Peoples' Hearts Radically Changing in China

                   

(Minghui.org) “Wherever an abuse of human rights occurs, it should draw the attention of everyone everywhere. I hope you will remind the whole world today at your gathering in front of the Congress that people who follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance should be respected rather than persecuted… I will use my thumbprint to support Falun Gong and urge colleagues to support them, and will urge the White House and the president, urging they support you as well.” (From a speech given by U. S. Congressman Sam Farr to Falun Gong practitioners from around the world at the “Disintegrate CCP, Stop Persecuting Falun Gong” rally in front of Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on July 12, 2012).

U. S. Congressman Sam Farr, CA, said that the U.S. Capitol is a symbol of freedom to many countries around the world, and “The principles of Falun Gong—Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance—these are the principles that are enduring cornerstones of a democratic society.”

Five members of congress and more than ten representatives from non-governmental-organizations attended the rally. More than 20 Senators and State Representatives either sent letters or representatives to support the rally. Together with Falun Gong practitioners, they condemned the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for the 13 years of persecution, especially the savage practice of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. They called for an immediate end to the persecution of Falun Gong.

Thirteen years ago, on July 20, 1999, the CCP led by Jiang Zemin launched the persecution of hundreds of millions of Falun Gong practitioners who practice Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Overseas practitioners have continually resisted this persecution by means of peaceful protests ever since. These practitioners, in more than 100 countries, are supported by compassionate people everywhere. The CCP is approaching its end as Chinese people are awakening after learning the truth about the persecution and discerning the difference between righteousness and evil.
Imprisonment, torture, brainwashing, the injection of harmful drugs, organ harvesting from the living, and slaughter—these can destroy people physically and mentally, but they can never change peoples' beliefs or hearts.

300 Signatures: A Symbol of Public Opposition to the Persecution

U.S. Congressman Farr mentioned adding his thumbprint to support Falun Gong. This idea came from the story about people in China supporting a local Falun Gong practitioner: “FDIC: 300 Villagers Sign Petition Calling for Release of Falun Gong Practitioner” published on the Minghui website.

According to the reports, on the morning of February 25, 2012, police officers ransacked the home of Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Wang Xiaodong in Zhouguantun Village, Botou City, Hebei Province, and arrested him. His elderly parent and young child were left on their own. The 300 households in the village were very angry about this and signed a petition demanding Mr. Wang's release. The village chief even stamped the petition with the official village seal. On May 10, the petition with 300 signatures was taken to the Political Bureau and circulated as internal information, causing serious concern within the bureau.

Later, civilians from different parts of China followed suit and started signing petitions to support Falun Gong practitioners. Several hundred civilians had a confrontation with police officers for nearly two hours on the morning of June 9, 2012, in the Wenxin Garden community in the Kaiping District, Tangshan, Hebei Province, according to Minghui. The civilians stood in a row, forming a human wall, to prevent the police from arresting their hero, Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Li Zhen. Over 70 people signed a petition right there to vouch for Mr. Li Zhen's character.
In another report, 15,000 fellow villagers signed a petition letter to support Ms. Qin Rongqian of Yichun, Heilongjiang. Ms. Qin and her entire family practice Falun Gong. Ms. Qin's father, Mr. Qin Yueming, died from abuse while he was in Jiamusi Prison. Ms. Qin's mother and younger sister were sent to a forced labor camp. These 15,000 fellow villagers were angry and indignant over the tragedy of the Qin family, so they created and signed a petition.

In October of last year, villagers from the Chaoyang District, Liaoning Province, signed a petition demanding the release of their fellow villager Mr. Zhang Guoxiang. They wanted the police to release Mr. Zhang and return the 6,000 yuan that was confiscated.
Last year, 2,300 villagers from Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Zhao Xiangyang's hometown of Changli County, Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, signed a petition demanding Mr. Zhou's release. After Mr. Zhou's wife, Ms. Li Shanshan, was arrested, 500 villagers signed a petition, hoping to rescue her.

One Thousand Calls for Justice

Overseas practitioners have been collecting signatures and using other ways to support the persecuted practitioners in China since the persecution began. For example, in Canada, as of May 2011, there were about 500,000 Canadian signatures on a petition asking the government to urge the CCP to stop the persecution of Falun Gong. Prior to the CCP top leaders' visit to Canada in 2005, Falun Gong practitioners submitted nearly 150,000 signed petition letters to the Canadian Prime Minister. Before the 2006 election, the Canadian press reported that, based on the letters the Prime Minster's office received, the Falun Gong issue was one of the top three issues that Canadians were most concerned about.

The Minghui website reported that on the afternoon of July 15, 2012, in order to rescue the illegally detained Taiwan Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Zhong Dingbang in China, practitioners in Taiwan set up table at Chiayi Train Station to collect signatures calling for the Chinese Communist regime to release Mr. Zhong immediately. Within six hours, more than 1,000 people had signed the petition and a yellow ribbon. The yellow ribbon was later hung in front of the Taiwanese Presidential Palace to urge the Taiwanese government to rescue Mr. Zhong. Many Taiwanese elected officials are already stepping forward and leaving their “fingerprints,” calling for the rescue of Mr. Zhong. They have condemned the Chinese Communist regime's illegal arrest and asked for the general public's great concern over this incident. They strongly urged the Taiwanese government to actively rescue Mr. Zhong and protect the personal safety of Taiwanese when they travel to China.

History Is Changing in Front of Our Eyes: 120 Million People Have Quit the CCP

Along with resistance to the persecution on the part of the general public, there is another wave that signals how peoples' minds have changed. Since the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party was published in 2004, there has been a widespread trend to quit the CCP in China and abroad. More than 120 million members of the CCP and its affiliates (which are for children and teens) have quit and and are no longer members of the Party or its affiliates.

At the DC rally on July 12, Ms. Suzanne Scholte, chairperson of the Defense Forum Foundation, said that she was touched by practitioners' calm and steady resistance in the face of the brutal persecution. The courage and bravery of Falun Gong practitioners has inspired more than a hundred million Chinese people.

In recent months, there has been much turmoil within the Chinese Communist Party. The downfall of Bo Xilai and Chen Guangcheng's fleeing to the United States Embassy triggered a series of events and drew the attention of the international community. Many Chinese people wanted to hear the truth—they sensed the great changes in history happening right before their eyes. Even more people are quitting the Communist Party and its affiliates, the Youth League and the Young Pioneers groups.
By July 19, 2012, 120,310,091 people had announced their resignations from the CCP via the Epoch Times website. They come from all walks of life in China. Yet there are still many people anxiously looking for ways to announce their resignations from the CCP. They hope to make the right decision for themselves during this crucial turning point in history.

In seven years Ms. Zhu, an 80-year-old former CCP member and a Melbourne, Australia, resident, has already persuaded more than 20,000 Chinese people to withdraw from the CCP. She wants Chinese people to renounce the CCP and regain their spiritual freedom. The awakened people are witnessing this historical turning point. They are also seeing the power of truth.

According to the Minghui website, volunteers at the “Quitting the CCP Service Center” at tourist attractions in Europe and Taiwan, within an hour or two often help several dozen tourists from China quit the CCP and its organizations. Many of those tourist groups are organized by CCP officials, who also withdraw. These tourists particularly hope to get factual information on the latest developments in China. The CCP will soon collapse. People are recognizing this fact.
Falun Gong practitioners are gaining glory during difficult times. And during these difficult times, they let more and more Chinese people see hope and a bright future.

More and More Chinese Communist Party at European Tourist Sites

                  

 

(Minghui.org) At this writing, the number of Chinese people who have quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations has reached more than 120 million. This summer, visitors from China have been very eager to quit the CCP at Quitting the CCP Service Centers set up at European tourist sites. Hearing people express strong dissatisfaction with the communist regime is now very common among visitors to the sites. Some people start to curse the regime as soon as they open their mouths. Many Chinese tourists have told volunteers at the Service Centers, "Now in China, it is fashionable to criticize the communist party, and everybody criticises it. Even its members are cursing it." Some Chinese tourists shout, "Down with the communist party!" as soon as they see the Quitting the CCP information desk after getting off their tour buses. Some tourists even shout, "Falun Dafa is good!"  More young people have renounced the CCP and its affiliated organizations. If one person in a group of young people says that he wants to quit the CCP, the rest of them will follow. Among them, young people who were born in the 1990’s are particularly courageous in renouncing the CCP. Many have reported that they are completely disillusioned with the CCP after reading about the corruption of CCP officials on the Internet.  The volunteers at the Quitting the CCP Service Centers have found that Chinese tourists who read the facts on the Internet using software to break through the CCP's Internet censorship choose to quit the CCP almost by 100%. Often, while volunteers are talking to others about the facts, these people help, interjecting additional information that they have learned on the Internet. These visitors not only quit the CCP themselves but also persuade other members in their tour groups to quit.  A group of young overseas students urge a Youth League secretary to quit the party While passing by the Quitting the CCP Service desk, a girl from a group of young Chinese students asked, "Hey, are you helping people to quit the communist party?" The volunteer answered, "Yes, are you ready to quit?" The girl only smiled without answering. The volunteer asked them, "Since you live overseas, have you heard of the movement of quitting the CCP and its affiliated organizations? There have been more than 100 million Chinese people who have quit the communist party and its affiliated organizations. Do you know why?" The students all looked at the volunteer, waiting for the answer. The volunteer explained, “If Chinese people quit the party and its affiliated organizations, the oaths they made when they were admitted to the party will be removed, and their lives will be safe. Regardless of what happens in the future, I would like for you to avoid catastrophe and be safe.” Upon hearing this, the students repeatedly said, “Thank you.” The volunteer continued, “It’s not enough when you just say ‘Thank you;” you haven’t quit the party yet. Quitting will keep you safe. Are any of you party members?” Someone answered, “None of us is a party member. The top ranking one among us is the one who is a secretary.” Pointing at a bookish young man, they told the volunteer, “He is a Communist Youth League secretary.” The volunteer asked that young man, “Are you going to be a Party member?” He answered, “I don’t want to join the Party!” Half-jokingly, the volunteer continued, “It is not that simple that you can be a Youth League secretary. You are a prospective party member and their successor.” Hearing this, he answered, “I have no choice but to agree to be a secretary. I was not willing to be a secretary.” The young people around him testified, “What he said is true. Originally, he was not willing to be secretary, but it was forced on him.” The volunteer asked, “Forced to be a secretary?” He answered, “Yes, nobody’s willing to be it. I couldn’t avoid it!” The volunteer told him, “If you declare that you quit the party, everything will be completely solved.” One of the youths said, “Ah, this is a good idea.” The Youth League secretary smiled and said he felt that this was indeed a good idea. He declared his withdrawal from the CCP’s affiliated organizations. Then, the group of young people left the volunteer, joyfully waving and bowing.  A retired official from Chongqing: Don't we in Chongqing have the right to know this? A retired cadre from Chongqing did not deny that he had been a director-general in the Chinese Communist Party. When speaking of the recent Wang Lijun and Bo Xilai scandal, he said that he'd had a good impression of Bo Xilai and did not feel that such a “talent” should be taken down. The volunteer said, “Wen Jiabao, the Prime Minister said that Bo Xilai had launched a campaign of ‘singing red songs and attacking the underworld.' What he was doing in Chongqing aimed at bringing back the Cultural Revolution. As a person who has experienced it, like you, I don’t think that you will forget your suffering in the Cultural Revolution.” The man nodded in agreement. The volunteer continued talking about Bo Xilai’s "achievement" during his five-year tenure in Chongqing. “The Chongqing GDP growth figures reported were above the national average. When Bo stepped down, the Central Government sent people to make an investigation and found out that the total debt of the Chongqing government was 500 billion yuan, five times higher than Chongqing’s annual revenue. Chongqing’s annual revenue is only 100 billion yuan, which is just enough to barely cover the administrative expenses. Through Chen Yuan, a CCP 'princeling,' Bo borrowed large amounts of money from banks to engage in investment and construction. That is how he inflated the GDP figures. What Bo embarked on was face-saving projects and to fish for his own capital achievements.” Upon hearing this, the official was greatly surprised. The volunteer continued, “Some people praise Bo for 'improving the public security in Chongqing.' Petty thieves may have inadvertently gone, but Bo Xilai instructed people from the Public Security Bureau to steal, grab and slaughter; this was unprecedented. In the name of 'attacking the underworld,' to extort money, Bo Xilai and Wang Lijun specifically robbed private enterprises – totalling billions in assets. Entrepreneurs became very poor and their families were disintegrated after being attacked by Bo. Hundreds of such unjust cases occurred. People say that the communist party is even darker than the underworld.” As he listened, the official was making clicks of surprise. “For all these years, Bo Xilai and his wife plundered wealth; six billion U.S. dollars have been transferred overseas. Could this corrupt person do something good for the Chinese people?” The Chongqing official answered, “I have never heard of what you have told me just now, I really did not know this."  The volunteer said, “As a cadre at your level, you are ignorant of what has been happening around you. From this, we can see how closely the communist regime blocks information. In fact, that Bo Xilai has been demoted is not primarily because of his corruption – the Communist Party rules the country by relying on corruption and all civil and military officials are corrupt. Wang Lijun disclosed that Bo Xilai and Zhou Yongkang had been planning a coup to replace Xi Jinping. This could not be tolerated by the high-level officials of the communist party. That is why Bo Xilai was removed from his post.”  After listening attentively, the veteran cadre said, “I admit that the communist party has lied, but I never guessed the extent of their lies. The truth about Wang and Bo incidents has been spread all over the world, but people in Chongqing are still kept in the dark.” The former official sighed, "What a pity! Don't we Chongqing people have the right to know this?” The volunteer suggested that he read the book Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, which he'd been given; then he would understand everything. When asked whether they wanted to quit the party, the official and his wife nodded in agreement and announced their resignation immediately.

Community Responds to Thirteen Year Persecution of Falun Gong (Images)

                   

(Minghui.org) As the persecution of Falun Gong in China reached its thirteen-year mark in 2012, the international community issued another wave of calls for an end to the persecution. State and city governments in the U.S., Italy and Czech passed several resolutions condemning the persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

 

The Municipal Council of Livingston, New Jersey, passed a resolution on July 2, 2012, condemning the “harsh brutal and repressive practice of the Chinese Government against Falun Gong followers” and urging the “federal government do everything in its power to help stop the atrocities in China.”

Municipal Council of Livingston, New Jersey passes resolution calling for action to help stop the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in Chin on July 2, 2012. City Council of Carson City, California, passed Resolution 12-076 on July 17, 2012, opposing the persecution of Falun Gong.

Resolution 12-076 of Carson City, California, passed on July 17, 2012

 The Provincial Council of Florence, Italy, unanimously passed a resolution on June 27, 2012, calling for the Chinese Communist Party to stop persecuting Falun Gong and investigate the crime of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. The Provincial Council of Florence, Italy unanimously passed a resolution on the protection of religious freedom in China on June 27, 2012. It calls for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong, and an investigation into the disturbing reports of organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners.

The Provincial Council of Florence, Italy, unanimously passed a resolution on June 27, 2012, calling for the Chinese Communist Party to stop persecuting Falun Gong On May 23, 2012, the Czech Senate Committee on Education, Science, Culture, Human Rights, and Petitions discussed a proposal on ending the persecution of Falun Gong in China. The members present reached a unanimous agreement to call for a stop to the persecution, and passed a resolution. The resolution demanded that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) lift the ban on Falun Gong, dissolve the 610 Office, stop the persecution of Falun Gong, and release the detained practitioners and prisoners of conscience. According to the resolution's fifth point, the government and the President of the Czech Republic would be urged to hold talks with the CCP on the issue of ending the persecution of Falun Gong.

Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Jaromír Jermář read the resolution at the meeting. In the past thirteen years, the international community, including governments in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and Taiwan, have passed dozens of resolutions calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong.  On July 24, 2002 the U.S. Congress unanimously passed Resolution 188, urging the Chinese government to stop persecuting Falun Gong practitioners. The 108^th House of Representatives unanimously passed House Concurrent Resolution 304 on Oct. 4, 2004, condemning the Chinese government's oppression of Falun Gong in both the United States and China. The House passed Resolution 605 on March 16, 2010. The resolution called for an immediate end to the regime's campaign to persecute, intimidate, imprison, and torture Falun Gong practitioners, and to release all imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners.  On July 29, 2009, the City Council of Chicago, the third largest city in the United States, passed a resolution, which stated: "the United States should condemn the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong, and make all efforts to end immediately the persecution of Falun Gong in China." "It is also our responsibility as human beings to raise awareness necessary to stop horrific crimes against our fellow human beings no matter what the cost." The San Francisco City Council passed a resolution to condemn the persecution in January, 2006.  On October 24, 2002, the Canadian Parliament also passed a resolution supporting Falun Gong. On  September 7, 2006, the European Parliament unanimously passed a resolution for a report of EU-China relations, calling on the Chinese regime to release Falun Gong practitioners. The resolution stated that the European Parliament “strongly condemns the detention and torture of Falun Gong practitioners in prisons, re-education through labor camps, psychiatric hospitals and legal education schools; is concerned about reports that organs of detained Falun Gong practitioners have been removed and sold to hospitals; urges the Chinese Government to end the detention and torture of Falun Gong practitioners and to release them immediately.” On June 24, 2008, the Australian Senate passed Resolution No. 127, urging the Chinese Communist regime to stop the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. The resolution was adopted unanimously by all parties.  Upon launching the persecution, the former head of the CCP, Jiang Zemin, vainly attempted to eliminate Falun Gong within three months. Thirteen years have now passed, and Falun Gong is still standing fast but the persecution has been exposed. Countless people have been touched by Falun Gong's compassion and steadfastness. The above-mentioned support from the international community expresses the world's desire to end this shameful page of Chinese history.

San Francisco: Judge Places Injunction on Attacker of Falun Gong Practitioners (Photos)

                   

(Minghui.org) The San Francisco Superior Court placed a restraining order against San Francisco resident Jingjun Chin on Wednesday (August 1) after the court was presented with video evidence that he physically attacked and harassed San Francisco residents who practice Falun Gong.

After a 3-hour hearing, Judge Donald Sullivan ordered Jing-Jun Chin to stay away from the three Falun Gong practitioners he allegedly attacked last month. Chin also has also been ordered to stay away from the family members of these Falun Gong practitioners. The order is valid for six months. One of the victims, Helena Li said the restraining order is a “good start” and the first step in bringing Chin to justice.
Background:

 

On Sunday, June 10, at the corner of Grant and Washington streets in Chinatown, a group of four or five practitioners gathered to give out fliers and hold up a placard that tells about Falun Gong and how the practice is persecuted in China. According to practitioners present at the scene, the following scenario played out. At this same street corner, Jingjun Chin, wearing a red t-shirt stood on a stool behind the practitioners. Standing above the practitioners on a stool, he loudly cursed Falun Gong and shouted out slogans that support the Chinese regime. Another Chinese man, Yongyao Wu, then approached the Falun Gong practitioners. He also cursed Falun Gong and then took a swing at one of them, a young man named Derek Wang, connecting with his jaw. He then struck Wang’s face a second time. Jingjun Chin then got down off the stool and urged the older man to leave before the police arrived, as practitioners had photographed the man striking Wang and called 911 asking for assistance. A week later, On June 16, Jingjun Chin attacked Falun Gong practitioners Christine Yang and Helena Li at the corner of Grant and Washington streets in Chinatown. He hit Yang and Li with a wood board.

Jingjun Chin attacking Falun Gong practitioners

Ten incidences of attacking Falun Gong practitioners have happened in the last eight months, and eight of them happened in Chinatown. Falun Gong spokesperson Dr. Xuerong Zhang said that the recent series of attacks are “a big safety concern to Chinese people in the U.S.”

Dr. Zhang said, “In a country of democracy and rule of law, in broad daylight, people are beaten. The perpetrators must be brought to justice. These attacks are different from general attacks. These attacks are hate crimes, part of a series of hate crimes backed by the CCP regime.”

Dr. Zhang said that a common feature of the attacks was that they all targeted Falun Gong. It is believed that the hate crimes are the consequence of propaganda by the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, intended to extend the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong overseas. Many prior attacks and false reports in Chinatown against Falun Gong were instigated, supported, or masterminded by CCP spies in cooperation with CCP-controlled media overseas.

 Support from member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
John Avalos, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, said on July 31 that he is concerned about the attack, and he was shocked by the fact that people have tried to suppress Falun Gong's voice in America by using violence. On July 26, John Avalos signed a petition that calls for bringing the attackers to justice and protecting citizen's safety and freedom of belief.

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

Mr. Li Liang from Tianjin Arrested by 610 Office Again after Being Imprisoned and Persecuted for Eight Years

                    

Name: Yang Guanghui (李良)
Gender: Male
Age: 41 (Born in 1971)
Address: Hedong District, Tianjin
Occupation: Unknown
Date of Most Recent Arrest: June 8, 2012
Most Recent Place of Detention: Beichen Detention Center (北辰看守所)
City: Tianjin
Persecution Suffered: Electric shock, sleep deprivation, forced labor, brainwashing, illegal sentencing, beatings, torture, home ransacked, interrogation, detention

(Minghui.org) On June 8, 2012, a dozen police officers from the Beichen District 610 Office in Tianjin City as well as the Domestic Security Division broke into Mr. Fan Jinzhu's home and arrested Mr. Li Liang, Ms. Liu Yanli, and five other Falun Gong practitioners. All of them were taken to a police department. Mr. Li is still illegally detained at the Beichen Detention Center and his current situation is unknown. Mr. Li Liang, his parents, and two older sisters, Li Hong and Li Ying, started to practice Falun Gong in 1994. He was already an outstanding youth, and, after he began to practice Falun Gong, he treated others even better and many of them benefitted from his selfless assistance.

Li Liang and his second sister Li Ying when they were young On June 8, 2012, around 1 p.m., the police suddenly broke in while Mr. Li Liang and his wife Ms. Liu Yanli were in Mr. Fan Jinzhu's kitchen preparing dumplings. After demanding to know Mr. Li's name, the police made him wait in the living room. Then they took Ms. Liu to the cellar, searched her bag, and confiscated everything in it. The police also confiscated Mr. Li's car, cell phone, wallet, ID, and other personal belongings. Mr. Fan was taken back to the police department as well. Around 4 p.m., the police escorted them home and ransacked their place. On June 9, Mr. Li's older sister learned that he was detained at Beichen Detention Center. In the 13 years since the communist regime began its persecution of Falun Gong, Mr. Li Liang has imprisoned for a total of eight years-Detained for two years in Tianjin Shuangkou Forced Labor Camp in Tianjin On September 28, 1999, at around 9 p.m., Tianjin Hongqiao Police Branch sent officers to Mr. Li Liang's place to bring him to Hongqiao Detention Center. At the time, Mr. Li Liang worked at the Beijing Cultural book store. He was sentenced to forced labor for 18 months in Tianjin Shuangkou Forced Labor Camp. In the labor camp, on the 200-meter-long path from the main entrance to the building, deputy head guard Lang Tao and office staff person He Jun viciously hit Li Liang's face as they walked. The beatings became more and more brutal as they progressed. By the time he went up the building stairs, a walnut-sized bump had risen on the left side of Mr. Li's face. In the afternoon, political head Zhen Runzhong attempted to force Mr. Li to write a repentance statement but he refused. Zhen then hit his face, causing it to bleed. His entire face was covered with blood. There was blood on his shirt and on the ground. Zhen Runzhong ordered a prisoner to wash his injuries with water, then continued to beat him, splashed him with water, and then beat him again. This went on for four rounds until Zhen was exhausted. Once, He Jun made him squat on the ground, stepped on his back, and shocked him with an electric baton. From June to September 2000, the 5th division stepped up its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Every day practitioners were forced to participate in classes where they had to sit without moving and watch speeches defaming Falun Gong, which were played repeatedly. They had to sit this way for nearly 20 hours every day and were only allowed to go to sleep at 4:30 a.m. They had to wake up at 5:30 a.m. Guard Du gave every practitioner a piece of cloth he derisively claimed was the “world's largest piece of rag.” The rag was about 2 cm long and 4 cm wide, slightly larger than one's thumb. Practitioners had to wipe the floors, walls, toilets, and urinals with this tiny rag. They could not use a basin and had to use their lunch boxes to hold water to rinse the rag. Practitioners had to finish cleaning up the restroom areas or else they could not go to bed. Often they had to clean until dawn. In the summer of 2001, because practitioners in the 5th division asked to be allowed to do the exercises, they were forced to sit cross legged on the ground. Their legs were tied with ropes, and someone stood on their legs, pressing hard on them from time to time. They had to lift both hands, palms facing upwards. Then a lighted cigarette was placed on their palms until it was completely burned out. Their hands were burned and festered and the smell of burning flesh permeated the entire room. On September 13, 2001, Mr. Li was charged with “refusing to 'reform,'” and his sentence was extended by another five months on top of an extension of six months which had not expired. He was transferred to Yushan Forced Labor Camp in Jixian, Tianjin. Later, his sentence was extended another month. At the labor camp, more than 150 people were imprisoned in cells meant to hold only 90. As a result, many of them had to sleep on the floor and in the corridors. The facility lacked labor safety measures, consequently, it was common to sustain injuries such as fingers being rolled over by equipment, fingers burned, and so on. Because there was wax and talcum powder everywhere, the wounds quickly became inflamed and infected. Finger joints became gnarled and nails fell off. If quotas were not met, the guards would not let the practitioners sleep and beat them or made them stand for long periods of time. For a dozen days continuously, practitioners were only allowed to sleep less than two or three hours every day. Worse yet, some of them were forced to work non stop without sleep for three to five days. Many of them fell asleep while working. Practitioners were often verbally abused and physically tortured. In the first half of 2000, the guards used a large wooden stick bent into a circle, 150 cm in circumference, 10 cm in diameter, to beat several practitioners, who had to stand bent over at a 90-degree angle, face facing the ground, pants stripped off. They were struck up to a dozen times. The beatings continued the next day. When their pants were taken off, extensive bruising and swelling could be seen. Even those who carried out the beatings could not bear to continue. -Detained for two years at Qingpowa Labor Camp and Jianxin Labor Camp in Tianjin On April 28, 2002, Mr. Li Liang finished his sentence and should have been released. The guards took him to the office in the morning. There were several unidentified people in the room, two of them in police uniforms. The strangers wanted to take him away. He said, “I'm waiting for my family.” They gave all kinds of excuses to take him away. One of them then lied to Mr. Li, saying, “Your family is here, they are waiting downstairs.” However, when he went outside the main entrance, Mr. Li only saw a white car with seven people in it. They shoved him into the car and took him to Jianxin Forced Labor Camp. On June 27, 2002, Mr. Li was taken to Qingpowa Forced Labor Camp and subsequently secretly transferred to Jianxin Forced Labor Camp. He was imprisoned for another two years. -Sentenced to forced labor for two years againIn May 2004, Mr. Li was released. However in less than five months, in October, he was again sent to a forced labor camp for two years. His family hired a lawyer but the lawyer could not find the person who was truly responsible for his case. He contacted Liu Guangtao, who had ransacked Mr. Li's house, but Liu said he was no longer in charge of the case and told the lawyer to seek police officer Liu Shiwei. However Liu Shiwei kept avoiding the lawyer. The lawyer did not know who was in charge of the case until November 3, 2004, when Li Liang's family received a letter informing them of his arrest. -Frequent harassment and short term detentionIn October 2006, Mr. Li Liang returned home. On sensitive dates, the police would monitor him around the clock, even sleeping with him. This affected Li Liang's normal life and work. In September 2007, under the guise of “maintaining stability” during the 17^th National People's Congress, Mr. Li was detained for one month in Beijing. On the eve of the 2008 Bejing Olympics around July 10, the police went to harass Mr. Li again at his workplace, but he happened to be away from work at that time. However, he was forced to leave home to avoid being arrested again. -Imprisoned again for two yearsIn December 2008 in Chongqing, Mr. Li was arrested by the Hedong District Police Department 610 Office. He was sentenced to two years. On December 25, 2010, he was released. -Current arrestedOn June 8, 2012, Mr. Li Liang was detained once again. He is still in custody in Beichen Detention Center. A Family of practitioners brutally persecutedIn 1994, Mr. Li's parents began to practice Falun Gong. Before that, his father couldn't walk without help. Soon afterwards, he could take on the responsibility of looking after and teaching his grandson. His mother was in her 60s. After she started practicing Falun Gong, she could walk swiftly and ride a bicycle like a young person.

Mr. Li Liang's Parents Mr. Li has two older sisters, Li Hong and Li Ying. Everyone in his family began to practice Falun Gong.

Li Liang's eldest sister Li Hong (left) and second sister Li Ying (right) After the communist regime started its persecution of Falun Gong 13 years ago, this family of five has suffered inhumane persecution. Please read the full story: “A Family Tragedy (Photos)” http://en.minghui.org/emh/articles/2004/10/11/53351.html#.UAL1lfXuhac Related article: “Calling on People from All Walks of Life to Stage an Urgent Rescue Effort for Falun Dafa Practitioner Li Liang in Tianjin City” http://en.minghui.org/emh/articles/2003/1/12/30803.html#.UALwAPXuhac

Chinese version available

Sweden: Falun Gong Practitioners and Supporters Call for an End to the Persecution (Photos)

(Minghui.org) On the 13th anniversary of Falun Gong’s resistance to the persecution, practitioners in Sweden rallied outside the Chinese Embassy in Stockholm on July 20, 2012. They also held activities in a town center, Mynttorget, located between the Swedish Royal Palace and the Swedish Parliament, over the weekend of July 21-22. They informed the public of the facts about Falun Gong and condemned the persecution by the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) regime. Many people came to sign the petition to support Falun Gong.

Falun Gong practitioners in Sweden hold an activity in Mynttorget in the center of Stockholm to raise awareness

Talking with people about the persecution

Signing the petition in support of Falun Gong

The practitioners displayed posters and banners exposing the CCP's persecution and slander. They told the public that the CCP regime has been cruelly persecuting Falun Gong practitioners for 13 years and harvested bodily organs from imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners for profit. The practitioners called for an immediate end to the atrocities.

Compelled to Speak Out

Many Swedish practitioners particitpated in the “July 20” activities in Stockholm. Many of them travelled there from other towns. Kristina, a dance teacher, with her husband and their three daughters, drove over five hours to take part in the protest outside the Chinese Embassy.

Kristina said, "I think it is worth the time and effort to come here. The CCP regime is still persecuting good people while at the same time the regime is lying to the whole world. We have the responsibility to inform people about the real situation. This persecution is totally unjustified and must be stopped."

A Young Chinese Has a Change of Heart

A young Chinese man stood in front of the posters. He was wearing a pair of black sunglasses and seemed unimpressed. A practitioner went to talk with him. The man mentioned that he was a PhD student in Finland. He knew about the persecution. He came from northeast China. One of his neighbors had been arrested by the police for practicing Falun Gong. He thought that as he had nothing to do with Falun Gong, he had no interest in knowing more. But when he saw that among those demonstrating the Falun Gong exercises at the event was Mr. Vasilios Zouponidis, who last year received the Swedish “King Carl XVI Gustaf's Honorary Prize” as an entrepreneur, he became interested, took off his sunglasses and started reading the posters seriously. He collected all the brochures and newspapers in Chinese before leaving and said, “Thanks! Thanks! I will study them carefully.”

Vasilios Zouponidis has participated in each year’s protest in Stockholm, calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. He has also taken part in many such rallies in other countries around the world. For this year’s “July 20,” he, with his wife and two children, drove two and a half hours from their hometown to Stockholm and joined the protest outside the Chinese Embassy. When he was asked why he participated in the demonstration, he answered, “We should first of all be human beings. A person with conscience would react when good people are being harmed. This is the most important thing.” Vasilios and his family also participated in the activities at Mynttorget the following two days.

Vasilios started practicing Falun Gong in 1998. He thinks that much of his success is due to his practicing Falun Gong and that “good is rewarded with good.” He said, “Because I am a practitioner and always try to act in accordance with the principles of ‘Truthfulness-Benevolence-Forbearance,’ my company has been successful although the economy has been in recession in Europe. All of my success is thanks to Master Li and Dafa, absolutely!”

He has said after having received the King’s prize, “I know that my fellow practitioners in China are oppressed by the communist regime. They are imprisoned, tortured and many are killed. The Chinese communist regime propagandizes that Falun Gong practitioners are uneducated or have low intelligence. Besides the fact that so many Falun Gong practitioners are professionals, my award helped show that what the Communist regime claims about Falun Gong is nothing but lies.”