Australia: Brisbane Lights Human Rights Torch - Focuses on Human Rights Situation in China

After travelling through the Australian cities of Sydney, Grafton, Lismore, and Toowoomba, the Human Rights Torch Relay arrived in Brisbane (Queensland) on November 3rd, 2007. The Torch Relay once again focused the Australian people's attention on the persecution of Falun Gong.

A Greek goddess lights the Human Rights Torch

Bishop John Parkes taking part in the Human Rights Torch Relay

Queensland State MP Ronan Lee in the Human Rights Torch Relay

Senator Andrew Bartlett urges the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) to stop persecuting Falun Gong

People from all walks of life in Brisbane gathered at the Old Mill, a famous historical site near the city centre. Mr. Pan Qing, one of the Ambassadors of the Human Rights Torch Relay and spokesman for the Chinese Alignment to Protect Human Rights and Resist Violence, passed the Torch from Toowoomba to the first human rights ambassador in Brisbane. Ten human rights ambassadors held the Torch as the relay team passed through various locations in Brisbane. A woman dressed as a Greek Goddess received the Torch once it arrived at the rally venue.

Politicians and VIPs who attended the Human Rights Torch Relay event included Senator Andrew Bartlett, Queensland State MP Mr. Ronan Lee, Green Party representatives Drew Hutton and Larissa Waters, Democratic Party candidate Don Sinnamon, Queensland Vietnamese community leader Dr. Bui, Burmese group representative Patrick Cho, Professor of politics from Queensland University Qiu Chuiliang, Mr. Pan Qing, spokesman for the Chinese Alignment to Protect Human Rights and Resist Violence, Father Terry Fitzpatrick and Bishop John Parkes, Attorney Stefan Briggs, and others. Popular Queensland singer Katie Noonan, her mother Maggie Noonan, and others performed at the ceremony to show their support for human rights in China.

Senator Andrew Bartlett Urges the CCP to Stop Persecuting Falun Gong

Senator Andrew Bartlett said in his speech that the Chinese government has not improved its human rights record before the 2008 Olympics as promised - instead the situation is worsening. He said that with less than a year to the Olympics, it is now time for the global community to increase its pressure on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and to tell the Chinese regime that it is well past time to deliver on their commitment to improve the human rights situation in China. Otherwise, the global community must in good conscience call for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics.

Senator Bartlett also said that the CCP is using the Olympics as a propaganda tool, just like the Nazis in Germany did in 1936. He asked Australians to consider whether to attend the Beijing Olympics. "The opportunity is here and the obligation is upon all of us, the global community, to speak out to say to China no more, to stop the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, the people in Tibet, to allow freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of belief."

Queensland MP: The CCP's Persecution of Falun Gong Should Not Be Acceptable in a Modern Society

Queensland MP Ronan Lee said that he and every other member of Queensland's State Parliament had received a letter from the Chinese Consul General saying in "very strong language" that they "should not attend the relay." MP Lee said, "The letter that [the Chinese consul] wrote was very thinly veiled to suggest that there could perhaps be some trade ramifications for members of parliament attending today. [...] I came here to let you know that there are many members of the Queensland State Parliament who share your views and your values and are great supporters of the work that the torch relay has undertaken all over the world." MP Lee mentioned that there were MPs from other areas of Queensland who joined the Human Rights Torch Relay who were not present at the event.

In regards to the persecution of Falun Gong, MP Lee said, Anyone who has read Amnesty International's 2007 Report on the state of the world's human rights, couldn't be anything other than concerned about what Amnesty International has to say about the persecution of people in China for their religious views. This is not something that should be acceptable in a modern society. He appealed to everyone to become aware of the current human rights situation in China.

Pan Qing: The Human Rights Torch is a Symbol of God's Decree

Mr. Pan Qing, spokesman for the Chinese Alignment to Protect Human Rights and Resist Violence, and who has travelled the entire route along with the Torch Relay, said that the Torch is a symbol of God's decree [against the crimes of the CCP], and that the crimes against humanity committed by the CCP's political regime have tarnished the Olympic spirit. He especially condemned the CCP's crime of persecuting Falun Gong practitioners, and the organ harvesting of living practitioners.

Qiu Chuiliang: The CCP's Persecution of Falun Gong is More Cruel Than Hitler

Qiu Chuiliang, political professor from Queensland University, and former national policy consultant for Taiwan, said that the CCP's trampling of human rights completely violates the spirit of the Olympics and that it is a complete mistake to let the CCP hold the Olympics, just like it was for Hitler in his time. Mr. Qiu believes that the Human Rights Torch Relay will help the world to clearly recognise the CCP's evil nature.

Vietnamese Community Leader: The CCP Must Stop Persecuting Falun Gong Practitioners

Vietnamese community leader Dr. Bui is very concerned about the CCP harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. He pointed out that if a prisoner dies in prison, normally the body would be sent home. However, during the past eight years, the CCP has not only illegally detained Falun Gong practitioners in China, but also secretly killed them, and harvested their organs for profit. He said the CCP must immediately stop persecuting Falun Gong practitioners, and he urged Australians, who live in free country, to step out on behalf of victims of persecution.

Attorney Stefan Briggs: Everyone Should Have a Right to Practice his Belief

Attorney Stefan Briggs, human rights ambassador and a representative from the legal field, is concerned about the current persecution of human rights in China. He said, "I have an interest in human rights in China, and I'm very concerned about the situation there and the human rights abuses that are ongoing, and I'd just like to indicate as an Australian lawyer, that there are people in Australia who are very concerned about the situation in China."

Briggs is concerned about the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and of well-known human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng. He said, I think that people have a right to practise whatever religious or spiritual beliefs that they choose to and I think Lawyer Gao is merely representing his clients' rights in those regards, and any repression from the government for him doing so is completely wrong.

Renowned Australian Singers Call for Conscience

Famous Australian singer Katie Noonan and her mother Maggie Noonan used their songs to express their concern about China's human rights situation and to support the Global Human Rights Torch Relay.

Maggie Noonan said her great-grandfather is Chinese, and therefore they are concerned about what is happening in China, The Chinese race is such a fascinating wonderful race of people, and they've had this wonderful heritage and understanding of the mind and the body. For these things, these atrocities being performed at the moment, it's just heart-breaking and our hearts go out to the people of China, particularly the Falun Gong followers. I mean, it is just so wrong, it is so wrong, and we are so blessed in this country. I'd like them to know we are here for them and that's why we are supporting [the Torch Relay] today.

Ms. Noonan also said that the Human Rights Torch is travelling around the globe in a peaceful way. It is a very good activity, which helps people around the world to think about the significance of holding the Olympics, and about what the Chinese government is doing now. Through the Torch Relay, many Australians are able to step out to support the activity, and eventually help to stop the CCP from persecuting Falun Gong.

Katie Noonan also said that she would try her best to pay attention to China's human rights situation.

Bishop Parkes: Freedom to Express One's Faith is a Very Central Thing

Bishop John Parkes of the Brisbane Catholic Church stated that China's economic development is meaningless, without the assurance of human rights. He said, "Religious freedom is at the heart of what we in western democracy hold, and freedom to worship, freedom to express one's faith is a very central thing, and I would hope that as the new China emerges, that freedom will be recognised as life giving and not subversive."

Queensland Young Democrats Representative: Human Rights Torch Brings Hope to China

Queensland Young Democrats representative Vicki Stocks said she emphasised the severe human rights persecution in China in the Queensland Young Democrats report, such as organ harvesting from live Falun Gong practitioners, and called for re-consideration of whether the current Chinese government can hold next year's Olympic games.

She said, "I really enjoyed my time, carrying the torch, and it was really great to see the amount of public acknowledgment as we walked down the road, it was great. My biggest message to Chinese people on the mainland is to have hope. There seems to be more and more people getting involved. So I would say to the people in mainland China, have hope, I think that change is coming."

Burmese Community Representative: Human Rights Torch Relay Helps to Stop CCP From Persecuting Falun Gong

Burmese community representative Patrick Cho said, "I am very concerned about the persecution of human rights issue. I came from Burma, and have a deep understanding of despotic dictatorship rule." He said the Torch Relay activity would help to stop the CCP from persecuting Falun Gong.

People Together Give Voice to Counter the Persecution

A new immigrant from the UK said she once read about the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong, and when she heard about the Torch Relay, she decided to participate to show her support. "I felt that I should participate, show support for the activity. I am willing to help people [who are] suffering persecution."

Public servant Lily said she knew a lot about the CCP's atrocities, and hopes that more people will support the Human Rights Torch Relay.

A man from Taiwan and his three children also joined the Torch Relay. He said, "For human rights, we think it is necessary to come out and support this activity." Many people also expressed their concern about China's human rights by signing a petition. The Human Rights Torch Relay activity in Brisbane also attracted the attention of many local media. ABC, AAP, 4KQ Radio, NTDTV, Sound of Hope, and The Epoch Times reported this activity. Sound of Hope International Radio did a live broadcast of the event for listeners inside China.

The Global Human Rights Torch Relay was initiated by CIPFG (the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong). The torch was first lighted in Athens, Greece on August 9th, and will travel to over 100 cities in 30 countries throughout Europe, America, Asia and Australia. Several thousand Members of Parliament, lawyers and human rights activists around the globe will participate. The one-year-long Human Rights Torch Relay aims to urge the world's people to pay attention to the human rights issue in China, and to stop the CCP from persecuting Falun Gong and other groups. The Human Rights Torch Relay will continue to travel to other cities in Australia.