Issued by Clearwisdom Net

In the afternoon of June 8, 2005, the French Falun Dafa Association filed a lawsuit with the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris on behalf of Falun Gong practitioner Zhao Ming, who is currently living in Ireland. The defendant in the lawsuit is Wang Yunkun, Jilin Provincial CCP Committee Secretary, who was attending Automotive Meetings held by CNIT, La-Défense. The lawsuit cites the brutal tortures Zhao Ming was subjected to in Jilin Province and other parts of China because of his practice of Falun Gong. Documents submitted along with the lawsuit state the scope and extent of the persecution of Falun Gong in Jilin Province and in other parts of Mainland China. The court accepted the documents.

Jilin Province is one of the worst provinces in China in terms of the severity of the persecution. As provincial CCP Committee Secretary, Wang Yunkun personally organized the persecution in Jilin Province. As of June 9, 2005, it was verified that 301 practitioners were tortured to death in Jilin Province, which ranks number four among the 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomic regions. Eight practitioners were tortured to death following the incident of broadcasting truth clarification videos on a Changchun cable network. The persecution in Jilin Province is carried out under orders from the Jilin Provincial CCP Committee. Wang Yunkun was in office as Secretary of the Jilin Provincial CCP Committee and a member of the 15th CCP Central Committee during that aspect of the persecution. He promoted the persecution at numerous occasions and on CCP-controlled media, therefore making him a responsible party to the persecution of Falun Gong in Jilin Province and the country in general.

In the afternoon of June 9, 2005, the French public prosecutor said that he would conduct an investigation regarding this case.

On June 9, some practitioners held a peaceful protest at the square outside CNIT to expose the brutal persecution and to demand legal punishment for Wang Yunkun.

Falun Gong practitioners Ms. Zhang Cuiying and Ms. Jane Dai, two plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer and Australian federal police, held a press conference in front of the Australian Capital Territory's Supreme Court in Canberra on June 10, 2005. Mr. Yuan Hongbing, former professor of law in China addressed the conference as a witness.

Reporters interviewing Ms. Zhang Cuiying

Ms. Jane Dai and her daughter Fadu

According to New South Wales Falun Dafa Association spokesperson Kay Rubacek, on March 16, 2002, the day before Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan visited the Australian capital, Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Alexander Downer first issued certificates which prevent the use of banners and amplified music within 100 meters from the Chinese Embassy in Canberra. Australian federal police implemented Minister Downer's order and forcefully removed practitioners' banners appealing against the Chinese communist regime's persecution, and the amplifiers which they had used in peaceful appeals in front of the Chinese Embassy for nine months.

The confiscated banners included ones reading, "Falun Dafa is great", "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance", "Stop the persecution of Falun Gong", and "Bring Jiang Zemin to Justice". This certificate can only be valid for 30 days. However, since March 2002, Minster Downer has issued 38 certificates in succession, each for the maximum period of 30 days, under the 1992 Diplomatic Privileges and Immunity Regulations.

Numerous media outlets attend the press conference.

Numerous media outlets attend the press conference.

Falun Gong practitioners' attorney Mr. Bernard confirmed on June 9 that the Australian Capital Territory's Supreme Court accepted Falun Gong practitioners Ms. Zhang Cuiying and Ms. Jane Dai's complaint against Minister Downer. They are seeking an injunction from the Supreme Court to prevent Mr. Downer from abusing the Foreign Affairs Minister's power to prohibit Falun Gong practitioners from unfurling banners and playing music in front of the Chinese Embassy.

Plaintiff Ms. Zhang Cuiying wore a T-shirt which is full of Chinese characters. She recounted to media the persecution and threats she experienced in China and in Australia from the Chinese communist regime. When giving the interview, she said that she believed Australia's law is supposed to protect citizens' legal rights. The reason she introduced her experiences here today was to let people know that the ongoing persecution against Falun Gong practitioners should not be covered by economic interests. She said that filing the lawsuit against Minister Downer is for the purpose of stopping the persecution of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance as soon as possible and allowing more people to understand the viciousness of the CCP and its attempt to manipulate Australia.

Another plaintiff, Ms. Jane Dai and her five-year-old daughter Fadu, held in their hands the only family photo they have. Ms. Dai said that it was because of the CCP persecution of Falun Gong that her husband went to Tiananmen Square to appeal. There, he held a banner with the words, "Falun Dafa is great". As a result, police arrested him and six months later, he died from the persecution. Now, Ms. Dai and her daughter want to appeal for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. Unfortunately, because of Minister Downer's certificates, she is unable to unfurl banners in front of the Chinese Embassy. She said that her daughter Fadu lost her dad. In China, numerous children lost their fathers, mothers or even both parents just like Fadu. Those orphans are in a really miserable situation. Ms. Dai hoped to call upon more people to pay attention to this persecution. However, Minister Downer's actions exactly assist CCP to persecute Falun Gong practitioners in Australia. These kind of actions must be stopped.

Some reporters asked, "Why didn't you take legal action until today after the certificates have been issued for three years?" Ms. Day answered, "Over the past three years, we have tried different ways to tell Minister Downer that these certificates not only hurt our Falun Gong practitioners but it also harms Australian people. We even went to his election district to talk with him, and peacefully appealed and distributed related materials outside the Foreign Ministry. However, all these efforts obviously did not have the desired effect. Mr. Downer has still continuously issued the certificates every month and he did so again last month. Under this circumstance, we have to take legal actions to stop him from continuing this kind of illegal actions.

Former university professor of law in China, Mr. Yuan Hongbing, currently a refugee in Australia said in his speech, "I come here to bear the witness that in China there is indeed a fascist organization - '610 office'. Australia should not assist the tyrant to do evil..."

Falun Gong practitioners' attorney Mr. Bernard Collaery expressed, "The Australian Government's response to the persecution of Falun Gong has been disgraceful. The desire to advance bilateral relations with China including economic relations has resulted in a supine position on human rights and is a national disgrace."

Many major media outlets in Australia including Channel 9, Channel 10, ABC, SBS, NTDTV, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, AAP, and Sound of Hope Radio Network came to cover the event.

Chinese diplomat Mr. Chen Yonglin and former security agent and Tianjin 610 Office officer Mr. Hao Fengjun have recently renounced membership in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). They also publicly exposed their inside stories about the persecution of Falun Gong, leading Falun Gong to become the focal point of major media reports in Australia.

Press conference

Press conference

On June 11, 2005, New South Wales Falun Dafa Association held an anti-torture exhibit and a press conference in the Belmore Park located in downtown Sydney to further introduce facts about Falun Gong and the CCP's suppression.

Exercise demonstration

New South Wales Falun Dafa Association spokesperson Mr. John Deller said in his speech: "Falun Gong practitioners believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, while the CCP is good at deception and violence. Under the CCP tyranny for more than 50 years, 80 million Chinese people have died from CCP's despotic rule. Even more so, the genocidal persecution of Falun Gong, which has now been going on for six years, has further exposed the party's evil nature. Today, the miserable scene we display here (referring to the re-enactment of the tortures practitioners face in China) is occurring right now in China. Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners lost their lives and numerous children become orphans. From the practitioners who are demonstrating the Falun Gong exercises behind me, we can feel the peacefulness of Falun Gong."

People viewing truth-clarifying display boards

People viewing truth-clarifying display boards

At present, CCP uses economic interests to manipulate other countries. As a consequence, these countries turn a blind eye to CCP's atrocities. John called upon the Australian government and the Prime Minister to stand out and speak for people who are under suppression in China. He hoped that the Australian government could truly act as what it claimed that the human rights issue would not be affected by the bilateral trade with China.

Practitioner Geoff Gregory said that Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Downer issued monthly certificates to prevent Falun Gong practitioners from exercising their rights to hold normal and peaceful appeal in front of the Chinese Embassy in Canberra. The certificate that Mr. Downer issued is only valid for 30 days. However, Minister Downer has signed 38 certificates over the past 3 years. To uphold their freedom of expression, Falun Gong practitioners have lodged a lawsuit in Canberra Territory Supreme Court against the Foreign Minister. Mr. Gregory introduced, "Over the past three years, Falun Gong practitioners throughout Australia have been trying to discuss with Minister Downer on this issue. We even went to his election district to meet with him. We delivered the collected signatures of numerous people who support us. Unfortunately, all of our efforts were not able to let Mr. Downer to realize the harmful effect his actions have caused. We have no other choice and can only take legal actions."

A representative from World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) introduced an investigation report prepared by WOIPFG. The report covered investigations conducted by WOIPFG since its establishment about the persecution encountered by Falun Gong. The report indicated that the CCP does not only cruelly suppress Falun Gong practitioners in China, but it has used all possible means to extend the persecution to other countries, including threatening and luring overseas media outlets by promise of gain. He delivered WOIPFG reports to major media outlets.

At the site of the press conference, Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful exercise demonstration formed a striking contrast to the live re-enactment of the torture methods used against practitioners in China. Many passersby stopped to watch and asked for more information. On the large boards, in addition to the introduction of Falun Gong, the persecution and ruthless torture methods used against Falun Gong practitioners were also depicted.

When giving interview with media outlets, practitioner David Liang from Sydney displayed photos showing the attempted gun-shooting assassination he encountered when he went to South Africa to lodge a lawsuit against CCP officials who participated in the suppression of Falun Gong. He told the media, "South Africa police determined that the shooting incident was an attempted assassination. We encountered the attack when we just arrived at South Africa and drove on the high way to our hotel. The gunmen did not rob any valuables from us. All signs indicated that the gunmen were hired by CCP who wanted to prevent Falun Gong practitioners from suing high-rank CCP officials Zeng Qinghong and Bo Xilai.

On Thursday June 9, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners held an anti-torture exhibition in Canberra, Australia to expose the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) brutal persecution of Falun Gong. This truth-clarification activity won wide support from the public.

On June 4, in a rally in Sydney to commemorate the June 4, 1989 pro-democracy movement and to support the resignation of more than two million people from the CCP, Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin made an appearance and announced his resignation from the CCP. He said that one of the reasons for his resignation was that he no longer wished to follow the CCP in the persecution of Falun Gong. On June 7, former 610 Office official Hao Fengjun from Tianjin backed up Chen Yonglin's allegations in Melbourne and exposed the CCP's brutal persecution with first-hand evidence. Most recently, a third former CCP official in Australia said that he personally saw a Falun Gong practitioner who was tortured to death. This series of revelations and events has directed the attention of the Australian people toward Falun Gong.

At 11 a.m., while the practitioners were setting up the exhibition, there were people already waiting to learn the facts of Falun Gong and the persecution. Many signed a petition to support the efforts against the persecution. Some people wished to learn about the CCP's harassment and persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in Australia, and they called on the Australian government to investigate and take action to stop the CCP's unlawful acts.

People come to learn the facts of Falun Gong

In response to former Chinese officials Mr. Chen Yonglin and Mr. Hao Fengjun's open renunciation of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and revelation of the CCP regime's persecution of Falun Gong, on June 10, 2005, practitioners attended a press conference in front of the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco. Practitioners voiced their support to the defectors' righteous actions. They also exposed the evil conduct of the CCP with their personal experiences. In the meanwhile, practitioners called upon other CCP officials including officials in the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco to renounce the party and stop acting as accomplices of the CCP.

Press conference

Ms. Ma Lijuan, a San Francisco resident said that in 1999, Jiang Zemin and the CCP began the official suppression of Falun Gong. Since she practiced Falun Gong and knew that the practice is really good, she went back to China in 2000 and went to the Appeal Office in Beijing - a place established by the government to listen to public opinions. She planned to explain the real situation about Falun Gong to the government and hope the government to stop the persecution of Falun Gong. She said, "Out of my expectation, as soon as I arrived at the appeal office, I was arrested and locked up in a detention center, where no food or water was provided. Even worse, I was not allowed to use the bathroom. In China, the mistreatment I received was not as serious as other other Falun Gong practitioners. I witnessed how Mr. Zhao Ming who went back from Ireland was beaten by the police officers. I also witnessed other practitioners being tortured."

Ms. Ma Lijuan said that everyone has his conscience and she hoped that those CCP officials who are still participating in the suppression of Falun Gong would retrieve their conscience and stop assisting CCP to do things against their conscience.

Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Pan Jun, a San Francisco resident, attended the press conference. He said that the reason he came here was to use his own experience to expose CCP oppression of overseas Falun Gong practitioners. He introduced that on October 22, 2000, when he and other practitioners were practicing Falun Gong exercises in the Garden Corner Park in San Francisco's Chinatown, he was beaten by a group of people whom he was not acquainted with. At that time, Mr. Pan followed Falun Gong's teaching of "not fighting back when being punched or insulted", he did not fight back. As a result, his eyeglasses were broken, his clothes were torn into pieces and his nose was bleeding. Several other practitioners were also beaten and injured.

Mr. Pan Jun bearing witness to the CCP's extension of its persecution of Falun Gong to overseas

Pan Jun pointed out that the reason of being beaten up was because in September 2000, the then-President of China, Jiang Zemin, said in an internal meeting that fighting against Falun Gong overseas should be emphasized. Thus, in addition to San Francisco, attack and harassment against Falun Gong practitioners took place in Chicago, New York, Canada and Australia. For instance, some practitioners' car windshields were broken, their tires were punctured, their phone calls were monitored and their apartments were broken into.

Practitioner Mr. Steve Ispas expressed that CCP sent out around 1000 spies in Australia. He believes that there are also CCP's spies in the U.S. In 2002, when Jiang Zemin visited Iceland, numerous Falun Gong practitioners from across the world were barred from boarding the Iceland airlines. It was the due to the CCP's manipulation through diplomatic means that Iceland government did such a thing. This also indicated that the CCP's spies collected overseas Falun Gong practitioners' names.

Steve pointed out that nonetheless, the evil will never be able to prevail over justice. At that time, 3000 Iceland people took the streets to appeal for Falun Gong. They also published advertisements in the major media in Iceland to openly apologize to Falun gong. Finally, the Iceland government relieved the ban, and practitioners were able to enter Iceland.

Steve also pointed out that CCP does not only suppress Falun Gong practitioners, but it also harasses American officials who support Falun Gong. For instance, in 2002, after learning about the CCP's brutal persecution of Falun Gong, San Francisco city council member Mr. Chris Daly initiated a resolution to condemn CCP and call for an end to the persecution. However, the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco used all possible means including phoning Daly to threaten him to prevent city council members to pass the resolution.

Steve expressed that this was only one example of the CCP's extension of the persecution against Falun Gong in other countries. Nevertheless, as people see more and more clearly its evil nature, they begin to stand up to oppose the regime. On October 4, 2004, the U.S. Congress unanimously passed House Resolution 304 to express the U.S. Congress's opinion regarding the CCP's suppression of Falun Gong in China and in the U.S. The resolution urged the Chinese government to immediately stop interfering in the exercise of religious and political freedoms within the United States, such as the right to practice Falun Gong, that are guaranteed by the United States Constitution; cease using the diplomatic missions in the United States to spread falsehoods about the nature of Falun Gong; and release from detention all prisoners of conscience, including practitioners of Falun Gong, who have been incarcerated in violation of their rights as expressed in the Constitution of the People's Republic of China.

Mr. Pan Jun said that on June 10 six years ago, a Gestapo-like organization, the 610 Office, was established in China. This organization has conducted various kinds of harassments and persecution against Falun Gong practitioners in all large and small cities in China and in countries outside China. As a result, at least 2,400 Falun Gong practitioners died in the persecution.

Pan expressed that each person, no matter what life path he takes, what position he holds in the society, he is going to face the trial of his conscience. This day should come soon. He said, "I hope more officials in the Chinese Consulate would bravely stand out, renounce the evil CCP and its related organizations. CCP will be held accountable for all crimes it has committed against Chinese people. It will be a wise act to renounce it as soon as possible."