By Ji Yangxue
SYDNEY – Over 70 Falun Gong practitioners held a candlelight vigil October 8 in front of the Chinese Consulate to mourn the death of fellow practitioner Ouyang Ming. Ouyang, a teacher from Huanggang Industry School in Hubei Province, reportedly died on August 20 from torture.
Two prominent banners were displayed during the solemn tribute. They read, “Painful Sorrow for Ouyang Ming, brother of an Australian citizen; inhumanely tortured to death” and “The Heavens Will Not Forgive the Cruel Killing of Innocent Lives”. Wreaths and candles covered the ground, surrounded by silent sitting Falun Gong practitioners.
This was the third case of a family member of an Australian citizen having died at the hands of Chinese authorities for practicing Falun Gong. There are reportedly more than ten relatives of Australian citizens still detained in China for their continued practice of Falun Gong. A spokesperson said that information gathered through unofficial channels had verified over 790 deaths of Falun Gong practitioners, with at least 6,000 practitoners being illegally sentenced and over 100,000 practitioners interred in labor camps. The spokesperson also said that the candlelight vigil aimed to focus people’s attention on the ongoing plight of Falun Gong practitioners in China and to urge the Chinese government to immediately stop the cruel persecution.
Ouyang Yu, the elder brother of Ouyang Ming is an Australian citizen. He is also a famous writer, poet and does not practice Falun Gong. He said he feels grief-stricken and helpless about his younger brother’s death, and he has nowhere to turn to seek redress for this injustice. Mr. Ouyang Yu has made extensive appeals hoping that people will lend a hand to help stop injustices such as this from happening again.
Posting date: 15/Oct/2003
Original article date: 14/Oct/2003
Category: Media Report
