A Sydney woman and her daughter will be sent back to Australia after being
released by Chinese officials, Australian Falun Gong activists said today.
Nancy Chen, 34, disappeared in the south-western city of Chengdu last week,
and fellow Australian Falun Gong activists accused China of arresting her.
A statement issued by the activists today said the Australian Embassy was
only able to confirm details on the whereabouts of Ms Chen, who lives in the
western Sydney suburb of Canterbury, 72 hours after her disappearance. It
said Australian embassy officials headed to Chengdu to investigate the
matter.
“According to the latest information from Nancy’s husband, Herbert Lu, Nancy
and her daughter are to be sent back to Australia in a couple of days,” the
statement said.
“Herbert and the Sydney practitioners are grateful for the Australian
government’s immediate action.”
Ms Chen and her six-year-old daughter arrived in China on January 17 to
visit her parents.
On January 20, Ms Chen disappeared after setting out to visit friends in
Chengdu.
Her family did not hear from her until 6am on January 22, when she called
her mother.
According to the activists’ statement, Ms Chen told her mother: “I have been
kidnapped near the American Consulate in Chengdu”.
“They searched and took all my files including my passport. Please ring my
husband and ask the Australian government to save me,” she said before the
line disconnected.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokeswoman confirmed
yesterday two officials were attempting to gain access to Falun Gong
practitioner Nancy Chen.
Further comment was today being sought from DFAT.
DFAT maintains a travel warning to Falun Gong practitioners that they face
possible arrest or deportation if they go to China.
A DFAT spokeswoman later said Ms Chen and her daughter were due to depart
for Australia today.
“Consular officials who travelled down there (to Sichuan Province) yesterday
will assist with her departure today,” she said.
Posting date: 01/Feb/2003
Original article date: 31/Jan/2003
Category: Media Reports
