14-03-2003

SYDNEY (FDI) - DIMIA has insisted in deporting an elderly couple, Mr Wang Juntao, 66 and Mrs Wang Liluan, 62, back to China today, where they will face certain persecution because they practice Falun Gong. DIMIA insisted that ordinary Falun Gong practitioners would not be persecuted; however the couple had been persecuted before they came to Australia. Furthermore, one of their family members has been persecuted to death, and another one was sentenced to forced labour camp.

The couple agreed to accept interviews by the media at the detention centre, and their son, Dr. Wang Zhou an Australian citizen, is also willing to accept media interview for helping his parents' plea.

Falun Foxue Association is also attempting to meet the Minister, Mr Ruddock this morning to further raise the case. We are calling for public help to stop their return to China to face the escalating persecution again.

Background:

Mr Wang Juntao, 66 and Ms. Wang Liluan, 62 were due to be deported on 11 March 2003 after their application for a visa was repeatedly rejected. Reportedly, they were already forced onto a plane, and where about to take off when a flight attendant discovered that Mr Wang suffers from heart disease and had him taken off the plane. The couple are currently being held at Sydney Villawood detention centre, and are scheduled to be deported anytime, according to the immigration office. Three and a half years ago, while in detention in China for practicing Falun Gong, Mr.Wang, was knocked unconscious from electric-shock torture by Chinese prison guards. Three years ago, Mr. Wang's brother-in-law was tortured to death for practicing Falun Gong. Two years ago, Mr. and Ms. Wang escaped fatal persecution and joined their son in the safety of Australia. Today, however, the Australian Immigration Department is poised to deport them back to certain persecution in China.

Seeing that the couple's refugee applications continued to be rejected, Amnesty International appealed on behalf of the two on January 8, 2003. "Amnesty International believes that Mr. and Ms. Wang have a well-founded fear of persecution," reads A.I.'s special report on the case. While the Immigration Department continues to claim that the two would not be at risk upon returning to China, both the practitioners and Amnesty think differently. "The ongoing 'strike-hard' campaign," according to the same A.I. report, "means that any practitioner could be at risk. In the case of Mr. and Ms. Wang who have been detained in the past, the risk would be even greater."

Contacts: John Deller 0416 302 314, Kai Song 0404 085 872, Tony Dai 0416 234 095 Immigration Minister Contact: 02 6277 7860
WEBSITES: www.faluninfo.net , www.falunau.org , E-MAIL : news@falunau.org

Posting date: 3/14/2003
Original article date: 3/14/2003
Category: News & Media Reports

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