Media Release: Public Forum on Restricting Freedom of Expression in Canberra

Does the ACT’s Bill of Rights Protect our Freedom?

Falun
Gong Practitioners Holds Public Forum on
Restricting Freedom of Expression
in Canberra

Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm, Sunday 20 June
2004
Forum with VIP Speakers & Performers
Event Place – Garema
Place

Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pm, Sunday 20 June 2004
Floral Tribute with
Candlelight
Chinese Embassy: Coronation Drive, Yarralumla

• Keynote
  Speeches will be delivered by Special Guests
• Torture Exhibitions
  with LIVE re-enactment of human rights abuse highlighting the need to display
  atrocities and continual the global appeal against Genocide of Falun Gong in China.

Australian
(FDI) Thursday 17 June 2004 – Australian Falun Gong practitioners appealing outside
the Chinese Embassy in Canberra can no longer display any banners or signs.

Since
the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister to Canberra in 2002, certificates of this
ban have been issued every month by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade (DFAT) Protocol Division and signed by the Foreign Minister.

What
is Special about Canberra?

Canberra is the only place in Australia
that has a Bill of Rights. Only residents of the ACT have rights legally protected
allowing them freedom of ‘expression’ and ‘peaceful appeal.’ It is hoped that
the restriction of using signs at the Chinese Embassy does not set a precedent
for limiting the Civil Rights of Australians.

Why appeal at the Chinese
Embassy?

Since 1999 Australians have been peacefully appealing outside
the Chinese Embassy to help stop severe human rights abuse as thousands of Falun
Gong practitioners are tortured and killed in China. Australians and Chinese tourists
are able to access information about the FACTS of the persecution. The peaceful
appeal takes place throughout Australia and around the world, only in Canberra
practitioners are not allowed to use banners.

Invitation of forum is also
at:
http://www.lawsocact.asn.au/content/calendar/Other%20events.asp

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For
more information, please contact: Tory 0414 435 616

Website: www.falunau.org
Email:
news@falunau.org