(Clearwisdom.net) At around noon on June 25, 2008, nearly one thousand Falun Gong practitioners held a large rally in front of the Parliament Building in Canberra, Australia, calling on the Australian Government to take action to stop the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. The rally also protested CCP's extension of violence to overseas.

Falun Gong practitioners held a large rally in front of Parliament Building calling on the government to help stop the CCP persecution of Falun Gong

Mr. Zhonghua Xiao, representing the Australia Falun Dafa Association gives a speech during the rally

Falun Gong practitioner Guang Yao describes her suffering when she was persecuted in a Chinese prison

Ms. Leigh Smith, representing the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) Australia Delegation speaks at the rally

Emmy, representing the Queens Free China Association is interviewed

Mr. Albert Lin, representing Doctors Against Forced Organ Removal speaks at the rally

Senator Andrew Bartlett, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, and David Pitman, moderator of the Uniting Church of Australia, sent support letters to the rally organizers. Mr. Zhonghua Xiao, representing the Australia Falun Dafa Association, Mr. Albert Lin, representing Doctors against Forced Organ Removal, and former Olympic athlete Jan Becker gave speeches during the rally. Other speakers at the rally included Falun Gong practitioners who were persecuted in China and a representative from the CIPFG.

Mr. Zhonghua Xiao, representing the Australia Falun Dafa Association, said during his speech at the rally that Motion 127, passed in the Senate and calling for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong, had historical meaning. He said, "We Falun Gong practitioners are happy to see that the Australian Senate did what they should do. This motion indicates that the Australian government stands with other democratic countries including European countries, America, and Canada. Those countries have passed many resolutions and motions calling for an end to the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong, condemning the CCP's crimes, and expressing their support and attention to the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners."

He continued, "We know that Australia has good commerce trade with China. But we also know that commercial trade has normal operation rules. Human rights require politicians' righteous voices to safeguard them. We wish that Prime Minister Rudd would tell the truth to his Chinese friends. We wish that he will extend the Senate's motion calling for an end of the persecution of Falun Gong to the Chinese government and tell them directly, 'We have commercial trade. But we don't agree with you about your persecution of human rights.'"

"History turns because of the actions of people like you and me"

Senator Andrew Bartlett sent a support letter to the rally after the motion was passed in the Senate. He stated in the letter, "For many years, I have been aware of the terrible suffering faced by Falun Gong practitioners in China, and have worked closely with their Australian counterparts to bring it to the world's attention.

"It's easy for us here in Australia to turn away from suffering that is so far away - suffering that takes a form so brutal and degrading that it's almost impossible to relate to our own lives.

"The fate of the Falun Gong under the Communist regime in China is awful - the oppression they face on a daily basis, the surveillance, the discrimination and the torture in an authoritarian state, seems hopeless.

"It's too easy to turn our attention to more local issues, and more achievable goals. But history turns because of the actions of people like you and me, and the unthinkable is suddenly achieved - seemingly overnight, but actually through the tireless work of ordinary people. The Berlin Wall falls, East Timor wins independence, and some day, the Falun Gong will live free of the systematic abuses they face today.

"My heart goes out to those people in China today, who are persecuted for their beliefs, and yet still live up to them. My support and my thanks go out to their friends and families here today who continue the struggle in their name. And my plea goes out to the rest of our country - do not let these crimes go unnoticed, or unopposed.

"I call on all Australians, in the spirit of our shared humanity, to support the oppressed Falun Gong practitioners overseas, and to add their names to the CIPFG's 'Millions of Signatures' petition. Contact your MPs, and the government of China to let them know that you care and you will act to stop this tyranny. Talk to your friends and family. Don't let the suffering be hidden away as the spotlight on China is focused solely on the Olympics.

Parliamentarians from across the board will continue to push for real action, and genuine relief for the Falun Gong."

Democratic Senator Natasha Stott Despoja sent a support letter to the rally. In the letter, she expressed her support, "I write to convey my support for the rally today in support of the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners worldwide.

"The Democrats have consistently called for the Chinese Government to respect human rights. The treatment and abuse that has been meted out to practitioners of Falun Gong is in stark contrast to the spirit of the Olympic Games. China's commitment to improve its respect for human rights on being awarded the Games is a promise that has not been fulfilled.

"Recently we have heard reports of some Falun Gong practitioners being attacked in New York and in Australia as well. Some US lawmakers have accused the Chinese Government of instigating these attacks. If true, they represent a sinister new turn in the Chinese Government's bewildering persecution of those who practice the Falun Gong way.

"Yesterday my colleague Senator Andrew Bartlett co-sponsored a motion that successfully passed the Senate, noting that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights applies to Falun Gong practitioners around the world, and that they should not be subject to persecution based on their beliefs.

"I echo those sentiments today and offer my support to your rally."

In the rally, a support letter from David Pitman, moderator of the Uniting Church of Australia, was also read. In the letter, he stated, "The continued persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China is a matter of vital concern. It is time for the Australian government, along with other Democratic Governments around the world, to become far more confrontational with the Chinese Government in this regard. The approach of the Olympic Games provides a perfect opportunity for concerted pressure to be applied on the Chinese Government to release Falun Gong members who have been imprisoned and to put a stop permanently to the persecution of the Falun Gong movement. China knows that the eyes of the world are on it at this time. It has been embarrassed by international reaction to the violence perpetrated in Tibet. Now is the time to address the future security and well-being of all Falun Gong practitioners in China. I personally support everything that is being done to bring about this outcome."

Emmy, from Freedom China Association said during an interview, "We are happy for the Australian Senate to pass the motion calling for an end of CCP's persecution of Falun Gong. I believe that many senators know about the CCP regime's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and agree that such persecution cannot go on. They also believe that the CCP conducts live organ removals since they discuss this issue in public. They did not take any action before on human rights because of commercial trade with China. I wish they can move further on moral and human rights issues because so many innocent Chinese people are killed."

During this event, Falun Gong practitioners in Australia submitted 37,000 signatures. The signatures were a part of the "Million of Signatures Global Campaign" initiated by the CIPFG, calling on all righteous forces to help stop the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong before the Olympics in Beijing. Some practitioners also protested the CCP's persecution in front of the Chinese Embassy. Incidents similar to those in Flushing, New York occurred recently at the Sydney Service Center for Quitting the CCP. The practitioners condemned the CCP's instigation of hatred and inciting violence against Falun Gong practitioners outside of China. At 4:00 p.m., the practitioners also conducted a forum in parliament on "Issues related to stopping the persecution of Falun Gong."