(Clearwisdom.net) A press conference titled "Rescue Taiwanese Daughter" was hosted by Legislator Tien Chiu-Chin on the morning of November 4, 2009. The conference calls for rescue of Ms. Li Yaohua and Ms. Zhang Yibo, the daughter and granddaughter of Mr. Li Shanzhen, a ninety-one year-old Taoyuan County citizen. Ms. Zhang and Ms. Li have been illegally detained for more than five months in Shanghai for practicing Falun Gong.
Ms. Li, a sixty-three year-old Hong Kong citizen, lives in Shanghai. She was born with a serious spinal deformity. It was very painful and caused disability of her legs. Her disease was cured after she began practicing Falun Gong. She has illegally detained by Shanghai police for practicing Falun Gong, and her father is very worried about her condition. If she experiences spinal dislocation during detention, she won't be able to move or use the restroom. The detention center isn't allowing any family visits, therefore Mr. Li is worried that his daughter has been tortured.
Mr. Li appeals to Taiwanese society for the rescue of his daughter, who may have been tortured
Mr. Li's granddaughter Ms. Li Yibo is a twenty-nine year-old financial manager at Simens Communications in Shanghai. She has been tiny and weak since she was young. Her stomach disease was miraculously cured after she started practicing Falun Gong, and her health improved significantly. She also became more tolerant and generous.
On the twentieth anniversary of the "June 4 Democratic Movement" officials from the 610 Office at Xuhui District of Shanghai broke into Ms. Li's home and arrested Ms. Li and her daughter without showing any legal documents. They have been detained at Xuhui District Detention Center. Mr. Li requested visit many times but requests for visitation were denied.
Ms. Li's son Mr. Zhang Yiyuan, who lives in Los Angeles, has visited more than 170 American Congressmen and received support. He contacted large law firms in Shanghui but no attorney was willing to take the case because their licenses would be suspended if they defended a Falun Gong practitioner. Eventually, attorneys Han Zhiguang and Zhang Chuanli from Beijing, who are known for safeguarding human rights, expressed a willingness to take the case, but their requests to visit Ms. Li and her daughter were also denied.
Mr. Li Shanzhen and Mr. Zhang Yiyuan returned to Taiwan and sought help from the Mainland Affairs Council, Straits Exchange Foundation, and the Justice Department. Several legislators have shown great concern.
Legislator Pan Meng-An immediately requested information from the Mainland Affairs Council, Straits Exchange Foundation after receiving Mr. Li's appeal letter. He stressed that Ms. Li was poor health condition. If she was still detained, we couldn't help asking how many Falun Gong practitioners in Mainland China were tortured.
Legislator Pan Meng-An speaks at press conference
Legislator Pan said Mr. Zheng Lizhong, vice president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, who happened to be visiting Taiwan, should provide an explanation and get Ms. Li and her daughter released.
Legislator Tien Chiu-Chin
Legislator Tien Chiu-Chin pointed out that the persecution of Falun Gong was appalling and beyond imagination. She said, "Nobody in the world should be arrested in the middle of the night for distributing 30 brochures. It is still unknown if Li is alive or not and when she will be released." She called for both parties to say fair words for Falun Gong, and said there was no reason to shrink back on the persecution issue. Legislator Tien promised to follow up with the situation of Ms. Li and her daughter. Among the delegates from China in Taiwan are some persecutors of Falun Gong. She plans to propose to the Legislative Yuan to bar entry of torturers and show Taiwan's standing on human rights in China.
