Australia(FDI) – The Falun Dafa Association of NSW Inc., along with Falun Dafa
practitioners, has filed a law suit in the Supreme Court of NSW for defamation
against 2ac Chinese Daily Newspaper. The defamation case is brought following
the publication of an article by the newspaper on 18 December 2003.
The newspaper published statements, apparently based upon information provided
by a spokesperson for the Sydney Chinese Consulate General, alleging, amongst
other things, that Falun Gong was an evil cult organisation and that it was
the same as Aum Shinrikyo in Japan and that it had killed over 1,700 people
in China.
Aum Shinrikyo is widely known for its attack on a Tokyo subway that led to
a number of deaths.
Falun Dafa is also known as Falun Gong, a peaceful body/mind meditation practice
that is widely spread and known in over 60 countries in the world, its guiding
principles are Truth, Compassion and Forbearance.
The plaintiffs in the legal action are distressed by the publication of that
article and by the statements and suggestions made. They view the publication
of such statements most seriously.
The 2ac Chinese Daily Newspaper was given an opportunity, prior to the commencement
of the legal proceedings, to publish an apology but it declined to do so.
The law suit will be pursued in accordance with the Rules of the Supreme Court.
Press Conference
Time: 11:00am – Monday, 17 May 2004
Venue: Macquarie St (junction with Martin Place) Sydney
Please contact us for further information.
Background Information
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a practice of meditation and exercises
with teachings based on the universal principles of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance."
Practiced in over 60 countries world-wide, Falun Gong has roots in traditional
Chinese culture. With government estimates of as many as 100 million practicing
Falun Gong, China’s then Communist leader Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful
practice in July 1999 and implemented a propaganda campaign to turn public opinion
against the practice while imprisoning, torturing and murdering those who practice
it. The Falun Dafa Information Centre has verified details of 955 torture related
deaths since the persecution of Falun Gong in China began in 1999. Expert sources
now estimate that figure to be much higher.
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Website: www.falunau.org , Email: news@falunau.org
