(Clearwisdom.net) On July 20, 2008, more than 1,000 Falun Gong practitioners and groups of non-practitioners who support human rights gathered on the Mingcheng Park Square, next to the Big-Egg in Kauhsiung. They rallied against Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of Chinese people-- especially Falun Gong practitioners-- and in support of the 40,000,000 brave Chinese who have quit the CCP and its affiliated associations.
The Divine Land Marching Band and Tianwei Drum Team, with all members being Falun Gong practitioners, played "Falun Dafa is Good," "The Drumbeat of the Fa" and other Falun Gong songs. Some recorded messages from people who had quit the CCP were played. Many local prominent people attended the event, organized by the Quit-the-CCP Service Center. They wanted to show their support for the quitting the CCP movement, tell the world about the brutal persecution of practitioners and call for an end to the persecution.
In the evening a candlelight vigil was held in memory of those practitioners who were killed as a result of torture by the CCP.
More than 1,000 people from southern Taiwan rally against the CCP's persecution
Speakers at the event included Professor Yang Showing, a representative of the Quit-the-CCP Service Center, Mr. Ye Nanming, deputy magistrate of Kaohsiung County, Cheng Cheng-iok, executive director of the Taiwan Southern Society, Chou Te-ping, former national policy advisor, and Liu Shen, member of Amnesty International in Taiwan. They said that the persecution of Falun Gong is the persecution of the Chinese people and it must be stopped immediately.
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Calling on all to Quit the CCP and Stop the Persecution
Professor Yang said that quitting the CCP is the most peaceful and effective way to stop the CCP from persecuting its people. It's been nine years since July 1999, the time when the former Chinese head of state Jiang Zemin started the suppression of Falun Gong. It is still going strong. Besides illegally removing organs from live practitioners and selling them for profit, the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) found proof that many practitioners are tortured in prisons, forced labor camps, and detention centers in China.
Despite having been awarded the Olympics for promising to improve human rights, the CCP shows no sign of improving human rights in China. Instead, it intensified its suppression of dissidents and practitioners. More than 40 million people have quit the CCP. Professor Yang called on all justice-minded people in the world to support the movement of quitting the CCP and help to stop the persecution.
Taiwan's Freedom Should Be an Example for China
Ye Nanming, deputy magistrate of Kaohsiung County, said that he admired the Falun Gong practitioners because of their courage. He feels deep sympathy for them because of the brutal persecution in China. Ye hoped there would be more activities overseas to support practitioners in China to relieve the pressure. Ye said that the government in Taiwan respects basic human rights. People in Taiwan enjoy freedom of speech. When Chinese tourists come to Taiwan, they envy that the Taiwanese can elect their president and at the same time criticize him. The Taiwanese people have freedom of association and the government allows groups such as Falun Gong to have freedom of belief. Taiwanese people are not persecuted, unlike Chinese people who need to use an alias to quit the CCP to avoid being persecuted. Ye hopes China can learn from Taiwan and allow freedom to all.
Respects Falun Gong Practitioners' Steadfast and Unyielding Spirits
Cheng Hsin-Chu, Kaohsiung City Councilor, is a Buddhist. Cheng said Buddhists should be against the CCP because it advocates atheism. He had read the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and understood the CCP's brutality and evilness. He believed Falun Gong has clearly realized the CCP's true nature and it's a good thing that there are practitioners in Taiwan so they can provide references for the Taiwan government's Chinese policy setting.
Cheng said, "I am a host of a radio show and we broadcast to China. I am willing to help practitioners to clarify the truth of the persecution. I admire their steadfast and unyielding spirit."
Support of Falun Gong is the Only Way to Save the Chinese People
Former national policy advisor Chou Te-ping was proud to join such a meaningful activity. He believed there will be more people quitting the CCP because it's a party that enjoys killing and does not respect human rights and freedom. He blamed the CCP for destroying Chinese culture and called on the Taiwan government to support Falun Gong, for it's the only way to help fellow Chinese people.
Over A Million People Sign Global Petition Against Persecution
Cheng Cheng
-iok, executive director of the Taiwan Southern Society, said CIPFG, a non-profit global human rights group, initiated an activity "Global Petition Against Persecution" earlier this year. It is to collect over a million signatures to speak out for Falun Gong. By July 19, 2008, there were over 1.1 million people from 126 countries who signed the petition. This could be the largest activity in recent years that protests the CCP's persecution.Liu Shen, member of Amnesty International in Taiwan, spoke of the severity of the CCP's suppression of Chinese people and how most people in China hate the CCP. Liu asked people in Taiwan to better understand the CCP's tyranny and to maintain their precious freedom and democracy in Taiwan.
Do Not Go to China for Organ Transplants
Mr. Hsu, who worked at Formosa Plastics, said he knew China banned Falun Gong. His cousin practiced Falun Gong and he learned from her that the CCP killed many practitioners in order to obtain their organs so they could make a lot of money. He called on people not to go to China to have an organ transplant because the procedures are not up to par and it is dangerous.
Have Not Seen Such a Peaceful Group in 20 Years
Officer Huang has been a policeman for 20 years. He said, "I know Falun Gong practices Truth-Compassion-Tolerance. This is the most peaceful group I have come across. If everyone practiced Falun Gong, then there would be no need for police. Modern society's deteriorating morality is the reason for problems in the public order. I hope more people can practice Falun Gong, as that will cut down a lot of my workload. Police in Taiwan protect people's lives and property and the most basic human rights. It is unbelievable that the police in China help the CCP to persecute the people. I know about live organ removals from practitioners. This is absolutely not allowed in democratic countries." Officer Huang called on the police in China to clearly discern good and evil and stop persecuting practitioners for profit.
People Should Stand Up to Stop The CCP From Removing Organs from Live Practitioners
Ms. Huang, a teacher, noticed that Falun Gong practitioners looked very healthy, energetic and friendly. She said she supports the activity and wanted to read the book Zhuan Falun.
Mr. Lin is a businessman. He said he had a friend who went to China to have a kidney transplant. He passed away shortly after he returned to Taiwan because his body rejected the kidney. He'd seen reports on TV about the CCP's illegal sale of practitioners' organs. He hoped Taiwan can make laws that forbid Taiwanese from traveling to China for organ transplants. He thanked practitioners for holding this activity to clarify the truth.
Mr. Fu said he knows about Falun Gong from a friend of his. "They are a group of people who follow Truth-Compassion-Tolerance and are selfless. The practice is good for individuals, for a society and a country," said Fu.
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Caption: People happily accept truth clarification materials and paper lotus flowers.
Category: Rallies & Protests
