The Epoch Times: Peaceful Appeal Asks for No More "Kowtowing" (Photo)
By Ben Hurley
The Epoch Times Sydney Staff December 7, 2005 Australian Falun Gong practitioners have been appealing continually outside
Parliament House during the final two weeks of parliament 2005 for an end to
restrictions placed on their vigil outside the Chinese Embassy in Canberra. About 100 practitioners listened to speeches from pro-democracy activists and
the two high profile Chinese defectors, Mr. Chen Yonglin and Mr. Hao Fengjun,
who called on Senators to support a Greens-initiated motion urging the
government to cease the restrictions, which have been in place since the visit
of former Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan in March 2002. "I know that there are a lot of demonstrations in front of the Chinese
overseas missions, but Australia is the only democratic government that tries to
limit the demonstrations," said Mr. Chen. "I believe that this is a shame for democracy," added the former
diplomat. On the day before the Chinese Foreign Minister's visit, Australian Federal
Police politely but firmly ordered silent appellants to remove their banners
from the roadside opposite the Chinese Embassy in Canberra. The appellants were
engaging in peaceful protest against the Chinese Government's brutal campaign
against Falun Gong. The orders restricting the appeal outside the Chinese Embassy have been
issued by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer in the form of a 30-day certificate.
Mr. Downer has signed 46 of these certificates that prevent Falun Gong
practitioners from using audio equipment, displaying large banners, or affixing
signs to legally parked vehicles. Labor MP Chris Bowen addressed the appellants outside Parliament House last
week on Tuesday November 29, saying he believes the restrictions are an
unacceptable breach of Australians' rights to peacefully protest. "Just because I'm not from Falun Gong doesn't mean I shouldn't stand up
for their rights to do what they would like in a peaceful way," Mr. Bowen
told Sound of Hope radio in an interview afterwards. "[In] a free and democratic country people should be able to protest in
a peaceful way and Falun Gong has been denied that right and I think that is a
shame for Australia." The Australian Democrats have long been actively calling upon the Australian
government to change its attitude towards the Chinese Government. Senator
Natasha Stott-Despoja has moved Senate motions relating to this issue, although
she has had trouble garnering the support of the major parties. "I think there is a reticence to be seen to criticize China,
particularly in the context of trade and other negotiations," Senator
Despoja told The Epoch Times. "We don't like being mindful of labor standards or environmental impact.
We don't like human rights debates to get in the way of what might be positive
trade discussions and outcomes and that is unacceptable to me." "The Australian Democrats are very concerned that people-Falun Gong
practitioners who protest outside the Chinese Embassy can be arrested. It is
quite an extraordinary situation so we have expressed our concerns to Minister
Downer and certainly our solidarity, if you like, with Falun Gong
practitioners." "In fact, I have never seen more peaceful protests in my life than those
that are conducted outside the Parliament House in Australia but also, like they
used to be outside the Chinese Embassy." A Senate Committee report tabled last month found that Australia should take
advantage of all avenues to raise human rights with the Chinese Government, not
ruling out Free Trade Agreement channels. The report said, "Many witnesses believed that Australia could do more
to encourage China to improve its human rights record. In particular, some
emphasized that a timid approach could do more damage than good to Australia's
relationship with China. Most urged the government to participate in strong and
vigorous debate." Democrats Senator Andrew Bartlett agrees. "Australia's approach with China, at least at a government level, is
extraordinarily weak. [Human rights issues are raised] behind closed doors in a
way to minimize any sort of pressure and the Chinese Government don't even have
to acknowledge there is a problem let alone act upon it and I think that is just
not acceptable," Senator Bartlett told The Epoch Times. "[In] allowing the facts to get out into the open and acknowledging
rather than pretending they're not there would be a pretty good start I
think." Falun Gong spokesperson John Deller said the Australian government should
"openly and clearly" call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. "Having to deal with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) or the Chinese
regime may be a fact in terms of our external relations, but we should be
dealing with them on our terms, expressing our values of democracy and freedom,
not kowtowing on the premise that we'll lose trade," Mr. Deller said. "The appeal [outside parliament] is to really call on our government to
speak up openly to condemn the persecution and call for its end, and also for
Mr. Downer to stop issuing those certificates which make us complicit really, in
the persecution, by having Australia's voice in unison with the CCP rather than
in unison with the values of the Australian people." A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade did not answer
specific questions relating to this article, but said the Government is
considering its response to the Senate Committee's report and will respond in
due course. The motion put forward by the Australian Greens was not passed in the Senate. Source http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/5-12-7/35419.html
Falun Gong
practitioner Jane Dai meditates outside Parliament house. Her husband
was killed in China after being taken into custody by Chinese police
because he refused to renounce his belief in Falun Gong. (The Epoch
Times)
Yearly Archive
Printer Version
feedback@clearwisdom.net
