On the afternoon of June 20th, 2010, one of the Chinese Communist Party leaders Xi Jinping arrived in Canberra, Australia with a commerce delegation of nearly 200 people. Falun Gong practitioners staged protests near the Hyatt Hotel and the Parliament House, calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong, calling on the Chinese Embassy and Chinese Consulates to stop interfering with Shen Yun Performing Arts' performance in Australia, and resisting the pressure from China to give former communist leader Jiang Zemin diplomatic immunity.
At noon on June 21st, 2010, the Falun Dafa Association of Australia hosted a press conference in front of Australian Parliament House.
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| Falun Dafa Association of Australia hosts a press conference and rally in front of Australian Parliament House on June 21st, 2010 |
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| Senator Scott Ludlam from the Green Party gives a speech at the rally |
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| Director of Falun Dafa Association of Victoria Mr. Xiao Zhonghua gives a speech |
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| Passersby take truth-clarification fliers from practitioners at the rally |
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| Passersby take truth-clarification fliers from practitioners at the rally |
"I Will Bring Your Voice to the Parliament"
Senator Scott Ludlam of the Green Party gave the first speech at the rally. He said that the relationship between China and Australia is important, but that trade and investment are not everything, and they are not the most important things. He said that, whereas the Chinese authorities are systematically suppressing its people, we want to remind them of the importance of human rights and life. It is more important than business and investment.
He said that he had been to China on an 11-day trip and visited four cities and Hong Kong. The delegation met with local officials in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu and raised the issue of human rights.
Mr. Ludlam believed the relationship between China and Australia must improve and that the Australian government can do better on issues such as the persecution of Falun Gong, suppression in Tibet and minorities, even in Burma and other places that China is extending its influence. He hoped more people (from parliament) would see the rally and protest and stand up for human rights and peace. "I am proud to be with you and I will bring your voice to the Parliament," he said.
Protesting the CCP's Deplorable Human Rights Violations
Recently, during Xi Jinping's visit to Australia, the Falun Dafa Association wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and copied to all members of the Parliament. The director of the Falun Dafa Association in Victoria Province cited a few paragraphs from the letter in his speech. "We respectfully request the Australian Government to let Xi Jinping acknowledge that the persecution of Falun Gong must stop and release all Falun Gong practitioners prisoners of conscience."
His speech also mentioned David Matas' book Bloody Harvest, where evidence confirms that the Chinese Communist Party is systematically harvesting Falun Gong practitioners' organs and selling them for profit.
Australian Judicial System Must Uphold Justice
Ms. Zhang Cuiying, a plaintiff in a lawsuit against former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, also spoke at the press conference. She wanted the public to be aware of the coming court hearing on June 28th, 2010, where the court will decide whether to grant Jiang Zemin diplomatic immunity. She urged the judicial system to uphold justice and not to bow to China's pressure using trade and economic interests, and in the process compromising the country's guiding principles.
Ms. Zhang also believed Chinese authorities timed a large commerce delegation to visit Australia just before the court hearing in order to influence the court with trade and economic interest.
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| Falun Dafa practitioner Yue Changzhi shares her personal experiences to expose the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of Falun Gong at the press conference |
Former Aerospace Engineer Ms. Yue Changzhi shared her personal experiences at the rally to expose the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong. She was arrested numerous times, jailed four times, suffered many tortures, and nearly died many times. She said there were thousands of practitioners still jailed in China and being tortured, and she called on the Chinese government to stop the persecution immediately.
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| Australian Mr. Alexander Merae attended the rally to support Falun Gong |
Australian Mr. Alexander Merae sat among the Falun Gong practitioners during the entire event. He said that he learned about the persecution of Falun Gong a few years ago and decided to join Falun Gong practitioners to support their persistent peaceful appeals. Two years later, he finally had the chance to participate in a Falun Gong event. "I am very excited that I can fulfill my wish to sit with them. I wish to pray for them and I can contact three churches to pray for them."
On the night of June 20th, there was a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Embassy in Canberra to commemorate the fellow practitioners who have died in the persecution. The assembly was solemn, peaceful and compassionate.
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