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

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

Scenes from experience sharing conference

Young practitioners demonstrating Dafa exercises

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United Evening Post: Ma Ying-Jeou Stands Up Denouncing Chinese government's persecuting 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 emphasized that attending the Falun Gong activities he "not afraid of annoying any government or authority." This is also the first time in Taiwan that the famous political figure publicly attended Falun Gong activity and criticized China's persecuting Falun Gong.

He also made clear to Mainland China that Taiwan is a place that respects the freedom of assembly and religion. 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 emphasized 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 practice Falun Dafa.

Mr. Ma Ying-jeou revisited the government's ban on Christian Churches, attacking Mormons, and the June 4^th [massacre in] Tiananmen Square movement in the past. He said many religions grew in the persecution. 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 4^th ceremonial activities every year. He also announced in public "No discussion to unite the two sides before the June 4^th 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 organization 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 organization. This time, Ma Ying-jeou attended the conference because he had good relationship with a few important 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 that Falun Gong's "No Politics." He used himself as an example. Before practicing Falun Dafa, he was active in political and social movements. After practicing Falun Gong, he "tried his best to avoid" attending any political activities except issues [of his profession] in the area of economics.

Posting date: 1/1/2003
Original article date: 1/1/2003
Category: Falun Dafa Worldwide
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.ca/mh/articles/2002/12/31/41955.html

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