Celebrations of 20 million people quitting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and affiliated organisations resounded in Auckland on Saturday. Auckland's Aotea Square was brightened by the Divine Land Marching band heralding the start of the rally and march. As the brass band played it seemed to wash the spirits of those passing by the historic event. Around a hundred people gathered to hear the speeches from a variety of organisations who support the fall of communism in China, and the world.
The wave of renunciations from the CCP began after November 2004, when the editorial series, Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party was published by The Epoch Times. The Nine Commentaries delves into the history and nature of the CCP in unprecedented depth and clarity.
Sam Murphy, Editor-in-Chief of the NZ Epoch Times explained the book's importance in today's world, as global interest in China is increasing, especially in the area of trade.
"So when people are dealing with a regime such as the CCP, people need to know what they are dealing with. The Epoch Times recognised this and published the Nine Commentaries with the aim of letting the world know the history and nature of the CCP," he said.
Last year, a research study conducted at Harvard University revealed that the Chinese regime was hijacking or blocking Internet content coming into China, especially targeting those sites deemed as of political nature. Internet access testing showed 90% of the "political" sites blocked, among which the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party was on the top of the filter list.
"There would be a lot more than 20 million people who have quit the CCP if the Internet in China wasn't heavily censored and the Nine Commentaries weren't banned," Mr Murphy said.
"The Chinese communist regime is a mass murdering entity; over 80 million people have been killed by it since it took over China. People are severely persecuted, tortured and killed in China for holding a belief or an idea that differs from communism. Yet, the CCP has been very good at covering these facts up."
Mr Jia Kuo, the son of famous defector, Jia Jia, who fled China last year after speaking out about democracy also spoke at the rally.
Now living in Auckland, while his father is attempting to gain asylum outside China, Jia Kuo said, "The Chinese people are gradually shaking off the terror of the Chinese Communist regime."
"In this darkest period of China, anyone who has the courage to withdraw from the Chinese communist regime will become the hero of the country and will have a bright and fantastic future," he said.
Ms Xu Pei, regarded as one of the best German-language contemporary poets
"This is my fourth time at a Quit the CCP celebration. The first time was in Cologne, Germany in April 2005, celebrating 1 million Quitting the CCP. The second time was in Sydney, Australia in November 2006 celebrating 15 million quitting CCP. In March this year I attended a celebration in San Fransisco for 20 million quitting.
This indicates that Chinese people are at every corner of the world. This also indicates that Chinese people living overseas enjoy human rights, which means we have the rights of freedom of belief, the right of association and the right to know.
A Chinese, only when he or she steps out of China, can begin to understand that the Chinese communist regime has actually deprived people of their human rights, deprived them of their dignity and freedom as a human being.
Therefore, Chinese people living overseas have the responsibilities and obligations to pass the truth to Mainland Chinese people, our fellows, to let everyone know the evil history of the Chinese communist regime.
Quiting the CCP is the first step to eliminating the communist culture."
Weiguang Zhong from the Chinese Liberal Cultural Movement and Radio Free Asia, Germany
"The Quit the CCP movement has entered every corner of the world. The purpose of the Chinese Liberal Culture Movement is to eliminate the communist culture.
The Quit the CCP movement is actually unprecedented in history and one of it's purposes is due to Chinese people wanting to pursue freedom - everyone wants freedom. Some people have been suspicions about the number of 20 million quitting the CCP, but I believe it is very reliable and believable. Every Chinese person actually curses the Chinese Communist Party.
Here we appeal to everyone, please stand up and join us. This movement will affect everyone, our children and our grandchildren, their fate and their future."
Liu Yang from the Chinese Liberal Cultural Movement NZ "The movement of Quit the CCP is actually a very significant movement as it is against autocracy and atrocity in China." "From a historical point of view, in Hungary there was the anti-communist movement and in Poland, the union movement. In China there is now the Quit the CCP movement. I sincerely hope the violence and riots will be dispelled forever."
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