous forces are awaking around the world. The groups of attorneys will work hard to have Jiang Zemin tried in international courts. She was optimistic about the lawsuits, since the world's people know of the cruelty and absurdity of the persecution, and righteousness and conscience will surely lead the lawsuits to a successful result.
The Mainland Chinese Wives of Two Taiwanese Citizens Still Imprisoned in China
Mr. Liu Binghua said, "Since the establishment of the 'Taiwan Association to Rescue Falun Gong Practitioners Being Persecuted,' along with 19 other branches around the world, we have initiated the rescue of 1,174 practitioners, including 14 practitioners from Taiwan, through telephone, mailings and other channels. It is gratifying that many of them have been released." But he pointed out that the Mainland Chinese wives of two Taiwanese citizens were still imprisoned in China. He called on Taiwan human rights organizations and the media to help rescue the practitioners still being persecuted.
The Persecution against Righteous Belief Has Never Succeeded
Though it was drizzling in Taipei, Falun Gong practitioners still participated in the "Great Wall of Justice." Practitioners from the south end of Taiwan arrived after midnight to participate in the event. Practitioners from Pingdong came in four tour buses, also at midnight. Many of them were elderly practitioners ranging in ages from 60 to 70 years old. Many new practitioners also participated in the activity. Over 500 came from the central region of Taiwan. One lady holding her baby stood for two hours.
What made them so steadfast?
It is Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong. It is a cultivation practice based on the universal principles of "Truth, Compassion, Tolerance." Since its spread in 1992, over one hundred million people have benefited in health and moral improvement. The practice has been spread to more than 60 countries around the world. Falun Gong has won more than 1,200 awards worldwide. However, it is being brutally persecuted in China. Taiwanese Falun Gong practitioners formed the "Great Wall of Justice" to call on all people to help end the persecution.
"Great Wall of Justice" in front of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial |
"Great Wall of Justice" at a business area on East Chonghsiao Road |
Motorcycle riders watch the Falun Gong exercise demonstration
Local People's Righteous and Kind Actions
A passer-by saw the live anti-torture exhibition and asked in surprise, "What's happened?" Practitioners told him about the torture being used to persecute Falun Gong practitioners in China and said the exhibition was only the tip of the iceberg. The passer-by said, "It is too cruel."
A practitioner took a cab to take footage of the event. The driver asked what the activity was all about and did not agree with the effect after being told. The practitioner clarified the truth to him from another angle. The driver then read the truth-clarification literature and said, "They are only practicing qigong, why persecute them?" Later he asked, "Is there a practice site near Tucheng? I want to learn." In the end the driver did not want to accept the cab fee but only charged for gas (half of the total price). He asked the practitioner to use the money to conduct other anti-persecution activities.
An elderly lady was moved after seeing the Great Wall of Justice in the light rain. She knew that Falun Gong is good after learning the facts. She wanted to give her water bottle to the practitioners, and after she left, she came back later, to watch again.
People from South Africa also saw the Great Wall of Justice. One woman said that she had heard of Falun Gong in South Africa and asked whether there would be an experience sharing conference the next day. She said she would come and attend.
Shop owners and employees nearby knew that Falun Dafa is good and understood the purpose of the activity after practitioners clarified the truth to them. They invited the practitioners to come into their shops to drink some water.
At each intersection where there were many people passing by, practitioners held banners with the words, "Falun Dafa is great." A practitioners named Chen said, "I heard the motorcycle riders read, 'Falun Dafa is great' when they passed by."
People from South Africa asked about the Falun Dafa cultivation experience sharing conference |
Clarifying the truth on the street |
Forming Words, Demonstrating Falun Gong Exercises and Sending New Year's Greetings to Master Li
On the square in front of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial, practitioners formed the words and Chinese characters, "Righteous Fa" and "Falun Dafa," and demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises. Many audience members were interested and took photos. The activity was concluded after the practitioners said together, "We wish Master Li a Happy New Year."
Near 4,000 practitioners form the words, "Righteous Fa" and "Falun Dafa" |
The event was concluded after practitioners wished Master Li a Happy New Year |
Category: Rallies & Protests