Taipei, Taiwan: Press Conference Commemorates Peaceful Appeal in 1999

(Minghui.org) Practitioners did the Falun Dafa exercises and held a press conference at the Taipei City Hall Square on April 19, 2025, to commemorate the April 25 peaceful appeal in Beijing 26 years ago.

A few days after practitioners were arrested in Tianjin, some practitioners went to the State Council’s Central Appeal Office in Beijing on April 25, 1999, to seek their release and to ask that their constitutional right to practice Falun Dafa be upheld. Three months later, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) started persecuting Falun Dafa in July 1999.

Practitioners in Taiwan have held events every year to commemorate the peaceful appeal in 1999. Residents and tourists read the posters, and talked with practitioners.

Practitioners do the Falun Dafa exercises at Taipei City Hall Square on April 19, 2025

The press conference.

A Moral Example

Taiwan Falun Dafa Association Chairman Hsiao Sung-shan

Hsiao Sung-shan, chairman of the Taiwan Falun Dafa Association, said April 25 was a special date in history because of the peaceful appeal of Falun Dafa practitioners on that day. “With sincerity, kindness, and rationality, practitioners were peaceful in front of the most vicious totalitarian regime in modern history,” he said. The premier promised to resolve this issue and practitioners set a good example of opposing the persecution in a peaceful manner.

“Looking back, the peaceful appeal in April 1999 is viewed as one of the largest and most peaceful appeals in Chinese history. It serves as a moral monument for our society,” he added. Hsiao invited more people to condemn the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution.

Courage of Conscience

Shu Mei from the Taiwan Association for International Care of Organ Transplants

Shu Mei, chairperson of the Taiwan Association for International Care of Organ Transplants, said she was happy to see so many practitioners coming to this event. “With no slogans or violence, practitioners gathered in Beijing 26 years peacefully with dignity and determination. Such perseverance is rooted in their courage of conscience,” she explained.

However, the CCP launched a nationwide persecution three months later which includes detention, torture, killing, and organ harvesting. The forced organ harvesting, in particular, has become an ethical crisis in the global medical field. “Instead of remaining silent, we should follow our conscience to support the upright,” Shu said. “History will remember the choice we make and the actions we take. Let’s support the innocent and safeguard our moral principles.”

Hsinchu City Councilor: Kindness and Hope

Hsinchu City Councilor Zeng Zhicheng

Zeng Zhicheng, Hsinchu City Councilor, said he remembered the peaceful appeal 26 years ago very well. Despite the peaceful efforts of Falun Dafa practitioners, the CCP persecuted the group, resulting in the greatest human abuse in modern history.

In his speech, Zeng called for three initiatives. First, the United Nations and government of all countries should start an independent investigation into the CCP’s forced organ harvesting. Second, the international society should pay attention to this 26-year-long human rights tragedy and hold perpetrators accountable. Third, he hopes more people will join and support peaceful practitioners’ efforts to expose the suppression.

“We came here for kindness and hope, not hatred,” Zeng said. “We believe history will restore justice and we hope this persecution will end soon.”

26 Years of Perseverance

Zhou Yuehong from the office of Legislator Liu Chien-kuo

Zhou Yuehong, director of the office of Legislator Liu Chien-kuo, said he was touched by the perseverance of Falun Dafa practitioners in the past 26 years.

Zhou said that Su Wu, a diplomat and politician during the Han Dynasty, was well remembered for his loyalty and dignity during the 19 years he was in office. But Falun Dafa practitioners have been doing so for 26 years. That’s why practitioners are very impressive.

Taipei City Councilors: Supporting Justice

Taipei City Councilor Hung Chien-yi

Hung Chien-yi, a Taipei city councilor, said the event supports justice and universal values. The CCP’s on-going persecution reveals the regime’s vicious nature.

“I want to thank practitioners for their hard work,” said Hung. “I will also do my best to help.”

Taipei City Councilor Chang Wen-chieh

Chang Wen-chieh, another city councilor, said she knows Falun Dafa very well. During her graduate school years in National Taiwan University, a professor often led students to do Falun Dafa exercises. The movements were gentle but practice was refreshing and effective.

She said Falun Dafa benefited practitioners of all ages and such a practice should be promoted instead of being suppressed, “We will let more people know the facts. By working together, we can bring this brutality to an end,” she said.

Inner Strength

Xu, a college student who participated in the event, said he found practitioners’ heart was very pure during the peaceful appeal in April 1999. “They just wanted to speak from their hearts and went to the State Council’s Central Appeal Office, with no concern for their safety. I think they did very well,” he said.

Yu Ting, an IT engineer, said she feels inspired by practitioners’ dedication in the past 26 years, even though they are slandered and mistreated by the CCP. “There is no democracy or freedom in China. But practitioners stand up for their principles despite the danger. I think they are great,” she said.

Talking to tourists about Falun Dafa.