September 21,2021
Anna Murray
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Association of World Citizens and Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy hosted an online forum of Peace, Love and Human Rights--- “Calling for an end to state violence and for a world of love and peace” on September 16, 2021(https://youtu.be/_x5lGjCN6YI), inviting the audience to reflect on historic events and to express wishes for love and peace in response to a shocking international human rights persecution case – the Tai Ji Men Tax Case – the National Taxation Bureau and the Administrative Enforcement Agency illegally auctioned and confiscated the sacred land of Tai Ji Men on August 21, 2020.
When Tai Ji Men members were conducting cultural exchanges in the United States 20 years ago in September, they witnessed the 9/11 terrorist attacks. During those difficult times, Tai Ji Men hosted a ceremony to ring the Bell of World Peace and Love in New York and flew to Honolulu, Hawaii to hold the promised pray ceremony and cultural feast. Honolulu's then-Mayor Jeremy Harris declared September 16, 2001 as "Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy and Dr. Hong Tao Tze Day," and presented Dr. Hong with an "Award of Merit from the City and County of Honolulu" in recognition of his contributions to world peace.
At the time, New York was in chaos, and the world was under threat of more terrorist attacks, according to Arthur Hsieh, a Tai Ji Men dizi who works as a product manager. The next target was supposed to be the iconic World War II port of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Dr. Hong, on the other hand, taught his dizi that, as martial artists, making promises is the most important thing of all. As a result, Tai Ji Men arrived in Hawaii as promised, with a brave and compassionate heart.
20 years later, Tai Ji Men members returned to Honolulu, Hawaii to promote the International Day of Conscience, raising the attention of international community on safeguarding freedom of belief and human rights. The group especially protested in front of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu, delivering a petition letter to Tseng Yong-Kwang, the Office's director-general, asking him to send their message to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, urging president and related officers to resolve Tai Ji Men Tax Case on their duties.
Stella Lin, a Tai Ji Men dizi who works as a public relations officer, participated in the 2019 International Conference of Chief Justices of the World to promote love, peace, and conscience with presidents, ministers, justices, and other heads of state from around the world. She stated that during times of pandemics and disasters, it is distressing and anguishing for Taiwanese people to see the administration refuse to admit their mistakes and even illegally rub people's land. Solving all unjust cases is the best way to achieve love and peace in the hope of raising people's attention on taxpayers' human rights and awakening the government's conscience with the power of the entire people.
Yvonne Lai, a Tai Ji Men dizi who works as a healthcare consultant, expressed her pain and outrage at seeing Tai Ji Men dizi who are already 80 and 90 years old have been exposed to the sun in 37 degree Celsius weather and heavy rain since 2010 to fight for justice. As a result, she determined to participate in as many protests as possible in order to raise awareness about the Tai Ji Men Tax Case and the victims of unfair taxes. Finally, she appealed to Taiwan's government, stating that if government officials do not listen to people's voices, there will be no LOVE. There can be no PEACE if state violence continues. There are no HUMAN RIGHTS if the Tai Ji Men's unjust tax bills are not revoked and nationalized property is not returned.