DFAT obstructs human rights talks in Canberra

SYDNEY (FDI) – The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has refused
Falun Gong participation in the closed-door human rights meeting, due to an anti-torture
exhibition that was planned to be held outside the department’s office in Canberra.
The meeting scheduled today is between Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and
DFAT. This is a rare opportunity for human rights matters to be discussed at a
grass roots level.

John Deller, spokesperson for Falun Gong, received
a call from DFAT on Tuesday 8 March, withdrawing the invitation for Falun Gong
representatives to participate in the NGO meeting.

"We face a closed door
human rights dialogue, closed door NGO consultations and it can’t be reported,
our only means for passing a message is to do it publicly."

John Deller
said that the group has lobbied the Foreign Minister Alexander Downer for three
years to raise the question of discriminatory treatment on Australian soil.

This
incident is a direct relation to the on-going appeal to Mr Downer, requesting
him to withdraw the ban of Falun Gong signage that is part of the Falun Gong peaceful
appeal outside the Chinese Embassy in Canberra. Mr Downer has personally issued
certificates every month since March 2002. The timing of the initial ban coincided
with the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, who publicly announced
that "Falun Gong practitioners [should be expelled] from the front of the
Chinese Embassy entrance in Australia."

Falun Gong practitioners will
continue to hold an appeal outside the Department’s Canberra office today to raise
awareness about DFAT and Mr Downer’s obstruction of the basic freedom of expression.


Mr Downer has been advised that legal action against him is now in progress.

PRESS CONFERENCE
R.G. Casey Building John McEwan
Cres, Barton
(In front of the Department of Foreign Affairs)

Wednesday
9 March, 11:00am – 12:00pm

Other event details:
– Reenactment of torture
methods used to persecute Falun Gong practitioners in China (ALL DAY)
– Speeches
from victims of the persecution

Background:
At least
1,423 Falun Gong practitioners have died in police custody as part of a global
campaign by the Chinese Communist state, to eradicate the practice. Falun Gong
advocates Truth, Compassion and Tolerance and involves performing five simple
meditative exercises and has been in Australia since 1994.