Mr. Wang Juntao, 66 and Ms. Wang Liluan, 62, two Chinese Falun Gong practitioners
were due to be deported on Tuesday, 11 March after their application for a
Protection Visa was repeatedly rejected.
Three and a half years ago, while in detention in China for practicing Falun Gong, Mr.Wang, was knocked unconscious from electric-shock torture by Chinese prison guards. Three years ago, Mr. Wang’s brother-in-law was tortured to death for practicing Falun Gong. Two years ago, Mr. and Ms. Wang escaped fatal persecution and joined their son in the safety of Australia. Today, however, the Australian Immigration Department is poised to deport them back to certain persecution in China.
As practitioners we understand strongly that they should not be sent back to
face persecution. After passing the news to the overseas practitioners, we all
acted as one body and compassionately took the matter as our own
and immediately started contacting the Canberra Immigration Case Officer, meeting
MPs, and contacting the media. On that same night, Sydney practitioners discussed the matter
again and decided that in order to let more Australians and our government understand
the serious situation of the persecution of Falun Gong in China, a media event
was organised for the following day regardless of the decision that the immigration
department might make.
On Wednesday, over 50 practitioners gathered at 11:30am at the gate of the Villawood detention
centre, where the Wang’s were being held. The gathering was very peaceful and
orderly, despite rain falling on and off throughout the event.
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ABC TV & Radio news, SBS TV news, Chinese Epochtimes and NTDTV news joined the media
event. The staff at Villawood detention centre watched the event closely and even video
taped the speech made by Falun Dafa spokesperson, John Deller, which clarified
the facts about the Wang’s situation and the severity of the persecution in
China.
Falun Dafa spokesperson, John Deller said: “We are here today to make
a public appeal on behalf of Mr and Mrs Wang to the Immigration Minister, Mr
Ruddock. We ask him to please use his power under the Immigration Act to stop
this deportation and give them a second chance for protection. To send them
back to China is to condemn them to certain persecution.
Some reasons given by the Australian Immigration Department (DIMIA) for the
refusal of protection for Mr and Mrs Wang have been that they think ordinary
practitioners will not suffer persecution if returned to China and that it is
okay to practice Falun Gong at home. This supposition belies the many reports
made available to DIMIA. Amnesty International made it very clear in their appeal
to the Minister that Mr and Mrs Wang would suffer persecution if returned to
China – that ordinary practitioners are suffering in this persecution.
We ask that DIMIA please understand that this persecution is an assault on
Falun Gong practitioners faith and beliefs. The outgoing Chinese president,
Jiang Zemin has stated clearly his intention to eradicate Falun Gong.
Is it reasonable to say that people of the Jewish faith could practice safely
in their homes under Hitler’s regime? Of course not. Then how can DIMIA expect
Mr and Mrs Wang to be safe in China? It is not a matter of someone just doing
exercises at home instead of in the park. It is an issue of a state organised
systematic eradication of people in China who hold to their belief in Truthfulness,
Compassion and Forbearance.
We appeal to the Minister to show compassion in his heart and offer Mr and
Mrs Wang another chance.”
By the end of the speech, the media were also clearly aware that practitioners
were simply appealing for compassion from the Minister of Immigration to look
further into the Wang’s case, to understand the nature of the persecution that
they will face if returned to China and to grant them Protection Visas under
the UN Refugee Convention. The media left with truth-clarifying
VCDs, information on the Wangs and other materials.
During the media event a practitioner held an umbrella over the reporter’s
head as soon as it started to rain. Another practitioner heard him say to the
other reporter; “These people are the nicest people in the world.”
After practitioner’s talked to media, one of the reporters (SBS) was particularly interested
and wanted to know more about Falun Dafa and said he would keep in touch to find
out the latest news on the Wang’s situation. He said he would also call DIMIA
(Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs) to find
out the status of the case.
The ABC news radio reporter decided to go to Philip Ruddock’s (Minister for
Immigration) press conference today (on another issue) to question him also
about the Wang’s case.
2SER FM radio (news program) interview with spokesperson John Deller, was recorded in the afternoon to go to air during Thursday’s breakfast show.
Sydney Morning Herald reported the story on Wednesday and was preparing to
do a follow up story. The Australian also interviewed John Deller and is expected
to run the story in Thursday’s paper.
Posting date: 13/March/2003
Original article date: 13/March/2003
Category: Australian News
