Australia: Leader of Australian Democrats Writes to Foreign Minister to Express Her Concern Over Falun Gong Practitioners Being Persecuted in China

On June 1st, 2007, Senator Lyn Allison, leader of the Australian Democrats, wrote to Foreign Minister Downer to seek help for Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted in China. She specifically mentioned Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Zeng Aihua, who is imprisoned in Shanghai Women's Prison and is suffering from high blood pressure.

Following is the text of the letter:

Dear Minister,

I write in regards to the continuing persecution of the Falun Gong practitioners in China. I ask what the Australian Government is doing to constructively pressure the Chinese Government to allow for freedom of religion and to improve human rights.

I also seek your particular assistance in the case of Mrs Zeng Aihua, mother of Ms. Doris Chen of Fairlight NSW, who was arrested in Shanghai last year and sentenced to 3 years jail for the crime of 'using cult to sabotage law'. Mrs. Zeng Aihua is suffering ill health as a result of her imprisonment and Ms. Chen now holds fears for her life.

Your assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated and I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Senator Lyn Allison

Leader, Australian Democrats

Senator Allison has been paying attention to and helping Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted in China, and supports lawsuits against the culprits of the persecution. Regarding the case of Ms. Zeng, Senator Allison has called attention to it for many times and wrote to then Chinese Ambassador Fu Ying in Australia. Ms. Zeng was unlawfully sentenced to prison and has been incarcerated in Shanghai Women's Prison since April 16th, 2007. One week after she was imprisoned there, she suddenly suffered from high blood pressure. This information emerged from Ms. Zeng's letter to her family in mid-May. Her family has not received any further letters from her since then. The prison guards claim that she does not like to write letters. Her family members made phone calls to the prison to inquire about her plight, but several prison guards, including Shi Lei, played recordings slandering Falun Gong when answering the calls.