(Clearwisdom.net) TAIPEI - It has been ten years since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) first began the persecution of Falun Gong in Mainland China in July 1999. To call on the public to pay attention to the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in China, Taiwanese Falun Gong practitioners held a series of activities near the famous Taipei 101 Building on July 19, 2009. Their goal was to raise public awareness and end the persecution. They hosted a photo exhibit about the persecution and the practitioners' efforts to end it, a parade, a rally calling for an end to the persecution, a candlelight vigil, and a press conference.
Across the street from the Taipei 101 Building, there were eight banners in both English and Chinese that read, "Brutal Torture and Killing Continue in China," "Rescue Falun Gong Practitioners Persecuted in China Now," "Falun Gong Practitioners Follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," "The Chinese Communist Party Persecutes Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," "Falun Dafa Is Great," "The Persecution Can Only End When the Communist Party Is Disintegrated," "The Chinese Are Not Children of Marxism," and "Support the 57 Million Chinese People Who Have Withdrawn From the Communist Party."
The Public Learns the Facts
Passers-by read boards with pictures about the persecution
Hard to imagine such brutal torture
Moved by photos of the persecution
On the other side of Sinyi Plaza, Falun Gong practitioners exhibited photos of the practitioners' 10-year journey against the persecution. Many people have gained a better understanding about Falun Gong, and were shocked by the brutal violence the CCP has carried out against Falun Gong practitioners.
Mr. Wu came just to learn the facts
Mr. Wu came from Hsin-chuang especially to learn the facts about Falun Gong after reading about the event in The Epoch Times. He read the poster boards and listened to the practitioners discuss the persecution. He said with regret that he previously had heard some false reports about Falun Gong, and had some misunderstandings about the practice. He was glad to be able to learn the facts, and thought the trip was well worth it.
A man on the sidewalk read through the poster boards carefully. He was a tourist from Mainland China. He said it was very remarkable that he got to see these photos. He said that all of his friends who practiced Falun Gong were tortured to death, imprisoned, or had disappeared.
Ms. Chen said she had always wanted to learn to practice Falun Gong. She came very early to inquire about group practice sites and the nine-day lecture series. After seeing the photo exhibit, she said she would bring a group of friends to the group practice site to learn the exercises.
Miss Zhang from Los Angeles is a Falun Gong practitioner. Her friend Mr. Jiang, who had never before practiced Falun Gong, came specifically to participate in the activities. He said that he hoped that Mainland Chinese tourists could take home the facts about the persecution. After seeing the health benefits Miss Zhang experienced after she started practicing Falun Gong, Mr. Jiang realized that Falun Gong was indeed a great way for self-improvement. Miss Zhang pointed to the photos of the practitioners who were killed in China and said that she was grateful to those who had persisted in their faith. If it weren't for their efforts, she might not have had a chance to hear about Falun Gong.
Many Taiwanese and Mainland Chinese tourists gathered in front of the Taipei 101 building to watch the Falun Gong parade.
The parade started at 3:30 p.m. More than 1,000 Falun Gong practitioners formed the parade procession, led by the Divine Land Marching Band. Starting from Sinyi Plaza, the procession went through the most popular part of Taipei. Following the Divine Land Marching Band were a group of graceful women dressed up as heavenly maidens. After them were boards displaying the names of 114 countries where Falun Gong is practiced, as well as practitioners demonstrating the exercises. Following them was a group of Falun Gong practitioners dressed all in white, holding photos of the practitioners who have died in the persecution. There was a re-enactment of how the CCP harvests organs of Falun Gong practitioners. All those who watched were shocked. The last section of the parade consisted of practitioners holding banners that condemned the persecution. The main theme of the parade was that the CCP must be disintegrated before the persecution would end.
The sound of the drums and trumpets and the sight of the procession and banners attracted many shoppers and passers-by. Some took photos, some began reading the truth-clarification materials, and some raised questions. Everyone condemned the CCP's violence and the persecution.
The Persecution Must End Immediately
Mr. Du, a resident of Sanchung, carefully read all the banners and display boards. After watching the Falun Gong practitioners in the parade, who were from all walks of life and of all ages, he could not understand why the CCP wants to persecute the peaceful Falun Gong cultivators. He said that all the Falun Gong practitioners he met were very calm and kind. Their banners called for an end to the persecution, which is not a political request. He thought the persecution was extremely unreasonable and unpopular.
A Mainland Chinese tourist who wished to remain anonymous was waiting for the bus when he saw the parade go by. He said he was from Fujian Province, and this was his first time in Taiwan. He traveled for work all the time and had seen Falun Gong in many different countries. He thought these parades were excellent. He pointed to one practitioner who was walking by and said, "You could tell by looking at him that he is a good person. The Chinese government really doesn't need to fear or brutally torture such innocent people."
Mr. Huang is a manager of a department store. He heard the music of the Divine Land Marching Band and went outside to watch. He said that Falun Gong was just a faith. The more the CCP persecutes it, the more the people will be curious. After seeing the parade, he expressed admiration for the large following of Falun Gong.
Mr. Ralph Herbert is a British man who works for Taiwan High Speed Rail. He accepted a small paper lotus flower attached to a bookmark that read, "The World Needs Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance." Mr. Herbert said that China's human rights have been horrible. His wife had told him about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. That's why he and his wife never buy anything made in China.
At the corner of Chung-Hsiao East Road and Guangfu South Road, a man asked for a booklet explaining the persecution of Falun Gong. He said, "Had I known about the parade, I would have asked more people to come here to support you." He said his surname was Chen, and he is a Christian. He has paid close attention to Falun Gong in the news as he is against the Communist Party. He also supports Falun Gong. He said that the CCP not only persecutes Falun Gong, but other religious faiths as well, including followers of his church. He knew very well about the persecution of Falun Gong, including the organ harvesting. He said that the CCP was very evil, and society needed more courageous groups like Falun Gong. He hoped all groups persecuted by the CCP could come together to disintegrate the CCP and end the persecution.
Many family members of Falun Gong practitioners also came to support the parade. When the parade reached the end of the route, a passer-by shouted, "Bravo, I wish Falun Gong success." The practitioners smiled to thank him.
