30th November, 2005
Dear Prime Minister John Howard,
I am a fourteen-year-old secondary student in Auburn. I am writing to you regarding the issue of the continued signing of certificates restricting the use of banners, signs and cassette players in Falun Gong practitioners’ peaceful appeal opposite the Chinese Embassy in Canberra. Not only is this restricting the rights of Australians to freedom of speech, but it is also a blemish on Australia’s human rights record.
I have been practicing Falun Gong since 1996. At that time I suffered from asthma. Every day I would experience severe coughing, whether I was at school or sleeping at night. I took prescriptions and Chinese herbal medicine but they didn’t help. Soon after I began practicing Falun Gong, the coughing gradually lessened and eventually my asthma disappeared completely. I never caught any major disease after that. I also improved both academically and morally by following Falun Gong’s principles of “Truth, Compassion, Tolerance”, and became one of the top students in my class. Falun Gong has benefited me in such profound ways that no words can express my happiness.
The persecution in China started on the 20th July, 1999 by Jiang Zemin, former dictator of the Chinese Communist Party (the CCP). Falun Gong practitioners have, since that time, held a peaceful appeal in front of the Chinese Embassy and consulates in Australia to clarify the truth and call for an end to the persecution.
However, on 16th March 2002, the day before the Chinese Foreign Minister arrived in Canberra, our Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Alexander Downer began signing certificates which restricted the use of banners, audio and signage on cars within the vicinity of the Chinese embassy by Falun Gong practitioners. This effectively silences our voices of justice and prevents Australians from knowing the truth of the persecution. These certificates have been renewed every month. What is more, Mr Downer know full well that millions of Falun Gong practitioners are incarcerated, sentenced to forced labour camps and mental hospitals, and are subject to death from torture.
Australia is built upon the principles of democracy, free speech, and freedom. We are lucky because we are a multicultural community which enjoys freedom, economic prosperity and are relatively free from terrorism. By restricting these peaceful appeals against an inhumane persecution, Mr Downer are going against these values which we pride ourselves upon, and it is also sending a wrong message to the CCP that the Australian government supports this persecution. Should Australia just ignore the fact that millions of innocent Chinese people are being targeted by the CCP because they believe in “Truth, Compassion, Tolerance”, for the sake of trade and having good relations with China? As advocators human rights and justice, we should instead be condemning this persecution.
During the previous school holidays I participated in a car tour from Sydney to Brisbane to raise awareness about the children who have become orphans in China as a result of the persecution. Many practitioners who are illegally arrested are parents, and their children are left to become homeless/living with poor relatives, are discriminated against, and are denied an education simply because they believe in “Truth, Compassion, Tolerance”. The councillors and media we visited were all supportive and understanding of these orphans’ plight. We had a long discussion with one of the mayors and Greens MLC Ian Cohen, who also supported us and commended our ‘children saving children’ initiative. Australians are beginning to see the persecution for what it is, yet many more still need to be told. The banners tell Australians, our government, and the world that this persecution must be stopped immediately, and to urge the Chinese government to release all Falun Gong practitioners who follow “Truth, Compassion, Tolerance”.
The CCP is a master of violence and deception, and this has been proven by history. On the outset, China appears to be economically progressing, but in reality 80% of the people in China are living in poverty; under totalitarian rule these people have no spending power. In its 55 years of rule it has completely destroyed traditional Chinese culture, and there have been many instances of the mass murder of Chinese people; Falun Gong practitioners are one of its many victims. It is now taking advantage of its economic status to persuade other countries to keep silent on their human rights issues. However, we believe that good is rewarded with good and evil with retribution. After the publication of “The Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party” by The Epoch Times, Chinese people who were once deceived are now learning the truth about the wicked Party and are publicly resigning from it. To date, there are almost 6 million people who have quit the Party since last year. This has shaken the foundation of the CCP and it is on the verge of collapse. China is experiencing natural disasters and epidemics, showing that even the heavens want the CCP eliminated. Could these things happen by chance? Australia must decide whether it will uphold its principles of democracy and freedom, or continue trade with a Party that completely violates these principles.
Falun Gong practitioners simply want a peaceful environment where they can freely practice their belief. By protesting in front of the Chinese Embassy, they are exercising their rights to freedom of speech and opposing this unlawful persecution; another addition to the CCP’s long list of atrocities. Surely as a democratic country we should not be encouraging their persecution by enforcing restrictions in Australia. I hope you will show your support and ask Mr Downer to stop signing the monthly certificates which restrict Falun Gong practitioners’ peaceful appeal and infringes their civil liberties as Australians. I also hope you will be able to do more to stop the persecution in China. Thank you for your time and attention.
Yours sincerely,
Gary Liu
