Australia: Falun Gong Practitioners Protest Persecution during Communist Vice Premier's Visit

On October 31st, the First Vice-Premier of China and member of the Chinese Communist Party Politburo Standing Committee, Li Keqiang arrived in downtown Brisbane. Falun Gong practitioners rallied outside Stamford Plaza to condemn the 10-year persecution of Falun Gong that is taking place in China.

Falun Gong practitioners rallied outside Stamford Plaza, where Li Keqiang was staying, to protest the persecution of Falun Gong in China

The practitioners displayed banners to send a clear message to the visiting Communist officials: Stop the persecution of Falun Gong. The practitioners also appealed to the Australian government and citizens to help end the persecution.

Practitioner John Andres said, "The persecution of Falun Gong in China by the Chinese Communist regime has lasted over 10 years. In China, for their belief in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, people can be persecuted to death. We are here to get our voice heard. We display banners to let the Chinese Communist officials and Australian people know that the persecution is happening in China. We condemn the Chinese Communist regime's atrocities, and yet we are not against China. It is the Communist regime that has been systematically destroying Chinese traditional culture."

Because of his belief in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, Frank Zhao was tortured in a labour camp for two years. He participated in the rally to express his heartfelt wish to the visiting Chinese Communist officials: Stop the persecution of Falun Gong.

One practitioner drove a hour and a half to join the rally. She said, "It is very important for us to be here. We need to let the Communist officials know that the whole world knows about the persecution in China and that the perpetrators of the persecution will be brought to justice. If we remain silent, the Communist officials will continue the atrocities. They need to know that the persecution of Falun Gong is very wrong."

The peaceful protest attracted the attention of the mainstream media including ABC and The Sunday Mail. Many passersby asked about the rally and expressed their support for Falun Gong.