Dear Mr Downer:
PLEASE DON’T HELP The Chinese Communist
Party
PERSECUTE FALUN GONG IN AUSTRALIA
The Australian Foreign
Minister, Mr Alexander Downer, has used the Vienna Convention in an unprecedented
manner regarding the Falun Gong appeals outside the Chinese Embassy in Canberra.
Australia is the only democratic country that restricts Falun Gong appeals, commonly
held on a daily basis, in countries such as America, Canada and European nations
since 1999, when the persecution of Falun Gong began in China.
Since 16
March 2002, Mr Downer has interpreted any Falun Gong signage to "impair the
dignity" of the Chinese mission according to the Vienna Convention, Diplomatic
Privileges and Immunities (DPI) Regulations. Mr Downer has signed DPI certificates
every month preventing the display of any Falun Gong banners, including "Truthfulness,
Compassion, Tolerance" and "Stop the Killing".
Mr Downer’s
decision coincided with the Chinese Foreign Minister, Tang Jiaxuan’s visit to
Canberra in March 2002, who publicly requested the Australian Government to "Expel
these Falun Gong practitioners from the front of the Chinese Embassy entrance
in Australia and do not bring up issues related to human rights or freedom."
During
the time of the restrictions, at least 1,027 peaceful Chinese people, including
relatives of Australians, have been tortured to death in China – part of the largest
human rights abuse continuing in China today.
Our appeal at the Chinese
Embassy is to raise awareness so that this senseless torture and murder will stop.
That message is a call to the conscience of those responsible for this persecution
– and to the conscience of those who acquiesce and remain silent. We find that
there is no justification for these certificates to continue as:
"
They discriminate against Falun Dafa practitioners in Australia, where we know
of no other group that faces an ongoing limit on their right to appeal in public.
"
Other countries such as USA, Canada and European nations, also bound by the Vienna
Convention, have not implemented such ‘certificates’ to restrict Falun Dafa appeals
"
The issue of ‘impairment of dignity’ to the Chinese Embassy should not mean protection
from a peaceful reminder of their culpability in the persecution.
" The
‘prescribed objects’ were removed nearly three years ago and the certificates
should not be used as some sort of ‘preventive’ measure.
The decision to
re-issue these certificates reflects poorly on Australia, and in its own way abets
this persecution. That sadly benefits the propaganda campaign waged against Falun
Gong practitioners in China and around the world.
We believe that Australia
should not be recorded in history as a country that aided the attempted genocide
of 100 million people, who strive to live in accordance truthfulness, compassion
and tolerance, at a time when the world needs to reaffirm these principles most
of all.
Yours sincerely,
Australian Falun Dafa practitioners
SHOW
YOUR CONCERN:
Maintain freedom of speech in Australia
(Sign below and fax
to Dept. of Foreign Affairs & Trade (02) 6273 4112)
Name:
_____________________________________
Signature: _____________________________________
Address:
_____________________________________
