The Sydney Morning Herald: Beijing's Long-distance Bid to Snuff Out Banned Group in Australia

The Sydney Morning Herald, August 15, 2000

Australian security services and police are monitoring suspected Chinese harassment of Falun Gong members in Australia as the Howard Government prepares to open human rights talks with Beijing on Wednesday.

Officers from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have contacted Falun Gong devotees in Sydney and Canberra to warn them of the campaign.

Chinese diplomats have also been involved in attempts to curtail the activities of the [group] in Sydney and Canberra with pressure put on local governments to deny members the use of community facilities.

Chinese diplomats have warned Blacktown and Hurstville councils that the [group], banned and persecuted in China, is destructive and should be discouraged.

It is understood that Blacktown Council has continued to allow the group to take part in its community activities and use its facilities.

Falun Gong followers in Australia say they have been followed by people who appeared to be Chinese, have had their telephones tapped, and property and vehicles damaged.

They believe the Chinese Government has identified followers in Australia, because they could not get visas to visit China.

China's Vice-Foreign Minister, Mr Yang Jiechi, will lead a delegation to talks in Canberra this week where Australia will protest over the crackdown on Falun Gong in China and other human rights abuses.

However, a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade refused to answer questions on the harassment of the movement in Australia or confirm that diplomatic protests had been lodged with Beijing over these activities.

The AFP did not return the Herald's calls.

A Campsie Falun Gong instructor, Mr Li Qizhong, said the harassment appeared to be concerted. "We know in China these things happen, but this is Australia."

A number of [Falun Gong] followers confirm that ASIO and AFP officers have approached them, and were grateful that the officers appeared to be aware of the harassment.

Mr Li, who said his car was broken into and [Falun Gong] literature stolen, believes it is clear that the Australian authorities are aware of the campaign. "They know what is going on."

A Canberra [Falun Gong] follower, Ms Jasy Fu Luanqing, said she had complained when her telephone kept cutting out when she was talking with fellow Falun Gong members.