(Minghui.org) May 13, 2021 marks the 29^th anniversary of Falun Dafa's public introduction and also the birthday of Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of the spiritual practice. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Chao Tien-lin, DPP legislator Wang Ting-yu, and Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Ma Wen-chun wished Master Li Hongzhi a happy birthday. 

DPP legislator Chao Tien-lin

DPP legislator Chao Tien-lin wished Master Li a happy birthday and praised the contributions that Falun Dafa has made in belief, health, culture and human rights. He recognized that Falun Dafa practitioners have established media companies and provided first-hand and factual reports about the situation in China.

“We will continue to focus our attention on the persecution that Falun Gong has experienced in mainland China. We will support and encourage Falun Gong’s progress on media and the arts,” stated Chao.

DPP legislator Wang Ting-yu

DPP legislator Wang Ting-yu remarked that Master Li is a great person. “Other people’s influences come from their resources, assets, wealth, or being an autocratic leader or a president of a country. But Master Li doesn’t have any of these. He attracted millions of follower by faith and spiritual power,” Wang said.

“I sincerely wish him a happy birthday and thank him for so many years of dedication,” Mr. Wang said. “I believe that righteous faith will defeat the evil.”

Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Ma Wen-chun

Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Ma Wen-chun said that Master Li is a revered teacher and has believers all over the world. “On his 70^th birthday, I take this opportunity to wish him longevity, peace, and a happy birthday!”

Background: What Is Falun Dafa?

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people have embraced the teachings—which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance as well as five gentle exercises—and experienced uplifted health and well-being.

Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline's growing popularity as a threat to the CCP's atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, issued an order to ban the practice.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 22 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. More have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.

There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply the organ transplant industry.

Under Jiang's personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.