THE plight of a Chinese-Australian man who said he was shot for defending his
Falun Gong beliefs will be highlighted in a petition to Prime Minister John Howard
today.
David Liang’s feet were shattered when a gunman opened fire on a car
he was travelling in with four other people visiting Johannesburg to file a lawsuit
against Chinese officials in South Africa on June 28.
The lawsuit charged
China’s Vice President Zeng Qinghong and Trade Minister Bo Xilai with torture,
genocide and crimes against humanity for persecuting people who practise the meditation
which teaches truth, compassion and tolerance.
The car was travelling 120km/h
when five bullets penetrated the door and struck Mr Liang’s feet, curbing his
mobility for what doctors said they believed would be two years.
Mr Liang,
a father-of-two who practises Falun Gong at Eastwood Park, said a South African
police report filed the incident as attempted murder but it was treated as a random
shooting and not linked with Falun Gong.
Mr Liang said he believed the
group was targeted because they wore Falun Gong uniforms and travelled in a car
bearing Falun Gong signs.
Falun Gong activists have gathered more than
1700 signatures from Ryde, Eastwood and Gladesville.
The petition asks
the Federal Government to work with South African authorities to investigate Mr
Liang’s incident.
It also condemns acts of terrorism by the Chinese Government
and calls on the Federal Government to be vigilant in protecting Australians who
may face terrorism attacks for their beliefs.
Mr Liang implored the Government
to take action to put a stop to the violence.
“I feel let down by
the Australian Government because they condemn other terrorists,” he said.
Despite his brush with death, the 42-year-old remains defiant and won’t give up
Falun Gong.
“If we stop because we’ve been threatened, there’s no
hope for the world. If we keep quiet, everyone will be scared.”
Posting
date: 12/Aug/2004
Original article date: 11/Aug/2004
Category: Media Report
