This survey was prepared by the World Organisation to Investigate the Persecution
of Falun Gong (Australia Branch) to investigate claims of harassment of Australian
citizens because of their practice of Falun Gong.
The data was collected over
a one-week period from 12th June 2005 to 19th June 2005 through email and fax
communication with known Falun Gong practitioners. A total number of 375 surveys
were received. On average, Falun Gong practitioners who responded have been practicing
for 3 to 6 years.
For full results of the survey, please contact the World
Organisation to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong, Australia Branch. www.upholdjustice.org.
A summary of the results of the survey are as follows.
Harassment
in Australia
80.5% of the respondents report experiencing one or more
of the following in Australia, and believe it was because they practise Falun
Gong:
73.5% experienced verbal abuse,
58.9% experienced
discriminatory treatment.
36.8% received harassing phone calls,
32.8% experienced
their phones being tapped,
18.2% had property stolen, damaged or vandalised,
10.9%
reported being followed,
6.3% had their house, workplace or residence broken
into and/or ransacked,
5.3% reported that their children were harassed,
5%
experienced physical abuse,
2.3% had their personal property searched and/or
confiscated,
2.0% were forced to move homes,
0.7% experienced loss of income.
95.7%
of the respondents believe that the Chinese Embassy and/or Consulate staff have
actively spread hatred against Falun Gong in the Australian society, 96.7% of
those reported that it had a negative impact on their relationships with partners
or family members, relationship with friends, workplace relations, and/or on their
personal reputation.
24.5% of the respondents that have been denied a visa
or a passport by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in Australia since practicing
Falun Gong.
Harassment in China and other countries
40.5%
of the respondents had been to China since 1999, 61.2% of whom experienced one
of the following forms of persecution while in China:
42.8%
were illegally arrested and/or detained,
28.9% had their personal property
was searched and/or confiscated,
21.1% were kidnapped,
15.1% had their house,
workplace or residence ransacked,
14.5% were beaten,
13.8% were victims
of extortion,
13.2% were forced to leave home,
10.5% were tortured,
10.5%
had property stolen or damaged,
8.6% experienced loss of income,
3.9% were
asked by Chinese authorities to spy on Falun Gong practitioners.
73.1%
of respondents have relatives in China. 41.4% of those report that their relatives
in China experienced one of the following forms of persecution, which they believe
is because they or their relatives practice Falun Gong:
38.3%
were forced to give up practising Falun Gong,
21.5% were illegal arrested and/or
detained,
21.5% had their house, workplace or residence ransacked,
21.2%
had their personal property searched and/or confiscated,
17.5% were the victims
of extortion,
14.2% were beaten,
14.2% reported that their children had
experienced persecution.
13.9% were kidnapped,
13.9% experienced loss of
income,
10.9% were forced to leave their homes,
10.9% experienced torture,
8.0%
had property stolen or damaged,
5.5% were asked by Chinese authorities to spy
on Falun Gong practitioners.
12.8% of the respondents were
questioned upon entry or denied entry to a country other than China, and believe
it was because they practise Falun Gong.
5.9% of respondents report that they
experienced one of more of the following forms of persecution whilst travelling
in a country other than China, and believed it to be because of practising Falun
Gong: had their personal property searched and/or confiscated, were illegally
arrested and/or detained, had property stolen or damaged, experienced physical
abuse, were victims of extortion, were kidnapped, had their house, workplace or
residence broken into and/or ransacked.
Posting date: 23/Jun/2005
Original
article date: 22/Jun/2005
Category: Australian News
