100,0000 People Sign Petition to Rescue Mr. Chung Ting-Pang--Illegal Arrest in China Attracts International Media Coverage (Photos)

                      

(Minghui.org) Chinese and western media have publicized the Chinese Communist Party's unlawful arrest and detention of Mr. Chung Ting-Pang, an IT manager from Taiwan who is also a Falun Gong practitioner. On the morning of July 23, 2012, Taiwan's non-profit organizations and 3,000 Falun Gong practitioners presented more than 100,000 signatures on a petition to rescue Mr. Chung at a public rally in front of the Presidential Office Building. The event has drawn reporters from Radio Free Asia, Voice of America, BBC, and Associated Press, as well as Taiwanese media, including Freedom Times, Apple Daily, Formosa TV, and Public Television Service (PTS).

Taiwan's non-profit organizations and 3,000 Falun Gong practitioners rallied in front of the Presidential Office Building, calling on the Taiwanese government to rescue Mr. Chung Ting-Pang and demanding that the Chinese regime release Mr. Chung immediately.

Yellow ribbons adorn the trees on Ketagalan Boulevard as part of the effort to raise awareness of the Chinese Communist Party detention of Taiwanese citizen Mr. Chung Ting-Pang.

Mr. Chung Ting-Pang, a Falun Gong practitioner and an IT manager from Hsinchu, Taiwan, has been in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s custody for over four weeks, ever since he was arrested by China's State Security Bureau in Ganzhou, Jiangxi on June, 18, 2012. During the past two weeks, more than 100,000 people from all walks of life in Taiwan have signed a petition demanding his immediate release. Many people have visceral reactions to the CCP extending the scope of its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners to a practitioner from Taiwan.

Dr. Chang Ching-Hsi, chairman of the Falun Gong Association in Taiwan and professor at National Taiwan University, describes the incident at the press conference.

Yellow ribbons adorned the trees on Ketagalan Boulevard, symbolizing the wish for Mr. Chung's safe return. In addition to Mr. Chung's family, participants in today's event included the Judicial Reform Foundation, Formosa Alliance for China's Human Rights, The Humanistic Education Foundation, Taiwan Friends of Tibet, Victims of Investment in China Association, and Taiwanese Legislator Ms. Huang Wen-Ling.
Efforts to Rescue Mr. Chung Will Not Cease Until His Release
Mr. Chung's daughter, Chung Ai, has been traveling around the world to raise awareness and help rescue her father since he was arrested. Ms. Chung said that her father did nothing wrong and his arrest could not be justified. She said the entire family is behind him and is determined to have him released. She resolved to continue her efforts until her father is released.

More than 3,000 Falun Gong practitioners rallied on Ketagalan Boulevard on July 23, 2012, urging President Ma Ying-Jeou to rescue Mr. Chung Ting-Pang

No one has been able to contact Mr. Chung Ting-Pang during the past 37 days of his detention, according to Dr. Chang Ching-Hsi. The doctor explained that Mr. Chung was detained because he practices Falun Gong and that the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong is a violation of its own constitution and laws. He called upon the Taiwanese government to actively rescue Mr. Chung. More than 100,000 people have signed the petition requesting Mr. Chung's release. He said the effort to rescue Mr. Chung will not end until he is released.
Facing the CCP's Evil Deeds, the Best Thing to Do is to Fully Expose Them

Ms. Chou Meili, chairperson of Taiwan Friends of Tibet

Ms. Chou Mei-Li, chairperson of the Taiwan Friends of Tibet, said that Mr. Chung is an everyday citizen of Taiwan and that the Taiwanese people are shocked that he was arrested while on a simple family visit. She added that no Taiwanese would feel safe traveling to China if Mr. Chung was not released. After all, anyone could become the next Chung Ting-Pang.

Mr. Shi Ying, the President of the Humanistic Education Foundation

Mr. Shi Ying, president of the Humanistic Education Foundation, said that many people have forsaken their morality and lost their dignity as human beings in pursuit of making money in China. He expressed his admiration for Falun Gong practitioners because they represent the only organization that has the courage to speak the truth in the face of the communist regime's political pressure. He emphasized that if the CCP's charge is true—that Mr. Chung attempted to intercept the local TV signals—then Mr. Chung is truly a hero.
Mr. Shi urged the entire Taiwanese population to pay attention to Mr. Chung Ting-Pang's detention situation. "If 23 million people [in Taiwan] unite and tell the world that we will not sacrifice any of our citizens and won't stand and watch any of us being bullied, we will be able to rescue him and sustain the long-term peace of Taiwan," Mr. Shi proclaimed.
Taiwan Solidarity Union: Taiwan Should Stop All Talks with China until Chung Is Released
Many Taiwan Solidarity Union members suggested that Taiwan stop signing any agreements with the Chinese Communism Party until Mr. Chung is released.

Mr. Yang Hsian-Hong, Formosa Alliance for China's Human Rights

Mr. Yang Hsian-Hong emphasized that none of the agreements between Taiwan and China can save Mr. Chung because anything involving the China's State Security Bureau is beyond the scope of any agreement. The Taiwanese are powerless anytime the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) arrests someone in the name of state security.

Taiwan Solidarity Union's legislator Ms. Huang Wen-Ling

Ms. Huang Wen-Ling, a legislator of the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), said that TSU has presented a resolution to have the Ma Ying-Jeou administration stop all meetings with China before Mr. Chung is released. She called upon the Mainland Affairs Council under Ma's cabinet to postpone the eight talks with China and stop signing any agreements until Mr. Chung is released.

Dr. Peng Bai-Hsian, former mayor of Nantou County, Taiwan

Dr. Peng Bai-Hsian, former mayor of Nantou County, Taiwan, said that Mr. Chung's case should not be regarded as an isolated incident if Taiwan and China wish to develop their relationship. He believes that the Ma Ying-Jeou administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should establish a work group to ensure every Taiwanese citizen's personal safety in China.
Mr. Chung's family, members of the Falun Gong Association, attorneys representing Falun Gong, and representatives from the five NGOs entered the Presidential Office Building to present more than 100,000 signatures to petition for Mr. Chung's release.
Dr. Chang Ching-Hsi read four requests of the Ma Ying-Jeou administration: First, request that China release Mr. Chung immediately. Secondly, grant Mr. Chung a daily phone call with his family before his release. Third, form a work group to work on releasing Mr. Chung. Finally, respectfully request that President Ma make a public statement about Mr. Chung's detention.
Background Information
Mr. Chung Ting-Chang is an IT manager at Hsin-Chu, Taoyuan, Taiwan. He has been giving financial assistance to his half-brother in China for many years. He went back to his hometown in Nankang City, Jiangxin Province on June 15, 2012 to visit his family and relatives. He had planned to return to Taiwan after two days in China, but he lost contact after his family saw him off at Ganzhou Airport on June 18. His family reported his disappearance to the Strait Exchange Foundation (SEF) on June 19. His family in China heard from China's State Security Bureau that evening that Mr. Chung was needed to "assist in the investigation on Falun Gong" and was in custody. According to a report by China's state-run media Xinhua News on June 26, Mr. Chung faces felony charges of attempting to intercept TV signals and compromising the safety of the public and the state.

Chinese version available