(Clearwisdom.net) The Human Rights Torch Relay (HRTR) organized by the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG), arrived in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on June 7. Local government officials and citizens gave it a warm welcome.

Mr. Chiu Huangchuan, the vice chair of the Asian Chamber of CIPFG

Yang Chiuhsing, the mayor of Kaohsiung, called for the end of the persecution of Falun Gong.

Ms. Huang Chaohuan, a local government official, speaks at rally

Mr. Hsiu Chijie, the mayor of Fengshan, says Falun Gong is popular in Taiwan.

Local government officials welcome the HRTR coming to Kaohsiung.

Lighting the torch

The mayor of Kaohsiung and other government officials carry the torch

Citizens cycling with the relay.

City Councilor Lin Kaochung (middle) expressed that the persecution against Falun Gong should be exposed to more people.

City Councilor Kao Yucheng said Beijing government should improve human rights in China before the Olympics.

Mr. Cheng Chengyu, a local government official, calls upon people to make noise for human rights in China.

400 members of the local bicycle association attended the HRTR.

The HRTR started at 9:30 in the Central Park in Kaohsiung. Many local government officials, citizens and non-government organizations attended the activity. People called for the end of the persecution of Falun Gong and the improvement of human rights in China.

Mr. Chiu Huangchuan, the vice chair of the Asian Chamber of CIPFG, gave a speech at the rally. He called upon international media to exert pressure on the Chinese government and expose their evil behaviors. Mr. Yang Chiuhsing, the mayor of Kaohsiung expressed in his speech that Taiwanese are concerned about the persecution against Falun Gong in China. He called upon the Chinese government to release those jailed Falun Gong practitioners and stop the persecution before the Olympics. Several other local government officials also welcomed the HRTR and called for the end of the persecution.

After the rally, six citizens dressed as Greek goddesses and the HRTR ambassador, city council member Chen Lina, brought the torch to the park and passed it to the mayor of Kaohsiung. The mayor and other VIPs carried the torch in the city. Many local citizens attended the relay. 400 members of a local bicycle association and members of a local swimming association ran with the torch relay.

Many local council members, non-government organization representatives and local church officials expressed their welcome to the HRTR and concerns about the human rights situation in China, especially the persecution of Falun Gong.

Local citizens also expressed their concerns about the persecution. They said that Falun Gong is welcomed in Taiwan and their rights are highly respected here. They hoped that through the HRTR, more people will learn about the persecution and help to stop the persecution.

The HRTR is organized by the non-government organization CIPFG. It started in Athens, Greece on August 9, 2007. It went through 34 countries and 150 cities in Europe and North America and came to Asia in May. The HRTR came to Taiwan on June 1. It will go through cities in Taiwan from June 2 to 16. It will go to Tainan after Kaohsiung.