(Clearwisdom.net) On July 16, Falun Gong practitioners from Taichung, Taiwan, held a rally and a candlelight vigil at Wenhsin Forest Park, peacefully resisting the 12-year-long persecution of Falun Gong in China. People from all walks of life in Taichung—including medical fields, the law, academia, education, and business—came to the rally to express their support for Falun Gong. The attendees held banners to bring more attention to the persecution of Falun Gong.
The press conference at the rally. Attendees included a judge, college professors, and city council members.
Mr. Kao Chiajun, the trustee of the Association of Medicine in Taichung, said that he always accepts Falun Gong practitioners' invitations to all kinds of activities, because they are the best organized and most peaceful.
Mr. Kao
Mr. Kao expressed his concern about the organ harvesting. “Friends of mine in the medical community didn't believe it at first. Later, more and more evidence emerged, which shocked them.” He said that it is intolerable that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) persecutes Falun Gong so brutally.
Mr. Kao emphasized that there is a lot that people can do to stop the persecution. He said that the former Soviet Union seemed to be strong, but it crashed over night, so as long as we persist, the CCP will crash, too, and Falun Gong's reputation will be restored. He also called upon his colleagues in the medical community not to help the CCP to persecute Falun Gong.
Professor Liao Yi'en from Chunghsing University spoke at the rally. He reviewed the history of how Taiwanese people have fought for democracy. He said that their experiences will give confidence to other Chinese people all over the world, including Falun Gong practitioners. He said that one of the purposes of the rally was to let them know that many people in Taiwan support them. He also thanked practitioners for their efforts.
Professor Qiu Taisan
Professor Qiu Taisan from Asia University is the chair of the department of Finance and Law. He was the vice mayor of Kaohsiung City, a prosecutor, and a city council member. He pointed out that the teachings of Falun Gong have been well accepted by society, but practitioners are still being persecuted in China. He said that the CCP has been violating basic human rights. The persecution, especially the organ harvesting, remind people of the Nazi's genocide and is intolerable.
Professor Qiu thanked Falun Gong practitioners for their efforts to fight for human rights. He said that, although the journey is long, justice will prevail if we stand together and persevere.
Mr. Li Tiansheng, a city council member, promoted the resolution that forbids human rights violators from China from visiting Taiwan. At the rally, Mr. Li said that more than half of the council members voted to pass this resolution. He hopes that the CCP would respect human rights and stop the persecution. Mr. Li also said that he refuses to visit China. He will never go there until the human rights situation improves.
Practitioners hold banners that read “Falun Dafa Is Good,” “Stop the Persecution,” etc.
After the press conference, practitioners held many banners along Wenhsin Street. They also handed out truth-clarifying materials. Many local citizens expressed their support, encouraging them to keep up their efforts. Some drivers stopped and asked for Falun Gong materials, and some of them shouted, praising practitioners for their courage and efforts.
The candlelight vigil
After sunset, practitioners held a candlelight vigil in Forest Park, commemorating those who were tortured to death in China and calling upon the public to help stop the persecution.
