Senate Motion on Falun Gong Passed Indicates Australia’s Commitment to Supporting Freedom of Belief

(AFDI) Australian Falun Dafa Information Centre: On Monday 1st December 2003
the Senate indicated Australia’s commitment to supporting freedom of belief
and the freedom to practise Falun Gong by passing the following motion (tabled
by Democrat Senator Natasha Stott Despoja):

Full content of the motion:

_____________________________________________________________________

NOTICE OF MOTION

25 November 2003

SENATOR NATASHA STOTT DESPOJA

I give notice that on Thursday 27 November 2003, I shall move:

“That the Senate:

(a) notes that close relatives of Australian citizens are currently being
detained by the People’s Republic of China on the basis that they practice
Falun Gong;

(b) notes that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights applies
to the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners worldwide;

(c) expresses its support for an open and effective Human Rights Dialogue
between Australia and the People’s Republic of China;

(d) calls on the Australian Government to, in the context of the Human Rights
Dialogue, to:

i. raise the issue of the continued detention of Falun Gong practitioners
with close family ties to Australia;

ii. emphasise that the practise of religion should not form the basis of
the incarceration of any individual;

(e) reaffirms its commitment to freedom of belief within Australia and recognises
the freedom of Australians to practice Falun Gong without fear of harassment.

____________________________________________________________________

The results from the support by Australian government was shown a few days
ago, when Ms Li Ying (fiancée of Australian citizen Mr Lee Qizhong),
arrived in Australia after being illegally imprisoned for two years in a Shanghai
labour camp, for practising Falun Gong. Ms Li’s safe arrival in Australia is
due to the tremendous help and support from the Australian government and public.

Australian Falun Gong practitioners rallied in front of Capitol
Hill of Canberra on Monday to support the motion to “Rescue the Australian Citizen’s
Relatives” and to commemorate Australian citizen
Ouyang Yi’s younger brother Ouyang Ming who died from the persecution in
China in August of this year.

On June 23, 2003 Senator Andrew Bartlett started the proposal of
rescuing the Australian’s relatives being detained and tortured in Chinese labor
camps because of their belief in “Truthfulness, Compassion and
Tolerance.” After months of active campaigns, so far three Australians’
relatives have been released. Other Australian’s relative’s situation in the
prison were also improved. Ms. Li Ying was one of the Falun Gong practitioners
being rescued.

Li Yang said, “I appreciated the rescue and help from the Australian
government and all kind hearted people. I believe there are a lot more
Australians’ relatives are suffering. I hope more people will join this effort
to rescue them, including my younger brother Li Liang who is still detained in
Tianjin Qinpowa Forced Labor Institute, and my elder sister Li Hong who is still
detained in Tianjin Banqiao Women Forced Labor Institute and many other Falun
Gong practitioners.”

Senator Andrew Bartlett gave a speech at the rally. He said that the basic
human right to life could not be ignored. Australian Democrats would continue to
support Falun Gong practitioners to rescue their relatives and request the
Chinese government to stop the persecution immediately. He said that we had seen
some satisfactory results. Some people who had been saved already arrived in
Australia. Our appeal was not limited to Australian citizens’ relatives. It also
extended to all Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted in China. We will work
with you together.

The rally of support completed at 3:30 in the afternoon. Around 4:00 p.m.,
the motion was passed with support from a majority of the senators.

Background:
Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is a practice of meditation and exercises
with teachings based on the universal principle of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance.”
It was introduced to the public in 1992, and quickly spread by word of mouth
throughout China. It is now practiced in over 60 countries worldwide.

Since China’s President Jiang Zemin outlawed the peaceful practice in July 1999,
823 Falun Gong practitioners have been tortured to death, including three family
members of Australian citizens. Nine family members of Australian citizens are
currently detained in Chinese labour camps, all facing the threat of torture.

Posting date: 2/Dec/2003
Original article date: 1/Dec/2003
Category: Australian News