Taiwan: The People of Southern Taiwan are Deeply Moved by an Anti-Torture Exhibition

On October 9th, 2004, Falun Gong practitioners held their second anti-torture exhibition and anti-persecution photo exhibition on the city's art plaza located in downtown Kao Hsiung. Members of the media and scholars were invited to give speeches. In addition, a live exhibition exposing torture methods was also performed. The performance was very lifelike and touched people's hearts. The brutal methods of torture stunned everyone in the audience.

A live drama presents the scene of persecution

Since July 1999, more than 1000 Falun Gong practitioners have been tortured to death in China. Because of limited resources, we could only demonstrate about 10 methods of torture used against practitioners. Methods such as "burning," "bamboo nail piercing," and the "Tiger Bench" were presented in front of the audience.

Suffering this inhuman torture, Falun Gong practitioners still persist in their belief in "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance". They want to be good people and even kindly advise the police officers who torture them, "Please don't be deceived by the Jiang faction's lies. Please do not make one mistake after another. Please think of your own future and that of your family members!" People could not help asking, "Is this real?" "Why would they persecute such good people?"

People are shocked, awakened, and become supporters of Falun Gong

Ms Pan, who came with her two daughters, said with emotion after watching the drama, "I'll go home to get a video camera and shoot all these scenes." The two daughters attentively looked at all the photos in the exhibition while listening to a practitioner's explanation. When they learned that Jiang Zemin has been sued in many countries, they said with tears in their eyes, "It is too brutal. We hope he will be sentenced!" They signed the petition in support of Falun Gong and against the persecution.

Watching the live reenactment, Mr and Mrs Huang asked a practitioner who played a victim, "Exactly how many people have died in this persecution? Although you are doing the demonstration, it must also be very painful. Is there anyone to substitute for you?"

The practitioner answered, "The actual death toll is far beyond 1000. However, the Jiang faction blocks the information from getting out. At least 100 means of torture have been used to torture practitioners. Some methods are too brutal to be demonstrated."

Ms Huang asked, "Why do you hold this exhibition?" The practitioner answered, "We hope to help more people to learn the facts about the persecution, so that we can work together to stop it." The couple nodded in agreement.

During the activity, some young children initially felt scared, but they became interested in learning about the facts. They actively asked for information materials, including video CDs. When they heard about the Minghui School, they opened their eyes wide and earnestly asked for its address. They said that they would ask their parents to take them to Minghui School. One child expressed his wish to learn the exercises. His pure and kind request was quite moving.

Drivers took the initiative to stop their vehicles, open their windows and ask for the materials. People passing by also stopped to carefully look at those photos and ask whether what was demonstrated was real or not, as well as where they could learn the exercises.

Police officers on duty also expressed to practitioners that some people might not believe such persecution could happen, but those photos (he pointed to the photos showing Ms Gao Rongrong's disfigured face) were very convincing.

A female practitioner who demonstrated a torture called "bamboo nail piercing" talked about how she let go of her attachment to fear during the two live reenactments. Her two children, who initially felt a little scared, began to actively distribute leaflets. They told people that the lady who played the role of the torture victim was their mum. They also told people that Falun Dafa is great and that their entire family practises Falun Dafa. Many parents brought their children to the anti-torture exhibition. After they listened to the descriptions, they explained it to their children.

Mr Hsu talked about his demonstration of confinement in a small cage. He had to bend his entire body and it felt very painful. When he thought about how fellow practitioners in China are being held in such a small cage for long periods of time, he could not help shedding tears. Seeing group after group of people stopping to watch the demonstration helped him to realise how sacred the exhibition was to allow people to understand the facts.

Mr Huang, who demonstrated being burned, said that it was very uncomfortable when one was tightly tied and unable to move. In addition, practitioners in China suffered the cruel "burning" torture. Enduring this long-term torture, they still persist in upholding their belief in "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance". Mr Huang felt as if he personally experienced all of these and wished that his demonstration would awaken people's conscience, so that people would work together to stop this persecution.

Let's pay attention to the persecution and work together to stop it

Over more than five years, Jiang's faction has tightly blocked information about Falun Gong and the persecution. Falun Gong practitioners have risked their lives to expose the persecution. Every victim is a witness. Freedom of belief is a universal right to which people are entitled. When people asked, "What can we do to help?" our answer was: Please let more people know the facts so that we can stop this persecution with our sense of justice and conscience.