Events with this theme were held in Taipei and Kaohsiung on July 20. Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners gathered in Taipei's Daan Forest Park to attend the "Respect Life and Stop the Persecution" memorial activity. Many organisations attended this event, including the Democratic Progressive Party, the Nationalist Party, the Taiwan Solidarity Union, representatives from various cultural and intellectual communities and the Chinese Human Rights organisation. The event in Kaohsiung was organised by Ms. Yang Shuoying, a professor from Zhongshan University's Business Management Department. Kaohsiung Mayor Chang-ting Hsieh and Deputy Mayor Yao Gaoqiao both sent flower baskets to show their support of Falun Gong practitioners' call for human rights and condemnation of the Jiang regime's persecution.
The press conference in Taipei was organised by Mr. Zhang Qingxi, Director of Taiwan's Falun Dafa Association, and Mr. Ming Juzheng, Department Chair of Taipei University's Political Science Department. They expressed sincere appreciation for the support from various circles in Taiwan. Professor Zhang made a special note of Falun Gong's lawsuit against Jiang Zemin to let more people know the facts about the persecution.
The Director of Social Advancement for the Democratic Progressive Party said that the whole world would recognise Falun Gong practitioners' struggle for their spiritual belief and freedom. He said that Falun Gong's spiritual belief is far above politics and could never be suppressed by it.
The director of Taipei's office of the Nationalist Party, Mr. Du Jiande, representing the Nationalist Party leader Lien Chan, expressed their support by saluting the Falun Gong practitioners. He said that the Nationalist Party supports people in mainland China because we all come from the same ancestors, Yan and Huang. He called on people from all circles to come together to condemn the Jiang regime's persecution of Falun Gong.
The director of the Taiwan Solidarity Union Mr. Xiao Guanyu pointed out that respect for life is a value that is shared worldwide. He used historical examples to illustrate that evil could never overcome righteousness. He also wished Falun Gong practitioners well and expressed his confidence that they would overcome this persecution.
Poet Li Minyong praised Falun Gong's search for freedom. Lastly, Professor Wu Huilin, a representative of the Human Rights Association, voiced their support for Falun Gong and human rights.
After the press conference, Falun Gong practitioners held a candlelight vigil in the Daan Forest Park. Other activities included a poetry reading, music, singing and films in the candle-lit park.
This year, Falun Gong practitioners from Kaohsiung also held a signature campaign, Falun Gong exercise demonstrations, a thousand person march, and a large conference -- four activities designed to appeal for an end to the Jiang regime's four-year long persecution of Falun Gong.
The march after the conference was magnificent, consisting of people supporting the old and carrying the young, circling the city of Kaohsiung. The participants held banners, display boards and a large cloth signed by 20,000 people listing the various crimes committed by Jiang and his supporters.
* * *
You are welcome to print and circulate all articles published on Clearharmony and their content, but please quote the source.
more ...