A Sydney dancer expelled from China has challenged the Australian Government to
condemn Beijing over human rights abuses.
Earlier this month, Chinese authorities
sent the Sydney Dance Company (SDC) performer Xue-Jun Wang home to Australia –
still wearing his rehearsal outfit – after he gave a copy of a banned book to
a local Chinese man.
The 43-year-old Mr Wang was confronted by Chinese
officials in Shanghai during rehearsals for a combined performance of Mulan with
the Shanghai Song and Dance Ensemble.
Despite intervention from SDC artistic
director Graeme Murphy, who called in Australian consular officials, Wang was
ordered to leave China.
The book, Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party,
is highly critical of the Chinese Government and published by global newspaper
The Epoch Times, which is linked to the Falun Gong meditation group.
Mr
Wang said today he had yet to be given an official reason for his expulsion. However,
he is a member of the Falun Gong movement, which is outlawed in China.
At
a freedom in China rally in Sydney today, Mr Wang called on the Australian Government
to show strength and speak out.
“I believe
they [the Australian Government] have some influence on this,” Mr Wang said.
“The Australian Government really have to be strong, they have to
be standing up to say something, complain and condemn the Chinese Government for
what they are doing now.”
Mr Wang said it wasn’t just Falun Gong members
who were being persecuted – Roman Catholicism was also considered an illegal practice
in China.
“From my case, I already feel that my basic human rights
are being interfered with,” he said.
“But what happens to the
Australian businessman if they have a Roman Catholic background? What will happen
to them because it’s illegal in China?
“And the 2008 Olympic Games?
What are they going to do about that?”
Mr Wang set out his concerns
in a letter to the Foreign Minister, Alexander, Downer last week, but has yet
to receive a reply.”
AAP
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/dancer-calls-for-china-condemnation/2005/10/15/1128796739407.html?oneclick=true
Posting date: 15/Oct/2005
Original article date: 15/Oct/2005
Category: Media Report
