Taiwan: Parade of Anti-Torture Exhibition-Vehicles Exposes the Persecution in Yongkang City

Falun Gong practitioners held their first vehicle parade, which included an anti-torture exhibition and photo exhibition, on October 23rd, 2004 in Yongkang City, South Taiwan to let more people learn about the Jiang faction's inhumane persecution of Falun Gong in Mainland China and help to bring it to an end.

A 'live' anti-torture exhibition shocks people

Practitioners held a press conference at 2pm before the parade began. Yongkang City Mayor Li Kunhuang, Tainan City Government Secretary Cai Wang-quan and several legislators, and officers from townships came to show their support for safeguarding people's freedom of belief, upholding morality and justice, and sternly condemning the Jiang faction's inhumane persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

Press conference	Legislator Li Jun-yi gives a speech

While Legislator Li Jun-yi was giving a speech, a person suddenly shouted some dirty words. Legislator Li sternly replied, "If someone thinks these bad deeds have nothing to do with him, this is a most serious mistake, and it also appeases and condones such vicious deeds. If everyone is so selfish, concerned only with themselves, and reluctant to make an effort to support justice, the evil will be more and more rampant. The day when they encounter such things themselves, they will kneel down to request other's help."

Legislator Zheng Guozhong mentioned in his speech: "Human rights are universal values. Everyone should enjoy freedom of religion and belief, but other freedoms such as the freedom of assembly and association, are also very important basic human rights. As a religious believer, I have worked as a presbyter at the Christian Presbyterian Church for many years, and I deeply understand that the Jiang faction's destruction of freedom of belief has reached such an inhuman state. I'd like to join the efforts to safeguard the basic freedom of human rights."

Legislator Hou Hsui-sheng stated, "I'd like to be together with everyone to ensure our freedom of thought, right to physical safety, including Falun Gong's freedom of belief through the strength of our government, the strength of our nation and the strength of our society."

Some Falun Gong practitioners used their personal experience to illustrate how they have benefited both physically and mentally from practising Falun Gong. After the speeches, practitioners demonstrated the five sets of exercises and sang songs composed by Falun Gong practitioners.

After the press conference, the vehicle parade set off and moved along the main streets of Yongkang City. The parade was led by a truck broadcasting the facts about Falun Gong over a speaker. The Falun Gong exercise demonstration float was just behind it. Following was a contingent composed of 60 vehicles. The whole procession moved forward steadily and in good order, demonstrating practitioners' peaceful and calm demeanour.

Minghui School young practitioners	Exercise demonstration

Many motorcyclists and people driving vehicles slowed down while passing by the parade to watch and request information materials. A practitioner who handed out materials by the roadside said, "Leaflets are going out so fast. A big stack was handed out very quickly. Some even stopped their vehicles at the roadside to take one."

A spectator said, "Practising the exercises should be one's freedom! It's unreasonable to persecute practitioners so brutally! Why doesn't the media file any reports on this?"

Young Falun Gong practitioners from Minghui School dressed in celestial children clothes were on one float. They read Zhuan Falun and recited Hong Yin, and danced to music. The spectators witnessed Falun Gong young practitioners' good demeanour.

People were amazed when they saw photos of the many large-scale exercise demonstrations displayed on the Photo Exhibition Float. There are so many people in Taiwan practising Falun Gong. As many practitioners do the exercises from 5am to 7am every day before going to work, many people seldom can meet them. Today, many people wanted to learn the exercises after seeing the pictures.

On the body of one vehicle were bright words explaining that Falun Gong has spread to over 60 countries around the world, and has received over 1200 awards and proclamations. The founder, Mr Li Hongzhi, has been nominated four times for the Nobel Peace Prize. There was also an introduction explaining Falun Gong's requirement that practitioners upgrade their moral standards, as well as that Falun Gong's tremendous effect on healing illnesses has enabled more than 100 million people around the world to achieve greater physical and mental wellbeing. Falun Gong has received positive affirmation from Taiwanese government officials and people from all walks of life in Taiwan. Many people know that Falun Dafa is righteous and only benefits society and the people.

People shocked at the brutal torture of Falun Gong practitioners

The anti-torture exhibit vehicle was at the end of the procession. Many people wanted to know clearly what it displayed. Torture methods depicted included practitioners being handcuffed, being hung up, having bamboo sticks hammered into fingernails, being tied to the Tiger Bench, force-fed, being locked in a small cage, and doing slave labour, etc. Scene after scene of shocking, bloody and heart-breaking tortures brought the persecution into focus for passersby. People cried, "It's horrible! I never expected such savage things to still be happening today in the 21st century."

The effort to bring Jiang to justice globally has been unveiled. Lawsuits have been filed against Jiang's faction in the US, Canada, Korea, Australia, Taiwan, Belgium, Spain, and Greece and other countries on charges of genocide, torture and crimes against humanity. Falun Gong practitioners hope through exposing the persecutors' deeds that more people with a sense of justice will stand up to join the effort to end the illegal persecution as soon as possible.

The entire parade received a lot of attention from the local people and concluded successfully at 5pm.