August 13-19, 2012
Headline News
PCT overjoyed at the release of Chung Ting-pang
Reported by Lin Yi-ying
Written by Lydia Ma
After spending 54 days under unlawful detainment in China, Taiwanese businessman Chung Ting-pang is finally home! Chung, who is also a Falun Gong follower, returned to Taiwan on the morning of August 11, 2012. His daughter, Chung Ai thanked everyone for their help in the past few weeks.
A few NGOs, including the PCT, which had come together to form an alliance called “Save Chung Ting-pang” issued a statement condemning Beijing’s unlawful detainment. PCT Church and Society Committee Secretary Huang Che-yen said he was very glad to see Chung return to his family and he was also honored to be part of this alliance. He added that it was good for believers of Falun Gong to see the love and genuine concern coming from Christians.
According to reports, Chung, who works in the technology industry in Hsinchu Science Park, went to China to visit relatives a few weeks ago. He was arrested on June 18 at the airport just as he was about to head back to Taiwan. Intelligence officers in China charged him with the crime of “sending equipment used for interrupting radio and television broadcasts” and “inciting mainland residents to destroy broadcasting facilities”.
Though the Chung family sought help within Taiwan and even went to the US to seek help from US congressmen, it was Amnesty International that helped secure Chung Ting-pang’s release in the end. The family had gone to the Presidential Palace twice to petition to President Ma, but they were unable to secure any promises from him.
More than 40 NGOs joined forces to stage a march on August 7, one day before Father’s Day in Taiwan. They carried a banner that wrote “Daddy Chung wants to come home! President Ma, say something!”. Huang Che-yen helped to secure a government permit for this event and communicated with local police to make sure that the march would go smoothly. He also led more than 100 Falun Gong believers in prayer on Chung’s behalf in the evening.
Huang underscored that protecting human rights is an universal and ecumenical value. Because religious freedoms are basic human rights, therefore, people must defend them with tangible actions. He hoped that God would continue to protect Taiwanese, whether they live abroad or in Taiwan, so that they could truly possess human rights and freedoms.
