"Exposing Lies, Saving Lives" Human Rights Rally in Sydney City Centre (Photos)

On Sunday, 1 June 2003, a Human Rights Rally was successfully held at Town Hall Square in the centre of Sydney.

The rally was organised by the “Anti Hong Kong Article23 Association”, in order to strongly raise awareness of cover ups by the Chinese communist regime and their effect on Australia and the world. Under the theme of “Exposing Lies, Saving Lives” the rally called for basic human rights and freedom in Hong Kong and China. Many groups were invited and attended the rally including the Chinese Labour Party, The Federation For A Democratic China (FDC), The Chinese Alliance For Democracy(CAD), World Organisation to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG), Academic Representatives, NSW M.L.C’s and Falun Gong practitioners.

The event was hosted by Mr Stephen Sim from Radio 2NSB FM, NSW. He explained the importance of such an event, “Exposing Lies, Saving Lives” and its aim to bring a greater awareness of the facts about China’s cover ups of the SARS epidemic, the new draconian law in Hong Kong known as “Article 23”, and action taken to bring the former Chinese leader, Jiang Zemin to justice through lawsuits in a number of countries for genocide and crimes against humanity . The truth revealed is information that China does not want the world to know.

From the recent SARS epidemic, the world has been awakened to how harmful cover-ups by the Chinese communist regime are and the major impact it has on the people of the world, putting everyone’s lives at risk. SARS has affected Australia’s worst trade deficit and is killing people globally. We cannot stop the epidemic, but we can stop the lies by exposing them.

Participants wore masks during the event to symbolise the lies and the lack of freedom that cannot be voiced. Similarly, banners with the words “Masked by Deception” were held.

After the media event at Town Hall Square the rally moved to Chinatown, where a forum was conducted in Chinese and Cantonese. At the end of the forum, the practitioners of Falun Gong continued the march to the Sydney Chinese Consulate for a peaceful appeal. All participants in the rally were invited to accompany the practitioners on the last leg of the journey.

Many media representatives attended the event, including AP, AFP, Reuters, Freelance reporters, The Australian, 2GB radio, and Chinese media including Epochtimes, NTDTV, Sing Tao Newspaper, Central Association Newspaper, and VOH Radio. Many speakers were interviewed by media.

Over seven thousand flyers with information about the lawsuit against the former Chinese Leader were handed out during the day and many people were seen to be reading about this issue with great interest.

Despite this being the first official day of winter, the understanding of the importance of this event to the general public was shown by the crowds of passers-by who stopped and listened to the speakers and applauded the freedom of speech and democracy that we enjoy in Australia.


MC-Mr Stephen Sims, from 2NSB FM		Mr David Rubacek, BSc (Honors)

Mr Qin Jin, Chairman of Federation for Democratic China(Australian Division)		DR Songfa Liu, World Organisation of Investigation of Persecution of Falun Gong, reveals the lies of Self-Immolation

The Hon. Dr. Arthur Chesterfield-Evans M.L.C. NSW		Mr Ian Cohen M.L.C. NSW

Diane Hiles, China Coodinator, Amnesty International Australia		John Deller, NSW Falun Dafa, spoke of the recent lawsuit against the former Chinese leader for its crimes against humanity

Event at Sydney City Town Hall Square		NSW State Government guests walks at the front of the rally

March to Chinatown		Speeches in Chinese at Chinatown

Event at Sydney Town Hall Square		Media attendance for the event