By INGA GILCHRIST
MEMBERS of meditation group Falun Gong claim they have suffered religious
discrimination after being denied a stall at this year’s Chinese New Year
festival in Melbourne.
The group applied for an exercise and meditation stall in Russell St during
the February party, but claim they were knocked back, without reason, by
organisers Concentive Australia and hosts the Federation of Chinese
Associations Victoria.
The [group] was banned in China in 1999.
Falun Dafa, the group’s spiritual arm, this week took its case to the
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Stall spokesman Michael
Pearson-Smith said festival hosts were kowtowing to the wishes of China’s
consul-general in Melbourne by excluding Falun Dafa.
“We have had phone calls from other members of the federation saying that
there is a majority … which is faithful to mainland China,” Mr
Pearson-Smith said.
“They say they will have to placate members of the Chinese community (if
they include us).”
Federation of Chinese Associations Victoria president Sheng Wang confirmed
pressure from the Chinese consulate-general had driven the decision to
exclude the stall.
“If Falun Gong was involved, the consul-general would not be a VIP guest at
the celebration,” he said.
“It’s not just a peaceful movement – they demonstrate in front of the
consul-general’s office every day.
“As organisers of the festival, we just cannot take the risk.”
Mr Wang said the federation would defend the claim on the basis that
including Falun Gong would threaten the festival’s security and sponsor
appeal.
Concentive Australia did not answer the Herald Sun’s calls yesterday.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,5250405%255E2862,00.html
Posting date: 10/Oct/2002
Original article date: 09/Oct/2002
Category: Media Reports
