(Minghui.org) The Chinese Communist Party’s Domestic Security organization arrested and detained a Taiwanese citizen because of his involvement with Falun Gong. Mr. Chung Ting-Bang is the manager of a high-tech company in northern Taiwan. He was accused of tapping into Chinese television signals and “endangering China’s public security.” Since the arrest, many people in Taiwan have been urging the Taiwanese government to take action to rescue Mr. Chung. On July 6, 2012, Mr. Chung’s family called a U.S. human rights officer stationed in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing for help.
China’s public security officers arrested Mr. Chung, charging him with “Transporting equipment for tapping a TV signal” and “Endangering state security and public safety.” The general public however, thinks otherwise about disseminating real information in China's one-voice media environment. Many consider Mr. Chung heroic, because if he were involved with tapping into the TV network to broadcast information about Falun Gong, he risked his life to spread the truth about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.
Taipei City Councilor: Chung Should Be Commended
Tung Chung-Yen, a Taipei city councilor, believes that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) blocks much information, which it perceives as endangering its totalitarian reign. “If Mr. Chung really tapped into its TV signal, I will have to say that he was there to save the Chinese people and to provide the correct information about Falun Gong to them. He should be praised and his action should be acknowledged.” The CCP has been brainwashing its people with information that slanders Falun Gong. Mr. Tung said that he sees no crime committed when a person brings information on freedom, religion, Falun Gong, and human rights to China.
“Mr. Chung is our brother and we must come out and rescue him when he is arrested by the CCP,” said Mr. Tung. Mr. Tung called on the Taiwanese government and citizens to step in and rescue Mr. Chung together.
Taipei city councilor Tung Chung-Yen
Vice Chair of Taipei City Council Condemns the Persecution of Human Rights
Chou Po-Ya, vice chair of the Taipei City Council, stressed that it was illegal for the Chinese regime to arrest a Taiwanese citizen, because his human rights and freedom are protected. “We strongly condemn any persecution of human rights. The Taiwan government should quickly state its standpoint on the issue and protect its citizen. Otherwise similar cases will continue to happen, which damages the human rights of all Taiwanese,” said Mr. Chou.
Mr. Chou encouraged more people to stand up to protest the persecution, “More and more people in China are stepping forward to openly express their opinion on the persecution of Falun Gong. They believe it is illegal, brutal, and undemocratic.”
Mr. Chou concluded, “When other people’s human rights are violated, it means that our rights too may be violated in the future. Hence we must pay attention to the persecution of human rights. The Chinese people should take action regarding the persecution of Falun Gong and we must support them.”
Chou Po-Ya, vice chair of Taipei City Council
U.S. Congressman Hopeful the Chinese People Can Understand the Truth of the Persecution
Edward Royce, U.S. Representative for California's 40th Congressional District, has been paying close attention to the arrest of Mr. Chung. He was happy to see the incident exposed to the American public in The Epoch Times newspaper.
Royce believes that freedom of information is very important in pushing mankind to move forward, and the Chinese regime can no longer fool its people. He paid respect to those who dedicate themselves to promoting freedom-related information. Royce said, “It is really essential to human freedom that we continue to advance the opportunity for journalists and people in broadcasting to write about what is actually happening in the world, and to give that perspective, and share that perspective around the world.”
Royce expressed his wish that all the Chinese people, especially the young people, can have the chance to hear the voice of truth.
Edward Royce, U.S. Representative for California's 40th Congressional District
Former Taiwan Representative in the U.S.: Tapping Incident Allows Chinese People to Enjoy Free Information
Joseph Wu, former Taiwan representative in the U.S. and former chair of the Mainland Affairs Council, said that Mr. Chung’s arrest should not have happened. “There are many Falun Gong practitioners in Taiwan and they can hold activities or practice their belief freely in Taiwan.” Mr. Wu believes that it hurt the relations of the two governments when Mr. Chung was charged with so-called crimes and not allowed to have a lawyer and talk to his family. “When Chinese people come to Taiwan, it is impossible that the Taiwan government would treat them this way. The CCP uses a lame excuse to arrest a Taiwanese citizen and didn't even let his family know his whereabouts.”
According to Mr. Wu, in China, the government can charge anyone, using the excuse of endangering state security, and sentence him. “If a person’s basic human rights are not protected, the country is not civilized… [The Chinese regime] should not persecute its people with arbitrary excuses.” In the end, Mr. Wu urged the Taiwan government to rescue Mr. Chung as soon as possible.
Joseph Wu, former Taiwan representative in the U.S. and former chair of Mainland Affairs Council
Television Tapping Breaks the CCP’s Information Blockade
Peng Xiaoming, president of the Society of Chinese Students and Scientists in Germany, believes that the CCP’s charges against Mr. Chung are not sustainable. “The CCP has been fooling its people with one voice and refuses to gives up control of the media. When Falun Gong practitioners tapped into television signals in 2002, it was the first time the information blockade on TV had been penetrated. It was an enormous challenge to the dictatorial regime.
“The CCP doesn't tolerate any other ideologies and brutally suppresses any religious beliefs using the means of imprisonment, forced labor, brainwashing, and tortures. [Falun Gong practitioners] have proven that the CCP has underestimated the power of tradition and belief,” said Mr. Peng.
Mr. Peng stressed that the European Parliament should overlook the so-called economic benefits, and pressure the Chinese regime on the issue of Falun Gong. “The economic gain is trivial and it’s not worth sacrificing democracy and the traditional values of mankind.” He believes that increasing numbers of politicians will speak up for justice. “We should be concerned about Mr. Chung and the tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners who are currently being persecuted.”
Pan Yongzhong, chief secretary of the Federation for a Democratic China in Europe said that it is illegal for the CCP to deprive the Chinese people of free speech and access to news. He believes that Falun Gong practitioners transmitting facts to the Chinese people through tapping TV signals is a magnanimous act for those who yearn for truth.
According to Mr. Pan, as more truth of the persecution of Falun Gong has been exposed to the Chinese people, people have begun to sympathize with the innocent victims of the persecution. “The Falun Gong practitioners I know are very outstanding. The persecution of Falun Gong over the past 13 years is brutal and barbaric. We must support and help everyone in China who is illegally persecuted and deprived of human rights.”
