(AFDI) Wednesday, 2 July 2003 – Three Australian tourists, Nancy Chen, Yan Liang and Ruowei Yang, were forcibly taken from their hotel on Saturday 28 June 2003, by the Fiji Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The women have been detained and questioned on numerous occasions since Saturday and for lengthy periods, at the request of the Chinese Embassy in Fiji. Their belongings were also confiscated. The three women are followers of the peaceful movement, Falun Gong and the harassment follows the Chinese government’s systematic worldwide persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.
During telephone calls from Falun Gong practitioners in Australia to the CID headquarters in Fiji, the CID advised the practitioners to contact the Chinese Embassy in Fiji for more information. When asked “Why the Chinese Embassy?” the Inspector replied, “Because the Chinese Embassy in Fiji brought them to us.”
The women have been advised by the Fiji CID that they have not broken any Fijian law and that a report will be submitted to higher authorities, however, while in custody, the women twice witnessed Chinese officials vilifying Falun Dafa to the Fijian officials.
This is despite advice from the Fiji Human Rights Commission for this incident that Fiji is a free country which respects freedom of belief and that they should have no problems with the authorities.
The women arrived in Suva on 27/June/03 and are due to return to Sydney 4/July/03.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Chinese Embassies and their agents throughout the world have been pressurising governments to treat Falun Gong practitioners as non-law-abiding citizens and have them turn a blind eye to the systematic persecution and torture of Falun Dafa practitioners in China, by providing a ‘blacklist’ of overseas Falun Dafa practitioners to foreign countries.
Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, a peaceful, ancient Chinese form of Qigong – the art of self-improvement through exercise, meditation and understanding of the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. The practice is non-religious and non-political.
Falun Dafa is freely practiced by millions in over 60 different countries. After initially sponsoring and encouraging the teaching of Falun Dafa in China and overseas from 1992-1994, China is the only country persecuting the practice.
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Contacts: Kay Rubacek: 0409 743 832 Thomas Dobson: 0414 538 115
Email: news@falunau.org
Web sites: www.falunau.org
