Zhang Cuiying from Australia

Since I sent an appeal letter to the state MPs and federal MPs regarding my persecution in China in March of this year, I have so far received more than 60 response letters. These letters all have expressed very strongly that the Australian government is against the ban on Falun Gong and considers the crackdown of Falun Gong a breach of fundamental human rights. Meanwhile, some MPs, apart from stating the official government attitude towards China's crackdown on Falun Gong, have also expressed their personal concern and support for me.

1. The Australian Government's attitude towards China's crackdown on Falun Gong.

Most MPs have used Alexander Downer's (Foreign Affairs Minister) official reply to this issue. It reads:

"The Government considers that the ban by the Chinese Government on Falun Gong raises questions about freedom of association and speech. The Government is also concerned about maltreatment of supporters of the Falun Gong movement in China and the continuing crackdown on the group, which is a breach of fundamental rights to assembly and free expression.

The government also believes that the Chinese Government's treatment is in contravention of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which China has signed, but not yet ratified. The Government has repeatedly urged China to ratify the ICCPR as soon as possible, and with a minimum of reservations.

The Australian Government has expressed these views to the Chinese Government on numerous occasions. The Foreign Minister, Mr. Downer, personally raised the Government's concerns when he met his Chinese counterpart Mr. Tang Jiaxuan in Beijing on 23 April 2000, as did the Australian delegation to the fourth annual round of the Bilateral Human Rights Dialogue in Canberra on 16 August 2000. The government will continue to raise its human rights concerns with the Chinese government, including the Human Rights Dialogue."

Among the Federal MPs and State MPs, Senator Vicki Bourne, Spokessperson on Foreign affairs for the Australian Democrats has clearly expressed her Party's official position on China's crackdown on Falun Gong. Her letter reads,

"The Australian Democrats have been concerned about the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners since the Chinese government took the step of banning the practice. We have consistently advocated that this action by the Chinese Government does in fact contravene several fundamental human rights, particularly the right to freedom of belief and the right to freedom of assembly.

We will continue to advocate this position until such time as the Chinese government recognises that the continued suppression of Falun Gong practitioners is a violation of principles of the United Nations Declaration on human rights."

2. The support and concern for myself

Mr. Black, MP for Murray Darling, wrote to me, "Thank you for your correspondence received by my office, June 8, 2001, and the attached collection of your paintings, subject as above. Kindly find enclosed a cheque to assist you in your purposes."

Mr. Jull, Federal MP for Fadden, said in his letter to me, "Thank you very much indeed for your kind letter and for the magnificent book. I will enjoy it very much. You are assured of my continuing support."

Ms Seaton, State MP for Southern Highlands, wrote in her letter to me, "I was horrified and saddened to hear of the treatment you received in a Chinese prison due to your practice of Falun Gong. It clearly takes great courage to relate your story and I hope your suffering will benefit others so that your time in prison may not have been in vain."

I will continue to spread Falun Gong so that more people will understand and support Falun Gong, and so that China's crackdown on Falun Gong and the killing of Falun Gong practitioners can end.

Posting date: 8/10/2001
Original article date: 8/10/2001
Category: Worldwide Support

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