Taipei Welcomes Human Rights Torch Relay, Calls for End to Persecution

(Clearwisdom.net) After arriving in Taiwan on June 1, 2008 and traveling through 23 counties and cities in Taiwan, the Human Rights Torch Relay, organized by the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG), arrived in Taipei County at 3:00 p.m. on the 15th of June. Officials from seven townships greeted the torch. This was the last stop in Taiwan before the torch travels to Japan.

Several hundred people attended the event, which took place at the Banqiao Sports Center in Taipei County. More than 300 members from the Taipei County Jogging Association escorted the torch during the six mile run through the rain. When the torch was passed to Araki Hiroko, the representative from Japan, the rain stopped and a colorful rainbow appeared in the sky. Attendees included CIPFG member Tien Chiuchin, County Congressmen Wang Chingyuen and Lin Hsiuhui, Vice Chair of the Panchiao City Council Chang Hungming, and well-known political commentator Lin Paohua.

The Human Rights Torch Relay arrived in Taipei County, its last stop in Taiwan

The Human Rights Torch Relay started after a heavy rainfall. More than 300 runners ran through crowded regions of Banqiao

County Congressman Mr. Wang Cingyuen

County Congresswoman Ms. Lin Hsiuhui

Political Commentator Mr. Lin Paohua

Vice Chair of the Banqiao City Council Mr. Chang Hungming

Secretary to the Mayor of Banqiao City Chiang Huichen

Focusing on the CCP's Suppression of Human Rights

During the two weeks of the Human Rights Torch Relay's journey through Taiwan, many people, regardless of their political affiliation, showed their support, including officials from Yilan County, Pingtungg County, Kaohsiung County, Penghu County, Yunlin County, Tainan City, Hualien County and Hsinchu County. Every one of them focused on the suppression of human rights in China.

Mr. Lai Chingte, Tainan City Council Member and director of the Asia Branch of the CIPFG, spoke about the warm response received by the torch in Taiwan. He said that the support showed the hearts of the people. "The Chinese government may try to use economic benefits to attract certain international collaborators, but they will only win the support from the international community after they improve their human rights," he said.

The Truth Cannot be Hidden Forever, the Evil CCP Must be Exposed

Lawyer Chiu Huangchuan, deputy director of the Asia Branch of the CIPFG, has traveled to several towns with the torch. He believes that human rights have no boundaries. He said that the Olympic Torch cannot come to Taiwan due to political reasons, but the human rights torch can, and the Taiwanese people are fortunate because of this. He emphasized that peace cannot be built on compromise but should be on the basis of fairness, justice and human rights. He hopes that the Human Rights Torch Relay will expose the facts of the CCP's persecution of human rights and let the Taiwanese government know the evil nature of the CCP. He feels it is paramount to pay attention to the human rights problem in China, and not sacrifice or ignore human rights.

Chiu Huangchuan, deputy director of the Asia branch of the CIPFG

Tien Chiuchin, congressman and member of the Asia branch of the CIPFG

Since May 17, the CCP has conducted a series of violent attacks in Flushing, New York against volunteer workers at the Center for Quitting the CCP and they also made false accusations against Falun Gong practitioners. On this issue, Lawyer Chiu said that the Flushing incident allowed the general public to better see the true colors of the CCP and he condemned these acts of the CCP. He said that only the truth has value. The truth will be known eventually and the true evil nature of the CCP will be brought to light. "Truth can not be hidden forever," said Lawyer Chiu.

Mr. Chen, a financial businessman, happened to pass by the rally site and watched the torch passing ceremony. He said afterwards, "There is no other government in the world like the CCP, which so cruelly persecutes its own people. They are using the opportunity of the Olympics to carry out more persecution."

Mr. Chen knew about the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, including their crimes of organ harvesting. "There is no government that is more dishonorable, to the extent of organ harvesting from living people. It is such a pity that other governments keep quiet in order to protect their own economic interests. The CCP is using China's big market as bait," said Mr. Chen. He gave a thumbs up to the Falun Gong practitioners who continue to clarify the truth to people. Mr. Chen believes that activities such as the torch relay are very meaningful, and helpful for people to know what the CCP is about.

Condemning the CCP's Export of "Red Violence"

Ms. Tien Chiuchin, a representative of the Asia Branch of the CIPFG, spoke at the press conference. She stated: "The Olympics and crimes against humanity cannot coexist."

In discussing the CCP's use of spies to inspire hatred toward Falun Gong practitioners among overseas Chinese, Ms. Tien said it is despicable that the CCP uses deceit in an attempt to frame Falun Gong. Some innocent people thus made a wrong judgment due to false information.

She used an example from a show on the Discovery channel, which showed an interview with a former East German soldier who explained that the Communist Party always used the method of blocking information to control people. At that time, the soldiers who were guarding the Berlin Wall had no idea what was happening in the outside world. Even right before the collapse of the Wall, they were still receiving orders to kill anyone who tried to go over the wall. Someone from the crowd of hundreds threw a newspaper to them, and only at that time,did the soldiers discover the truth, and they felt so sorrowful and ashamed.

Ms. Tien appealed to those in Flushing, who were tricked by the CCP, to look at things rationally. They should ask themselves why some people (Falun Gong practitioners), who could be carefree and simply enjoy their lives in a free country, would stand there and try to save those people far away by staffing the Service Center for Quitting the CCP day after day. She said, "Calm down and listen to them, observe and consider whether they are reasonable, in order to avoid the sorrow and shame later on, as those soldiers from former East Germany did."

Referring to those who masterminded the Flushing attacks, Ms. Tien said that it is also borne out from historic experience that good is rewarded with good and evil meets retribution. She exhorted people stand with the good in order to ensure a good future.

Political commentator Lin Paohua, whose pen name is Ling Feng, attended the torch relay event in Banqiao. Mr. Lin said that as the Beijing Olympics is approaching; the CCP will be using all kinds of methods to disguise their persecution of human rights. The killings in Tibet in March, and the violence in Flushing, have shown that the CCP is not improving; on the contrary, it is getting worse and worse.

Seven Townships Support the Human Rights Torch Relay and Call for an End to Persecution

Before the ceremony, the torch relay toured through seven townships including Yonghe City, Jinshan Township, Sanjhih Township, Dansheui Town, Wugu Township, Sinjhuang City and Shulin City. Officials from the seven townships greeted the torch relay.

Shulin City Mayor Chen Shihjung greeting the Human Rights Torch Relay

Director of Jinshan Township, Governor Hsu Shue

Mr. Wang Chuncheng, the first secretary of Mr. Chen Mingi, Taipei County Congressman

Mr. Lin Chiachin, secretary for the director of Wugu Township, calling upon the CCP to respect human rights and end the persecution

Director Hsu Shue, representing the Jinshan Township governor, greeted the torch. Ms. Hsu said that the Jinshan Township has a small population, and they felt honored that the Human Rights Torch Relay could pass through their county. She heard about the persecution of Falun Gong from the media and she repeatedly said that the persecution should not be allowed.

Mr. Lin Chiachin represented the director of Wugu Township. Mr. Lin said that people in Wugu Township all know that Falun Gong is a cultivation method which improves health and purifies one's mind. They cannot agree with the CCP's crimes against humanity, including their persecution of true cultivation, and illegal organ harvesting. Mr. Lin said he hopes the Chinese government can respect human rights and stop the persecution of Falun Gong and their supporters.

Mr. Chen Shihjung, Mayor of Shulin City, said he is glad the torch came to his city. Mr. Chen supports Falun Gong, and he believes the CCP started the persecution only because they thought there were too many people practicing Falun Gong and the CCP is afraid of its power being challenged. [Editor's Note: Falun Gong has no political affiliations or aspirations.] He said that the torch will be in Japan the next day, and he hopes that more people around the world will come to support Falun Gong.

After the next stop in Japan, the Human Rights Torch Relay is expected to arrive in South Korea on July 2, in Macao on July 18, and will reach its last stop in Hong Kong on July 20, 2008.