“Australia must abide by international laws”
The Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) associations of Australia have formally requested the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs to refuse entry to Zhang Dejiang, Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Committee of Guangdong Province, who is expected to arrive in Australia in early November for the China Guangdong – Australia Business Conference 2005.
The associations have further requested that if he is admitted, it is only to subject him to criminal prosecution under Australia’s commitments to the UN Convention Against Torture through the Crimes (Torture) Act 1988. This request rests on the well-defined national legislative framework of enforcing Australia’s obligations under international law.
Zhang Dejiang is among a group of top government officials in China who has been involved in implementing and sustaining a campaign of eradication of Falun Gong practitioners in China, particularly in Guangdong Province. This campaign includes, but is not limited to, extra-judicial killing, arbitrary detention, forced labor, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and torture.
Sydney resident, Ms Shelly Yan was illegally held in Chatou Women’s Forced Labour Camp in Guangdong Province for two years before coming to Australia to marry her Australian fiancée. During her detention she was force-fed, and tortured for days on end, including being strung up on a wall and being physically bound in unnatural positions.
“In China such criminals can escape the law through various means, however in Australia we should maintain the integrity of our legal and moral obligations to deny entry to such criminals”, said Kay Rubacek, Falun Gong spokesperson.
PRESS STATEMENT:
by the Falun Dafa Association of NSW and one of a number of victims of persecution in Guangdong Province, China, now living in Sydney
TIME: Friday 4 November 11.00am
VENUE: Chifley Square, Cnr Hunter and Elizabeth Sts
Background: Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a practice of meditation and exercises, with teachings that emphasise living by three principles: truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Practised in over 70 countries world-wide, Falun Gong has roots in traditional Chinese culture. With government estimates of as many as 100 million practising Falun Gong in China, in July 1999 China’s then-Communist leader launched a nationwide, brutal campaign to “eradicate” the practice. The Falun Dafa Information Centre has verified details of 2747 deaths and over 44,000 cases of torture. Millions have been detained or sent to labour camps without trial.
