Australia: Practitioners from many countries gather in Australia to protest Jiang Zemin's persecution

On Saturday, September 13, 2003, hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan, New Zealand, Malaysia, the United States and across Australia held a large march and rally in downtown Melbourne, condemning Jiang regime's persecution against Falun Gong practitioners, and calling upon the Australian government and people to show concern and support for the lawsuits filed in several countries.

At the rally, an Australian Democrat Senator addressed the fact that Falun Gong practitioners have filed lawsuits against those who violated human rights with international courts, saying that this was good news, and that if there are more such lawsuits, the Chinese government must surely pay attention.

Rally site

Several media outlets conduct interviews at the rally

Procession marches through downtown Melbourne	Mock trial held on a float passing through downtown Melbourne

Commemorating Falun Gong practitioners who have been tortured to death

"Global Coalition for Bringing Jiang to Justice" representative Tony Dai speaks at the rally	Australian Democrat Senator Lyn Allison

Falun Dafa banners in multiple languages	The procession passing through Chinatown

Falun Dafa exercises demonstration float

Falun Dafa is widespread all over the world

SOS Stop Killing

Australian Services Union spokesperson Matt Wright

Falun Dafa is wonderful	Extending your help

A Victoria Falun Dafa Association spokesperson, an Australian Services Union spokesperson, a spokesperson for the Australia Branch of the "World Organisation to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong," and a representative of the "Global Coalition for Bringing Jiang to Justice," delivered speeches at the rally. Several federal MPs, State Assemblymen and executive leaders of various parties sent letters to express their support for the activity. Several media outlets came to cover the activity.

The march and rally are part of the activities during the 2003 Australia Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference. At 10:00 a.m., Falun Gong practitioners from different countries practised the Falun Dafa exercises for two hours at Victoria Park in the central area in Melbourne, and then they walked downtown to take part in the large march to protest the killing.

The parade of Falun Dafa practitioners was comprised of several sections, with different themes: Falun Dafa is widespread all over the world, rescue our family members to return home, stop the killing, and bring Jiang to justice, Falun Dafa exercises demonstration and Tang Dynasty costumes fashion show. Four floats moving slowly along the procession were especially eye-catching. The themes for the four floats were: Bringing Jiang to Justice, SOS Urgent Rescue the Persecuted Falun Gong practitioners, Join Globally to bring Jiang to justice, Falun Gong exercises demonstration. On the float with the theme of bringing Jiang to justice, two judges were conducting a mock trial of Jiang for his crimes. The long and grand procession won the appreciation of many passersby who stopped to watch.

The procession marched for two hours, passing through vibrant streets in the downtown and Chinatown; it reached the largest square in downtown, one of the tourist sites of Melbourne--Federal Plaza to hold a large rally.

Victoria Falun Dafa Association spokesperson Michael Smith held a picture of a six-month pregnant woman who was forced to have an abortion and suffered brutal torture, and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the crime like this is not a sole case. Another woman Falun Gong practitioner was forced to have an abortion in her seven-month pregnancy. The embryo struggled for quite some time before dying. More than 800 Falun Gong practitioners have died from torture. Can we still be silent? What I want to tell everybody now is, Jiang has been filed lawsuits in several countries. I hope all those who participated in today's rally, and hear about this news pick up a pen when you go back home to write to your MPs to tell them that you think it is absolutely unacceptable and can not be continued. Australia should make louder voices to stop the killing!"

Australian Democrats Senator Lyn Allison said, "I see China brutally suppressing human rights and citizens' freedom. Tens of thousands of people have been detained, suffered brutal torture, and sent to mental hospitals for brainwashing. The only reason is that they practise Falun Dafa. The Australian Prime Minister should go to China to tell the Chinese government that it is unacceptable no matter where, in Australia or around the world. Some perpetrators who violated human rights have been served lawsuits with the International court; it is good news. If there are more such lawsuits, the Chinese government will pay attention."

Australian Services Union spokesperson Matt Wright said, "Australian Labour Union is much concerned about the forced Labour imposed upon Falun Gong practitioners in China's forced Labour camps. The Labour camp authorities force Falun Gong practitioners to do long hours of heavy Labour, and do not allow them to sleep when big orders come. The Labour camps use cheap Labour to make products for export, it is unacceptable in international community, and Australia should not accept it, either. The Labour union strongly condemns this persecution of human rights, condemns Jiang's persecution of Falun Gong."

Spokesperson of the Australian Branch of the "World Organisation to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong," Liu Songfa said, "The mission of the World Organisation to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong" established early this year is to investigate all crimes, related organisations, groups and individuals that persecute Falun Gong, and will definitely investigate until the end when the criminals were sent to be tried on court, so as to punish the perpetrators and warn the world's people. The Organisation has established several special groups, including a group to investigate the Self-immolation at Tiananmen Square, a group to investigate the crimes of the Labour camps, the group to investigate the crimes of the "610 Office." The Organisation also participated in a recent lawsuit in Iceland against Luo Gan, the head of the "610 Office." The Organisation calls upon insiders to provide information about the responsible persons, and prepare for the evidence at court.

Tony Dai, representative of the preparation committee of the "Global Coalition for Bringing Jiang to Justice" said, "The Global Coalition for Bringing Jiang to Justice aims to expose the crimes of Jiang and his followers, to let the whole world make a judgement on Jiang's crimes morally and justly. The coalition has no political agenda, it is only for upholding justice and morality, and exposes all violence, corruption and injustice. Based on laws and morality, bringing Jiang to justice is an unprecedented in China, because it will create a path to peacefully eliminate the harm of a dangerous dictator. We hope to awaken people's consciousness, and convey to the world a message that: the world people will no longer be tolerant to brutality and crimes."

The rally also received letters of support from Federal MP Greg Hunt, Victoria State Assemblyman Carolyn Hirsh, and Federal MP Dr. Carmen Lawrence. State Assemblyman Alistair Harkness, Labour Union leader Jenny Macklin also sent letters to express their regrets for not being able to present in person.