(Clearwisdom.net) To celebrate the 12^th anniversary of the public introduction of Falun Dafa and the Fifth World Falun Dafa Day, several thousand Falun Gong practitioners from various parts of Taiwan gathered in Kaohsiung City and held celebration activities. Besides demonstrating the grace of Dafa, they also called for the public to support the basic human rights of Falun Gong practitioners in China and for help to end the persecution against them.

China Times, Taiwan reported on the event on May 10, 2004. The report stated, "About four thousand Falun Gong practitioners from various locations of Taiwan gathered in the Kaohsiung Cultural Center on May 9 to celebrate the 12^th anniversary of Falun Dafa's public introduction and Mother's Day. Vice Mayor Lin Yingjian spoke as a host and welcomed the practitioners to the friendly ocean side city, Kaohsiung. He praised their high spirits, which indicated that everyone had benefited from the Falun Dafa principle of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance."

Describing the joyful and celebratory scenes at the event, the report stated, "It was sunny yesterday. There were four exercise demonstrations, brilliant waist drum performance, lotus flower dancing, color ribbon dancing, fan dancing, tea collection dancing, lion dancing, banner group, balloon group, windmill group, and an angel group in the several-thousand people procession. They paraded around the cultural center and introduced the public to Falun Gong and the principle of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.

Director Chang Ching-his of the Falun Dafa Association of Taiwan said, "There are many people in Kaohsiung practicing Falun Gong. The celebration of World Falun Day in this city is to have more people in South Taiwan to benefit from practicing Falun Gong. May 13 is World Falun Dafa Day. Since the public introduction in 1992, Falun Gong has been spread to over 60 countries and 100 million people practice it. Countless people have experienced a rebirth after practicing Falun Gong."

In contrast with the joyful atmosphere of Falun Dafa celebration in Taiwan, Falun Dafa practitioners across the strait are brutally persecuted. The report stated, "Regarding the [...] regime's persecution of Falun Gong, Mr. Lin Yingjian said, 'It is because that [ruling party] leaders do not understand people's wish to live according to the principle of , Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. The persecution has defamed Falun Dafa practitioners. I believe that these series of activities can help people understand Falun Dafa.'"

Mr. Chang said, "Since Jiang Zemin ordered the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in 1999, tens of thousands of practitioners have been abused or even killed. I hope more citizens voice support to the basic human rights of Falun Gong practitioners and help end the persecution as soon as possible."

Posting date: 5/14/2004
Original article date: 5/13/2004
Category: News & Media Reports
Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2004/5/12/74448.html

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