A former Chinese diplomat who defected to Australia is helping the Falun Gong
movement in a court case against Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.
The movement
is taking action in the ACT Supreme Court in a bid to lift restrictions on their
protests outside the Chinese embassy in Canberra.
The group accuses Mr
Downer of signing certificates which ban the use of large banners and musical
instruments by protesters demonstrating against the Chinese government’s abuse
of Falun Gong practitioners.
The case was the subject of a directions hearing
in the court and lawyers later revealed former Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin had
provided evidence for the case.
"Chen Yonglin has given an affidavit
in these proceedings, I’m not free to say any more," lawyer Bernard Collaery
said outside the court.
Mr Chen was granted a permanent protection visa
this month, six weeks after abandoning his post at the Chinese consulate-general
in Sydney.
He claims there is a network of 1,000 Chinese spies operating
in Australia and their duties include monitoring Falun Gong.
The spiritual
movement is banned in China.
Falun Gong last week denied it was bankrolling
Mr Chen to speak at functions organised by the movement.
One of the two
plaintiffs in the case, Zhang Cuiying, told more than 100 Falun Gong practitioners
protesting outside the court that the certificates signed by Mr Downer limit freedom
of speech.
"The purpose of our holding banners in front of the Chinese
embassy is to let the 1.3 billion Chinese know the truth and the facts about the
persecution of Falun Gong," she said through a translator.
The plaintiffs
are seeking an injunction to stop further certificates being issued that restrict
protests.
The matter will return to the ACT Supreme Court on August 1.
© 2005 AAP
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Exdiplomat-helps-Falun-Gong-court-cas
e/2005/07/18/1121538917996.html?oneclick=true
Posting date: 19/Jul/2005
Original article date: 18/Jul/2005
Category:
Media Report
