Falun Gong members protested outside the Chinese embassy in Canberra today
as Australia raised the issue of China’s treatment of followers during talks
in Beijing.
The Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa) demonstrators called for an end to
the persecution of members of the meditation group in China.
“For Falun Dafa practitioners in China, the situation has dramatically
worsened despite the best intentions of these dialogues,” a statement from
the group said today.
“The last year alone has seen 300 recorded deaths of Falun Gong
practitioners due to torture in Chinese labour camps and detention centres,
compared to the toll over th past four years where 754 deaths have been
verified. The real death toll is more likely in the thousands.”
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the treatment of Falun Gong members
and human rights issues in Tibet would be raised during the seventh round of
the annual Human-Rights Dialogue with China.
“The talks in Beijing will cover judicial administration, civil and
political freedoms, the rights of women and children and the treatment of
Falun Gong members and other disadvantaged groups in China,” Mr Downer said
in a statement.
“We will also raise individual cases of concern. Another item on the agenda
will be the Australian government’s concerns about the human rights
situation in Tibet.”
Mr Downer said the Australian group would visit Lhasa to express the
concerns directly to Tibetan authorities and to investigate the human rights
situation on the ground.
The Australian delegation is headed by Deputy Secretary of the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade Dr Geoff Raby.
Other members include President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity
Commission John von Doussa QC, and also officials from government
departments responsible for human rights matters in Australia.
China’s delegation is led by Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Shen
Guofang and includes representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme
People’s Court, the Ministry of Public Security, the All China Women’s
Federation and the United Front Work Department.
Posting date: 31/July/2003
Original article date: 29/July/2003
Category: Media Report
