Australia: Political Leaders Pay Attention to the Persecution of Falun Gong

Recently, Ms. Zhang Cuiying, a Falun Gong practitioner living in Australia, received several letters from Australian politicians expressing their concerns about the persecution of Falun Gong.

On September 17th, Andrew Shearer, the Senior (International) Advisor of the Australian Prime Minister, said in his letter: "The Prime Minister has asked me to reply on his behalf. ...The government has expressed concerns that China's ban on Falun Gong and treatment of Falun Gong practitioners breaches fundamental human rights. Australia has also underlined the need for China to address allegations of organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners."

Christine Milne, the Australian Green Party Senator said in her letter: "Thank you for your letter dated 25 June 2007 updating me on your legal case lodged in the Supreme Court of NSW against Jiang Zemin, the former head of the Chinese Communist Regime. ...Thank you also for your updates on international developments pertaining to the human rights crimes that are still taking place in China. The extracts from the reports are deeply disturbing."

Senator Milne also said: "I have written the Prime Minister of Australia, asking him that in light of the approaching 2008 Olympic Games that the Australian Government place more pressure on the Chinese Government and condemn the human rights atrocities that are still taking place in China." She continued: "The Australian Greens will continue to campaign against these human rights abuses both in Parliament and in the broader community."