Australia: Falun Gong Practitioners Stage Peaceful Protest During Jia Qinglin's Visit

Jia Qinglin, Chair of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee, arrived in Perth, the capital of the state of Western Australia at 8 p.m. on April 5th, 2011, for a six-day visit. As one of the main perpetrators of the persecution of Falun Gong in China, Jia encountered protests all the way from the airport to the Hilton, where he was staying. In front of the Hilton Hotel, Falun Gong practitioners displayed large banners stating, “Falun Dafa Is Good,” “Jia Qinglin, Stop Persecuting Falun Gong,” and, “Jia Qinglin Sued for Genocide in Spain.” The practitioners condemned Jia's crimes and called for public attention to the human rights situation in China.

Falun Gong practitioners protest Jia Qinglin's role in the persecution of Falun Gong, in front of the Hilton Hotel in Perth

Falun Gong practitioners stood along the way from the airport to downtown Perth with large banners to protest Jia's role in the crimes of illegal detention and torture of Falun Gong practitioners. Many motorists lowered their windows, gave practitioners the thumbs-up and said, “Well done!” While waiting for Jia's motorcade, the federal police confirmed with Falun Gong practitioners that Jia would pass by there.

The Chinese Consulate in Western Australia had gathered about sixty Chinese students to “welcome” Jia at the Hilton. The students waited on one side of the hotel building and were asked to move to the front door of the Hilton about ten minutes before Jia's arrival. When the motorcade, including a bus, with Jia and his delegation arrived, the students, with Chinese flags in hand, shouted, “Welcome” a few times in low spirits, and dispersed before all of the people had gotten off the bus.

Across the street from the Hilton, Falun Gong practitioners staged a peaceful protest. Many Australian citizens came over to read the banners and speak with the practitioners in order to learn more about the persecution in China.

Falun Gong practitioners continued their protest on the second day of Jia's visit. Jia's motorcade tried to avoid practitioners' call for justice. The Chinese Consulate organised another group of fifty to sixty Chinese students to follow Jia's delegation, attempting to block the practitioners' banners.

It was learned that this group of students were from China Southern WA Flying College, the only overseas flying college established by the Chinese aviation circle. The students said they lived isolated lives in Western Australia, and they didn't know anything about the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong. Chinese-Australians passing by told the practitioners that ordinary Chinese students were unwilling to work for the CCP. Therefore, the Chinese Consulate had to take advantage of these young people, who didn't know the facts of the persecution.

An April 5th report in The Age, titled “Touchdown in Australia, crackdown at home,” stated, “Mr. Jia's six-day trip will include meetings with Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd to deepen ties and consolidate the booming trade relationship, and comes as the Communist Party is going to new and more forceful lengths to protect its rule...his real power comes from overseeing the Communist Party's 'united front' operations...In the past six weeks more than 30 lawyers, writers and activists have been detained in China, while another dozen have simply vanished.”