(Clearwisdom.net) On August 2, 2007, the Asian Chapter of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) held press conferences in five countries to announce the details of the Human Rights Torch Relay. The purpose of the Human Rights Torch Relay is to expose the persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and call upon the international community to help stop the persecution. The Human Rights Torch will be lit in Athens, Greece on August 9, 2007.

Lai Ching-te (middle), chair of the Asian chapter of CIPFG and a Legislative Member

The press conference in TaiwanAt the press conference in Taipei, Lai Ching-te, the chair of the Asian chapter of CIPFG and a Legislative Member, pointed out that the persecution of Falun Gong is still going on, even though the CCP regime is planning to hold the Olympic Games in 2008. The CCP has even strengthened its inspection and control over different groups, including Falun Gong practitioners, media reporters, non-governmental organizations, etc.

Hsu Hsingche, the former chief of the department of health, expressed that according to the CCP's rules, more than 90% of Taiwanese could not go to the Olympic Games, and many other justice loving people in the world could not go either. He called upon people to boycott the Olympic Games in 2008.

Hsu Hsingche, the former chief of the department of health in Taiwan

Tian Chiujin, a Legislative Member in Taiwan

Chou Meili, representative of Friends of Tubo in Taiwan

Two members of CIPFG, Legislative Members Cai Tongrong and Tian Chiujin; the representative of the Tibetan Association in Taiwan, and the representative of Friends of Tubo also attended the press conference.

The Asian chapter of CIPFG introduced the theme song of the Human Rights Torch Relay. Huang Xiaomin, the winner of the silver medal in the women's swimming at the 1988 Olympics, Mârtiò?Rubenis from Latvia, the winner of the bronze medal in the men's singles luge event at the 2006 Winter Olympics, will carry the torch for Europe, Jan Becker, a former Australian Olympic swimmer and Chen Kai, a former Chinese national basketball team member will carry the torch in Asia, Europe, Australia and America. The torch will arrive in Taiwan in June 2008.

At the press conference in Hong Kong, Szeto Wah, the vice chair of the Asian chapter of CIPFG and the chair of The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, pointed out that the purpose of the Human Rights Torch Relay is to stop the human rights violations in China. Szeto Wah said that it is an honor for the Hong Kong people that Hong Kong is one of the areas the torch relay will go through.

Leung Kwok-hung, a member of CIPFG and Legislative Member, said that it is a shame that the Olympic Games will be held by the CCP, a party which has killed millions of people.

Leung Kwok-hung, a member of CIPFG and a Legislative Member

Lin Zijian, a member of CIPFG and a Legislative Member

Lin Zijian, a member of CIPFG and a Legislative Member, pointed out that the relay manifests the conscience of humanity. He said: "I hope the Human Rights Torch Relay will raise more awareness of human rights violations in China."

Li Jianruan, a member of CIPFG from Macao, pointed out that the CCP didn't keep its promise of improving the human rights situation. He said: "Many dissidents are being persecuted in China. This conflicts with the Olympic spirit and will make 2008 the Blood-stained Olympics. This will be a shame."

Li Jianruan, a member of CIPFG from Macao

The Asian chapter of CIPFG will hold a "Human Rights Torch Night" in Taipei on August 10, so that more people will pay attention to the human rights violations in China.

CIPFG is a global non-governmental organization that was founded in 2006. It has four chapters in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America and more than 300 members. Rabbi Dr. Reuven Bulka, religious leader and scholar, Chairman of the Organ Donation Committee of the Kidney Foundation for Eastern Ontario, Canada, Lai Ching-te, a member of the Legislative Yuan in Taiwan, Baroness Caroline Cox, Member of the House of Lords (UK), and Andrew Bartlett, Australian Democrats Senator, are the Chairs of CIPFG Chapters in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia.

Since it was founded, CIPFG has been calling on the Chinese government to stop the persecution and open the gates for independent investigators, but has never received a response from the Chinese government.

The evidence shows that the persecution of Falun Gong in China is still going on. More than 50% of prisoners in labor camps in China are said to be Falun Gong practitioners.The Human Rights Torch Relay initiated by the CIPFG is supported by many organizations, including Canadian Students for Darfur, Network for Human Rights in China (Denmark), International Society for Human Rights (Germany), Doctors Against Organ Harvesting (USA). More and more Chinese people and Chinese non-governmental organizations are getting involved too.