(Clearwisdom.net) A group of Falun Gong practitioners quietly lit candles in Xinyi Square in Taipei on the evening of July 20, 2008, to commemorate fellow practitioners who died as a result of the Chinese Communist regime's persecution. They condemned the atrocities and called on the general public to step forward and help end the brutal persecution that has already lasted nine years.

Communist Party head Jiang Zemin, driven by political paranoia, launched the persecution on July 20, 1999, out of envy and resentment for Falun Gong's popularity. Since then, unimaginable cruelties have been inflicted upon this group of people, shocking crimes that are revealing the Communist Party's true nature.

Candlelight vigil with the theme "Calling for Conscience, Ending Persecution" in Taipei on the evening of July 20, 2008

Jiang Zemin issued secret orders: "Ruin their reputations, bankrupt them financially, annihilate them physically," " If you beat them to death, it will be reported as suicide," and "Immediately cremate their bodies without identifying them." As a result, hundreds of thousands of practitioners are savagely tortured inside detention centers, labor camps, prisons, brainwashing centers, and mental hospitals, where they are shocked with electric batons, force-fed feces, deprived of sleep, bombarded with propaganda, sexually assaulted, and injected with nerve-damaging drugs. Even more horrific is the CCP's harvesting of organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. Even now, the Party is trying its best to cover up information, and the names of many victims remain unknown.

Speaking out

Several Taiwan politicians spoke to condemn the persecution during a press conference. To date, the deaths of 3,168 Falun Gong practitioners as a direct result of persecution have been verified, and more brutalities are taking place on a daily basis. According to incomplete statistics collected from several Chinese provinces, 8,037 practitioner arrests took place between December 2007 and June 30, 2008, in complete violation of the Chinese constitution.

Candles form the number 3,168, the number of Falun Gong practitioners who have died as a result of the persecution. A yellow wreath displays the word "Commemoration" in the center.

Lai Ching-Te, a member of the Legislative Yuan and president of CIPFG Asia, spoke at the press conference.

Lai Ching-Te, also a member of the Legislative Yuan, is President of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG). Lai said, "Because the Chinese Communist Party escalated the persecution prior to the Olympics by arresting a large number of Falun Gong practitioners, the CIPFG launched a million-signature movement in early 2008 to gather public support to help end the persecution. So far, 1,150,937 people in 127 countries and speaking 29 different languages have signed the petition, which shows that the force of justice is gaining momentum."

Lai Ching-Te said to a reporter after the press conference, "Falun Gong practitioners follow Truth-Compassion-Tolerance. They do not bother or harm anyone. They do not pursue political power or financial gain. They live in every corner of the world; you may see them in a park or at a community event. They could be your neighbor, your friend, your classmate, or your relative. They are a natural product of a free society, making it apparent that the persecution is completely absurd."

Taipei City Civil Affairs Department Commissioner Huang Lu Ching-Ju

Taipei City Civil Affairs Department Commissioner Huang Lu Ching-Ju attended the press conference and expressed the hope that an activity like the candlelight vigil would generate more public concern and motivate people to learn about the persecution. She also wished Mainland Chinese Falun Gong practitioners a free environment to practice their belief.

Admiration for Falun Gong's selflessness

Taipei City Councilor Lin Yi-Hua expressed her admiration of Falun Gong practitioners for their pursuit of Truth-Compassion-Tolerance and their contribution to social morals. "Nowadays, many people regard self-interest as a top priority, whereas Falun Gong practitioners voluntarily spend vast amounts of time outside of their busy schedules to remind the world of the most important truth. Therefore, I extend to them my utmost respect."

Taipei City Councilor Lin Yi-Hua

Lin Yi-Hua had just returned from a trip to China and saw Cultural Revolution-style propaganda that slandered Falun Gong everywhere, including at main thoroughfares and in narrow alleyways. Even universities, usually regarded as venues that encourage and inspire independent minds, were not spared. After seeing appalling pictures of torture victims at the candlelight vigil, she hoped similar activities could remind the people of Taiwan and the general public to be more aware of the persecution of Falun Gong and hoped that more people would understand and pursue the wonders of Truth-Compassion- Tolerance.

She told the reporter that, although she does not practice Falun Gong, she has many friends who do. She witnessed the incredible health benefits of Falun Gong, because many practitioners look much younger than their actual age and are also energetic and open-minded. She said, "The Falun Gong practitioners I know are pretty low-key. What amazes me is that a large percentage of them are well-accomplished professionals, including many doctors and lawyers. I think there must be something to Falun Gong since it has attracted so many remarkable people in different fields."

She further stated that, although China has a huge economy and looks open on the surface, people's minds are actually closed. The nation opened up financially but did not make any changes in other areas. She emphasized, "We must recognize the Communist Party's true nature in order to understand the facts behind many things." She urged the Taiwanese government and the public not to set up barriers for themselves. She expressed disapproval regarding the recent incidents of Falun Gong banners purposely being obscured and Mainland Chinese tourists being forbidden to get off the bus where Falun Gong practitioners were present. She said, "Freedom and peace are universal values, and it's to our advantage to display those values. Mainland Chinese people should also enjoy these values." She believed Mainland Chinese people would eventually see the treacherous deception of the Communist Party as they are exposed to more facts when they travel the world.

Bring the facts to Mainland China--it'll make your trip worthwhile

Chiu Huang-Chuan, vice president of CIPFG Asia, asked why the Communist Party banned religious activities after having signed international pacts that stipulated, "Freedom of thought, conscience and religion; freedom of information and assembly." "Why does it persecute Falun Gong after having been granted the Olympics; why does it harvest Falun Gong practitioners' organs while preparing for the Olympics? Why do foreigners in China enjoy religious freedom but not the Chinese, especially not the right to practice Falun Gong?"

Chiu Huang-Chuan, lawyer and vice president of CIPFG Asia

Mr. Chiu asked, "Falun Gong is practiced not only in China but in many other countries around the world. Why is it that none of the other governments have a problem with it, but only the Chinese regime is suppressing it? Can the Party answer that? If not, why is it promoting the slogan, 'One Dream, One World?'"

Chiu urged Chinese tourists to get to know the real Falun Gong while in Taiwan and the facts about the Communist Party. He further suggested that they take the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights back to Mainland China. Only then will their trip have been worthwhile. He concluded by saying, "Human rights knows no borders, and justice knows no enemy. I believe we will soon see wrongs being righted through our concern and the dissemination of truth."