(AFDI), Monday, 28 July 2003 – The 7th Australia-China Human Rights Dialogue is to be held today, 28th July in Beijing. Australian Falun Gong practitioners call upon government to have an open dialogue on human rights – Falun Gong issues with Chinese counterpart.
Canberra Gathering:
When: 11:30am, Monday, 28th July 2003
Where: In front of Chinese Embassy, Canberra
What: Call for support for the human rights dialogue to play a constructive role in bringing the persecution to an end.
• Support speaker: Kerrie Tucker, MLA
• Lisa Liang, Australian citizen whose sister is being tortured to be disabled in a Chinese jail
• Brian Yan, Australian citizen whose sister is in a Chinese jail suffering different tortures
For Falun Dafa practitioners in China, the situation has dramatically worsened despite the best intentions of these dialogues. The last year alone has seen 300 recorded deaths of Falun Gong practitioners due to torture in Chinese labour camps and detention centres, compared to the total over the past 4 years where 754 deaths have been verified, with the real death toll more likely in the thousands.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials have been presented with the details of 13 Falun Dafa practitioners currently detained within China and who are relatives of Australian citizens. It is hoped that this dialogue will enable Australia’s voice of concern to be heard clearly and these practitioners can be released.
Only by exposing evil can it be stopped. While Falun Dafa practitioners continue to peacefully appeal in China for Truthfulness Compassion Tolerance – how can Australia continue its policy of not publicly condemning such atrocities?
For more information, please contact: Tony Dai 0416 234 095,
Holly Wei 0414 525 033
Email: news@falunau.org Website: www.falunau.org
