BRISBANE, Aug 26, AAP – An Australian Falun Gong practitioner is mounting a
case in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights against former Chinese
president Jiang Zemin.
Traditional Chinese artist Zhang Cui Ying, 41, says she was arrested and
jailed in China, and was tortured and abused because of her beliefs.
International lawyer Geoffrey Robertson, QC, and high-profile Queensland
solicitor Chris Nyst will mount the case against the former Chinese
president for his role in human rights violations.
As well as going to the UN, they also plan a parallel action in the
International Court of Justice, citing a breach of international convention
of which China is a signatory.
Mr Nyst said Mr Robertson’s involvement should strengthen Ms Zhang’s case
and will ensure it is likely to become a benchmark fight against the
persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.
“The Zhang case is a very poignant example of what has happened to many
people in China,” Mr Nyst said in a statement.
“Securing someone of the stature of Geoffrey Robertson, one of the world’s
eminent persons in the field of human and civil rights, to champion our case
is a great coup.”
Mr Robertson is chief justice of the UN War Crimes Commission.
Falun Gong is a spiritual health movement whose followers preach “truth,
compassion and forbearance” and practice meditation and tai chi-like
exercises.
The movement has been branded [] in China and banned since 1999.
Civil actions against Jiang for his alleged persecution of Falun Gong
members are also under way in the United States, Canada, France, Belgium and
Switzerland.
(c) 2003 AAP Information Services Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.
Posting date: 27/Aug/2003
Original article date: 26/Aug/2003
Category: Media Report
