(Clearwisdom.net) After Mr. Ma Ying-jeou took power in Taiwan, his administration has actively promoted exchange across the strait. In July, three thousand mainland Chinese tourists a day will visit Taiwan for the first time. However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s National Tour Bureau requested that the tourist sites in Taiwan not have Falun Gong and Tibet independence information. Legislator Lai Ching-teh called on each county and city government not to comply. He said that it would be more valuable for mainland visitors to see the Falun Gong banners on freedom and human rights than scenery because the banners are not available in China and represent Taiwan's freedom and democratic values.
Recently, some Taiwanese media have made negative reports on Falun Gong practitioners' truth-clarification activities at tourist sites. Some police even took photos of practitioners' group practice and distributing flyers. Taiwan human rights lawyer Chu Wan-chi said that the police's actions are violating the Constitution, and she called on the police to stop taking pictures of and driving away practitioners.
On June 27, Taiwan Legislator Lai Ching talks to the press about Mainland tourists running into Falun Gong in Taiwan
Legislator Lai said that it would be more valuable for mainland visitors to see the Falun Gong banners on freedom and human rights than scenery
On June 27, 2008, Taiwan Legislator Lai Ching-teh said in a press conference that the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong is a fact and the CCP's live organ removal for lucrative profit is also a fact. As Director of the Asian Delegation of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG), he said that he would continue requesting to enter China to investigate the CCP's live organ removal and would also safeguard Falun Gong practitioners' rights in clarifying the truth at tourist sites in Taiwan. He also expressed his determination to protest if local governments decide to restrict Falun Gong practitioners' activities at scenic sites.
Why is Mainland China Afraid of Its Tourists Running into Falun Gong?
Since the CCP initiated the persecution of Falun Gong in 1999, one can see Falun Gong practitioners holding banners and practicing the exercises in front of Chinese embassies and consulates across the world. As there is no Chinese consulate in Taiwan, Falun Gong practitioners explain the facts to mainland visitors at tourist sites including Sun Moon Lake, Taroko National Park, Alishan, the imperial palace, and the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
Ms. Lin Gui, a doctor of traditional medicine who just came back from truth-clarification in Sun Moon Lake, said, "The situation in Sun Moon Lake is worrisome. Police said that no poster boards were allowed and they would issue tickets if they see our poster boards again. I explained to the police officers, 'Mainland visitors are very curious about the content of the poster boards. Some tourists even take truth-clarification literature with them. Some support and encourage us.'"
Regarding some media's claim that mainland visitors were "harassed", Falun Gong practitioner Yao Shu-hua said in surprise, "We have been explaining the facts here for three to four years. Nothing of the sort has happened. We just want the Chinese people to know the facts: more than three thousand practitioners were tortured to death; hundreds of thousands of practitioners are unlawfully imprisoned in forced labor camps and prisons. We also explain the facts to people in Taiwan."
Practitioner Yao Shu-hua explaining the facts in Chiang Kai-Shek's Shilin Residence
Chang Ching-his, Director of the Falun Dafa Association of Taiwan
Chang Ching-his, Director of the Falun Dafa Association of Taiwan, asked, "Why is the CCP so afraid of Chinese tourists finding out the facts?" He said, "Since the CCP initiated the persecution of Falun Gong in 1999, the CCP regime has conducted live organ removal for lucrative profits. That is the real reason why the CCP is afraid of others finding out."
Human rights lawyer Chu Wan-chi said, "Taiwan is about freedom. How can we hide from it?" She emphasized that Taiwan is a mirror for mainland China, and visitors should see the Taiwanese people's freedom, democracy and rule of law.
Human rights lawyer Chu Wan-chi
Scholars call on government not to yield to the CCP
Mr. Chang Ching-his said that Taiwan cannot cooperate with the CCP's requests. He said, "We should be letting Mainland visitors see Taiwan's democracy and freedom, learn about the facts of Falun Gong, and not be deceived by the CCP. That would be truly promoting understanding across the strait and demonstrating democracy."
Cai Ji-hsun, Director of the Taiwan Human Rights Promotion Association, said, "Convincing others to learn about the facts is the first step towards promoting human rights. The Falun Gong practitioners' continuous efforts of truth-clarification are admirable. It was hard to get Taiwan's democracy. In welcoming Mainland visitors, Taiwan officials must not place artificial constraints on themselves."
Cai Ji-hsun, Director of the Taiwan Human Rights Promotion Association
Who is really "harassing" mainland tourists?
Professor Chang Jin-hua of National University wrote a comment on the media's claim of "harassment". In a press conference held on June 27, she called on the media again to be fair and responsible.
Professor Chang Jin-hua of National University
She said that tourists freely pick up literature and read poster boards at tourist sites. Under such circumstances, where is the harassment?
In contrast, wherever mainland tourists go, there is an invisible party of state violence restricting them from taking literature and looking at poster boards. They are restricted by this even when they leave China. The real harassment done to mainland tourists comes from the CCP regime. She continued, "We want to ask: when can the CCP stop the persecution of Falun Gong? When can the CCP stop the persecution of dissidents? When can the Chinese people have democracy and freedom?"
