Mr. Wang’s brother-in-law already persecuted to death and brother sentenced
to one year labour camp
SYDNEY (FDI) – DIMIA has insisted in deporting an elderly
couple, Mr Wang Juntao, 66 and Mrs Wang Liluan, 62, back to China today, where
they will face certain persecution because they practice Falun Gong. DIMIA states
that ordinary Falun Gong practitioners would not be persecuted; however the
couple had been persecuted before they came to Australia. Furthermore, one of
their family members has been persecuted to death, and another one was sentenced
to forced labour camp.
The couple agreed to accept interviews by the media at
the detention centre, and their son, Dr. Wang Zhou an
Australian citizen, is also willing to accept media interview for helping his
parents’ plea.
Falun Foxue Association is also attempting to meet the
Minister, Mr Ruddock this morning to further raise the case. We are calling
for public help to stop their return to China to face the escalating persecution
again.
Background:
Mr Wang Juntao, 66 and Ms. Wang Liluan, 62 were due to
be deported on 11 March 2003 after their application for a visa was repeatedly
rejected. Reportedly, they were already forced onto a plane, and where about
to take off when a flight attendant discovered that Mr Wang suffers from heart
disease and had him taken off the plane. The couple are currently being held
at Sydney Villawood detention centre, and are scheduled to be deported anytime,
according to the immigration office. Three and a half years ago, while in detention
in China for practicing Falun Gong, Mr.Wang, was knocked unconscious from electric-shock
torture by Chinese prison guards. Three years ago, Mr. Wang’s brother-in-law
was tortured to death for practicing Falun Gong. Two years ago, Mr. and Ms.
Wang escaped fatal persecution and joined their son in the safety of Australia.
“Well-Founded Fear of Persecution” says Amnesty International
Seeing that the couple’s refugee applications continued
to be rejected, Amnesty International appealed on behalf of the two on January
8, 2003. “Amnesty International believes that Mr. and Ms. Wang have a well-founded
fear of persecution,” reads A.I.’s special report on the case. While the Immigration
Department continues to claim that the two would not be at risk upon returning
to China, both the practitioners and Amnesty think differently. “The ongoing
‘strike-hard’ campaign,” according to the same A.I. report, “means that any
practitioner could be at risk. In the case of Mr. and Ms. Wang who have been
detained in the past, the risk would be even greater.” ________________________________________________________________________________
Contacts: John Deller 0416 302 314, Kai Song 0404 085
872, Tony Dai 0416 234 095 Immigration Minister Contact: 02 6277 7860
WEBSITES: www.faluninfo.net , www.falunau.org , E-MAIL : news@falunau.org
