Friday 27 January 2006: Four legal cases filed by Australian Falun Gong practitioners are proceeding in Australian courts. Each case has been lodged as a last resort to stop the harassment of Falun Gong practitioners in China and Australia directed by the Chinese Communist regime.
Please diarise the upcoming proceedings dates:
Freedom of expression:
Lawsuit against the Foreign Minister’s signing of monthly certificates claiming that the Falun Gong human rights protest in Canberra “impairs the dignity of the Chinese Mission”. Minister Downer has, on a number of occasions, failed to comply with the court’s direction to file affidavits in his defense, therefore continually delaying the scheduling of a hearing date.
Upcoming proceedings: 30 January, directions hearing. The plaintiff’s lawyer, Bernard Collaery will make a statement to the court as well as a press statement regarding concern over the continuing delays.
Torture:
Lawsuit against Zhang Dejiang, Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party of Guangdong Province in the Supreme Court of NSW for the crime of torture against Sydney resident Ms Xie Yan. Upcoming proceedings: 1 February, directions hearing
Civil action against former Chinese Communist dictator, Jiang Zemin and the 610 Office by Sydney resident Ms Zhang Cuiying for personal damages after eight months’ torture and imprisonment at a Shenzhen City Detention Center in China because of her practice of Falun Gong. Upcoming proceedings: 30 March, directions hearing
Defamation:
Defamation case against “2ac Chinese Daily” Newspaper brought following the publication of an article on 18 December 2003 apparently based upon information provided by a spokesperson for the Chinese Consulate General in Sydney. Upcoming proceedings: 3 April, Part 7A Trial
Posting Date: 27/Jan/06
Original Article Date: 27/Jan/06
Category: Media Release
