Australia: City Councillor Expresses Support for Ms. Zhang Cuiying's Lawsuit against Jiang

Clive Taylor is a city Councillor in Bankstown where Ms. Zhang Cuiying lives, and also the first government official in Australia who courageously stepped forward to initiate the rescue of Ms. Zhang when she was suffering brutal torture and abuse in a Chinese jail, and her life was in grave danger. He once proposed a resolution during a city council meeting to condemn Jiang regime's persecution of religious, cultural and ethnic groups, and request the Jiang regime to immediately release Australian citizen Zhang Cuiying, who practised Falun Gong and was illegally detained when she went back to China to say a just word for Falun Gong. Now, with the help of world-renowned lawyer and human rights campaigner Geoffrey Robertson, QC, Ms. Zhang Cuiying is filing a lawsuit with the United Nations against Jiang, the former Chinese leader. When Clive Taylor learnt this news his first response, said during an interview, was: "Jiang has persecuted Falun Gong for too long, and he should have already been sued!"

When he was asked for his opinion on the Jiang regime's persecution of Falun Gong, he said, "Brutal people don't approve of the principle of kindness, they are unable to control people who follow the principle of 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.' They are afraid of Falun Gong." He then asked, "If you also believed in 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,' would you suppress your people? This is why they are afraid. They are unable to control good people, so they use brutal methods to treat Falun Gong."

When asked how he views Falun Gong practitioners' lawsuits against Jiang, he said, "I think the persecution has lasted too long, it should have been like this sooner. If it was when he was the Chinese president, the lawsuit would have had greater influence. Like Yugoslavia's former president Slobodan Milosevic, who was put on trial in the International Court for crimes against humanity. I think the 'lawsuit against Jiang' is no different from this case. Jiang's suppression of the people has caused many people to die in jails for unclear reasons. He should answer for the crimes he has committed, and be held accountable, regardless if it is from a civil lawsuit or through the efforts of countries all over the world. If you look the other way and allow them to run rampant, they will never change their policy, and they will continue suppressing their people, both in China and overseas. As I know, they have harassed many people who were born in China and who now are Australian citizens. We can't tolerate this. Now Falun Gong practitioners in many countries have filed lawsuits against him, and he can defend himself in court for what he has done. If he is found guilty, he will be punished. Then righteousness will prevail. I think this is not only a trial of Jiang, it also shocks all high-ranking officials in China who participate in the suppression of Falun Gong. Their influence is great. This can make them think, and change what they are doing. The more lawsuits you have, the greater pressure they will feel, and the more attention they will pay. This is a good opportunity to let more people learn about Falun Gong."

When asked of the probability that Falun Gong would win the lawsuit against Jiang, he said, "I hope they win, though I'm not clear about what the result will be. But I think victory or loss is not the question. What is most important is that Jiang is put on a trial. It proves that his decisions have affected hundreds of thousands of people, and he must defend himself in court. He must be responsible for the crimes committed. The lawsuit can achieve this goal. Geoffrey Robertson, who is assisting Ms. Zhang with the lawsuit, is a renowned lawyer in the Commonwealth of Nations, and he is respected and highly praised by many people who have worked with him."

When asked if Jiang were found guilty, would this have much influence in China, he said, "Through this lawsuit, the whole world will know that no one can override the law. If the Chinese government ignores it, if other countries' governments don't exert pressure on China, it will be the turn of the ordinary people to use their right to sue Jiang."