The Torch (Sydney, Australia): Group Exercising Rights

A Chinese delegation to Bankstown Council was met by about 30 protesters from the Falun Gong gentle exercise group on Monday afternoon.

The protesters were there to tell the delegation from the Shijiazhuang administration that the Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa) group should be allowed to practise in China.

Currently Falun Gong (similar to the Tai Chi exercise) is banned in China and it supporters here say its practitioners in China are persecuted.

The 12-member China delegation was at the Bankstown Council roundhouse to hear a presentation from the council and the Southern Sydney Institute of TAFE.

TAFE have already initiated a number of proposals to teach some of their courses to people from the city and there is a proposal before Bankstown Council to setup a sister city relationship with them.

Yagoona resident Mrs Cuiying Zhang, who was at the protest, was only recently released from imprisonment by Chinese authorities, allegedly for her stance against the persecution of the Falun Gong.

"We hope these Chines government representatives can take back a message to the people in China who persecute us and tell them that we want human right just like every other people and every other nation has." she said.

Mrs Zhang said she did not care whether there was a sister city relationship between Bankstown Council or not, "all we want to is to let the Chinese Government know that we want basic human right of exercise. We are not interested in political matters. So whether they develop a relationship or not has nothing to do with us. But we do want our basic human rights."

A Falun Gong practitioner outside Bankstown Council roundhouse, Miss Yan Yan Che, said she was slapped on the hand by a member of the Shijiazhuang delegation as they were leaving. Miss Che said she had been giving the man a booklet about Falun Gong when he slapped her, forcing her to drop the booklet before she burst into tears.

Cr Richard McLaughlin told The Torch that a ShijiaZhuang delegation member Mr Wang, said the delegates were not authorised by the Chinese Government to comment about the Falun Gong issue and the demonstration outside the council roundhouse.

"He has asked me tell you that the delegation here today is for the purpose of friendship, the future sister city, trade and education discussions. They've [the discussions] gone well so far."

Cr McLaughlin would not comment further on the issue.