March 17, 2002
The Federal Government sent police to silence the Falun Gong demonstrations outside the Chinese embassy late yesterday, sparking an angry rebuke from the ACT Labor Government.
In a day of high drama, federal Immigration Minister Alexander Downer issued an instrument under diplomatic immunity legislation ordering Australian Federal Police to take action against them.
It effectively brought to an end the six-month protest, and raised concerns about the freedom to protest peacefully.
ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said last night that he was appalled by the Commonwealth's intervention, which sought to prevent the peaceful pursuit of political protests.
"These are people that have acted within the boundaries that thinking people in Canberra would see as right," Mr Stanhope said.
"This action was not taken at the invitation of the ACT Government.
"The Falun Gong had a legitimate act of protest and this would be the view of the majority of Canberra people.
"There really are some issues for contemplation in terms of this community's perception of what is a legitimate protest and what can be done."
He was disbelieving about the Federal Government stepping in to try to quell the demonstration.
It is only the second time in the ACT's history that the Commonwealth has intervened in protests against the wishes of the ACT Government.
A similar removal of a demonstration occurred outside the Indonesian embassy in 1991, sparking an angry exchange with the then ACT Labor Government.
Mr Stanhope said the ultimatum had no support whatsoever from the ACT Government, and it set worrying precedents for the right of people to carry out peaceful protests in the future.
Chanting Falun Gong demonstrators waving bright banners and against a backdrop of placards criticising Chinese human rights abuses, were told by the AFP late yesterday that their demonstration activities and materials were banned, and they could no longer use loud hailers, banners or placards.
About 100 Falun Gong remained at the roadside yesterday afternoon until 6pm.
By 8pm, only about 30 meditating protesters were left.
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