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FDI: Australian Immigration Department Insists in Deporting Elderly Couple Back to China 14-03-2003 DIMIA insists couple not at risk - Mr. Wang's brother-in-law already persecuted to
death and brother sentenced to one year labour camp 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. "Well-Founded Fear of Persecution" says Amnesty International 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
Posting date: 3/14/2003 |