Dear Falun gong practitioners,

Your SOS! Urgent Rescue Walk from Sydney to Canberra has moved many Australians, including me.

The continuing repression, arrest and detention of Falun Gong members in China is of increasing concern to both me and my union, the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (ICFTUA)

I am advised by our members that their fellow practitioners in China are the victims of ongoing persecution, torture and imprisonment because of their beliefs.

Trade Unions throughout the world have historically defended the human rights of all people, regardless of their Nationality or Beliefs. On this basis I am very disturbed to hear allegations that members of Falun Gong are suffering violations of their very basic human right to practice their own beliefs.

As you will be well aware, the principle of freedom of associations is a fundamental value and commitment of the international labour movement. Bans, attacks, imprisonment and torture by the Government of the People's Republic of China on people of the Falun Gong movement, is a breach of the freedoms of belief, association and expression.

I urge the Australian federal Government to strongly relay these concerns to the Government of the People's Republic of China.

Yours in Solidarity

John Owen

Assistant Secretary