In the August board meeting of the Student Representative
Council (SRC) at University of Technology, Sydney, SRC executives unanimously
passed a resolution to condemn the persecution of Falun Dafa in China and it being
extended to Australia.
In the resolution, the SRC showed their support for
the rights and freedom of belief of Falun Dafa practitioners. They expressed their
deep concern about the widespread torture and deaths of Falun Dafa practitioners
in China, and for the harassment and interference in Australia conducted through
Chinese Embassy and Consulates.
In particular, the SRC was concerned about pressure from the Chinese Communist
Party on the Australian government to violate the rights of Australian Falun Dafa
practitioners and supporters. An outstanding example of this is the monthly certificates
that are signed by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, banning Australian Falun
Gong practitioners and supporters from holding any sign or banner in front of
the Chinese Embassy in Canberra. The Foreign Minister started this process only
days before the visit of Chinese Foreign Minster Tang Jiaxuan in 2002.
The
SRC agreed to write letters to the Australian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister,
and to the Australian Chinese Embassy, to express their concerns and urge the
Australian government to speak out against this persecution. The SRC resolution
is enclosed as follows:
UTS STUDENTS ASSOCIATION RESOLUTION
Preamble
Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) is a traditional self-improvement
practice for body and mind based on the universal principle of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance”,
and is commended for its devotion to public service and commitment to improving
health in mind, body and spirit;
All Falun Dafa activities, including classes
and conferences, are offered by volunteers and are opened to the public free of
charge;
The 6-year long persecution of Falun Dafa in China severely violates
the fundamental human rights enshrined in Chinese constitutional law, and has
caused at least 2,671 deaths of Falun Dafa practitioners;
The Chinese Embassy
and consulates in Australia continue to monitor and harass local Australian Falun
Dafa practitioners and send defamatory and slanderous anti-Falun Dafa propaganda
to schools, libraries and government offices, which is unacceptable interference
with our supporting Falun Dafa practitioners' rights of practice, and serves
to incite hatred and/or contempt towards Falun Dafa;
For the past 39 months,
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has signed a monthly certificate, specifically
banning Australian Falun Gong practitioners and supporters from holding any sign
or banner in front of the Chinese Embassy in Canberra due to the strong political
pressure and economic temptation of the Chinese Communist Regime;
Motion
That the UTS STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION
a) Supports Falun Gong practitioners'
freedom of belief and expression;
b) Condemns the persecution of Falun Gong
in China and harassment in Australia;
c) Urges the Chinese Government to release
all Falun Gong practitioners who have been illegally detained, tortured, and persecuted
in prisons, detention centers, labour camps, mental hospitals and re-education
centers in China;
d) Will write a letter to the Foreign Minister Alexander
Downer to urge him to stop signing the monthly certificate immediately;
e)
Will send a letter to the Prime Minister of Australia, urging him to speak up
for an immediate end to the murder, torture, abuse, and other cruel and inhuman
treatment of practitioners of Falun Gong in China and help to continue to rescue
Australians' family members who are illegally jailed and persecuted in China
for practicing Falun Gong;
f) Supports efforts to bring Jiang Zemin to justice
in the courts for his crimes in genocide, crimes against humanity and crimes of
torture.
g) Will write a letter to the Chinese Embassy and Consulate in Australia
to urge them to stop harassing Falun Gong practitioners and inciting hatred in
Australian communities to defame Falun Gong;
h) Will send copies of this resolution
to The Honorable Prime Minister of Australia; The Honorable Minister of Foreign
Affairs and the Chinese Embassy and Chinese Consulates in Australia.
Posting
date: 28/Aug/2005
Original article date: 27/Aug/2005
Category: Australian
News
