Photo Report: 2002 Taiwan Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference

2002 Taiwan Falun Dafa Experiences Sharing Conference was held in National Taiwan University Stadium on December 29, 2002. Over 5,000 practitioners from Taiwan and other countries attended the conference.

Scenes from experience sharing conference

Vice Minister of the Interior Hsu Ying-shen	Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-Jeou
Mr. Chen Wei-Jao, President of National Taiwan University

Young practitioners demonstrating Dafa exercises

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United Evening Post: Ma Ying-Jeou Stands Up to Denounce [Jiang regime's] persecution of Falun Gong

By Tsie Hui-lian United Evening Post reporter

Taipei, December 29, 2002 - The Mayor of Taipei City Ma Ying-jeou attended the annual Falun Gong Experiences Sharing Conference. He stated that freedom of religion and belief are universal values of the free world and basic freedom and human rights. He couldn't bear to see Mainland Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted and killed. He also emphasised that in attending Falun Gong activities he is "not afraid of annoying any government or authority." This is also the first time in Taiwan that the famous political figure publicly attended a Falun Gong activity and criticised China's persecution of Falun Gong.

He also made clear to Mainland China that Taiwan is a place that respects the freedom of assembly and religion [Falun Gong is not a religion. For more on the nature of Falun Gong, please click here]. It is unbearable to see Mainland China persecute and kill Falun Gong practitioners. He said that being the inheritor of Chinese culture, China should rethink the diversity of Chinese culture and exercise tolerance and compassion so as to let people live safely and happily.

Deputy Minister of Ministry of Interior also gave a speech in person. He emphasised that Taiwan had the freedom of religion and religious activities. Falun Gong has over 100,000 practitioners in Taiwan. The people in Mainland China can't share the happiness of Falun Dafa like those in Taiwan. It means that only in a society that has freedom of belief, can people freely practise Falun Dafa.

Mr. Ma Ying-jeou revisited the government's ban on Christian Churches, attacking Mormons, and the June 4th [massacre in] Tiananmen Square movement in the past. He said many religions have grown during these persecutions. Many religious beliefs were regarded as heterodox at the beginning, and the freedom of belief needs to protect these beliefs. He was not afraid that this would offend any government or authority. He attended the June 4th ceremonial activities every year. He also announced in public "No discussion to unite the two sides before the June 4th event is readdressed." The importance of human rights goes beyond borders and surpasses straits.

(Reporter Tsie Hui-lian Reporting from Taipei) Over 5,000 Falun Gong practitioners from Taiwan and overseas gathered in the huge dome stadium of National Taiwan University for the 2002 Falun Dafa experiences sharing conference. Taipei city Mayor Ma Ying-jeou, Vice Minister of the Interior Hsu Ying-shen, and NTU president Chen Wei-jao attended the conference. This is also the first time that Taiwan's political figures, officials of the central government and leader of academic circles publicly attended a large scale Falun Gong activity.

The chairman of the Taiwan Falun Dafa Association, economics professor of National Taiwan University Mr. Chang Ching-his said that Taiwan has over 100,000 Falun Dafa practitioners. It is a loose group without organisation formality. Chang said Falun Gong had three "taboos": no smoking, no alcohol, and no politics. Falun Gong never participated in any political activity in the name of organisation. This time, Ma Ying-jeou attended the conference because he had good relationship with a few [..]members of Falun Dafa Association, but this is not related to politics.

Chang Qinxi said that Mainland China has suppressed Falun Gong for over three years. Over 500 practitioners were beaten to death. But even so, in Mainland China, none of the Falun Gong practitioners said they would overthrow the Communist Party. This perfectly proves Falun Gong's "No Politics." He used himself as an example. Before practising Falun Dafa, he was active in political and social movements. After practising Falun Gong, he "tried his best to avoid" attending any political activities except issues [of his profession] in the area of economics.