(Clearwisdom.net) New Zealand's the Independent Business Weekly
published an article written by Kelly Sinoski on October 26, 2005. The article
states that at the request of Falun Gong practitioners' barrister, Chris
Lawrence, the court reviewed
a civil suit filed by the practitioners in the court last October, accusing
former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, Vice-premier Li Lanqing and Luo Gan of
torture and conspiracy and other crimes. Justice Priestley said that subject to
judicial resources, the case warranted a full court hearing with two judges.
The article also states that eleven Chinese immigrants who practice Falun
Gong may get a chance to press charges of torture against officials of the
Chinese Communist Party. The eleven claim they were tortured in China, and are
suing three of China's top officials, including former Chinese leader Jiang
Zemin.
Justice John Priestley quashed an earlier judgment in the High Court at Auckland
that had prohibited the practitioners from serving a statement of claim and
notice of proceedings outside New Zealand.
The practitioners' Auckland barrister, Chris Lawrence expressed that ruling the
issues relating to the lawsuit were of "enormous importance." He
granted a half-day review of the decision at his request.
The review relates to a civil suit filed by Falun Gong practitioners in the
court last October, accusing former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, Vice-premier
Li Lanqing and Luo Gan of wrongful arrest, false imprisonment, assault and
battery, misfeasance in public office, torture and conspiracy.
All eleven plaintiffs are New Zealand permanent residents, citizens or refugees.
They are seeking special damages as well as general damages in the sum of
$250,000 plus the further sum of $10,000 for each wrongful arrest, $5,000 for
each day of unlawful imprisonment, $10,000 for each act of torture and exemplary
damages of $250,000.
Justice Priestley said that none of the claims of action arose in New Zealand,
but the Falun Gong practitioners could not access justice in China and, if any
were to return to China to sue, their positions "could well be grim."
He also noted Lawrence, a former proceedings commissioner with the NZ Human
Rights Commission, was available to make submissions at the earlier hearing but
did not have the opportunity.
The judge said, "Lying at the center is the inability of New Zealand
citizens and
permanent residents to access the courts of the People's Republic of China for
redress."
The Lawsuit Alleges CCP Officials of Being Responsible for the Actions of
Their Subordinates in Persecuting the Plaintiffs
In the statement of claim, the Falun Gong practitioners allege that the three
Chinese officials were "vicariously liable for the actions of their
subordinates in persecuting the plaintiffs."
The claim maintains that Jiang Zemin established the national policy and
campaign to eradicate Falun Gong and its practitioners, and declared Falun Gong
[slanderous words omitted].
The claim says that Li Lanqing "designed and oversaw implementation of many
aspects of the campaign against Falun Gong," including re-education through
forced labor and brainwashing, and unlawful detention and torture, while Luo Gan
allegedly directly participated in policy-making to escalate the persecution of
Falun Gong.
The practitioners claim they were jailed, forced to watch anti-Falun Gong films,
threatened with labor camp sentences and tortured. Many were jailed in cells
with no hot water even though temperatures were below zero outside.
[...]
Welcome Note...
Yearly Archive
Printer Version