AAP: Chinese Arrest Melbourne Couple

March 11, 2002

A Melbourne couple arrested in Beijing in a protest supporting the outlawed Falun Gong movement said they wanted to clarify the truth surrounding the spiritual movement.

Jarrod Lindon Hall and Emma Doddrell Hall, both 23, were arrested by police in Tiananmen Square about 7pm (AEDT) on Sunday as they attempted to unfurl a banner.

No-one has heard from the couple since their arrest, but fellow Australian Falun Gong members have released a pre-written statement on their behalf.

Their arrests came just days after 10 other Australians were expelled from China also for unfurling a Falun Gong banner in Tiananmen Square.

On that group's return to Melbourne they told of being kicked, punched and manhandled after being arrested.

In the statement, the Halls said they had practised Falun Gong - also known as Falun Dafa - for several years and found it to be good and pure.

"It has benefited our moral standard in our every day lives as well as our physical health," they said.

"The unhappy news is that Falun Dafa practitioners from China are now openly subject to the possible sentence of death by the Chinese government.

"Falun Dafa is based on the fundamental principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance.

"What rational reason could there be to oppose and not to support people who wish to practise these principles to the best of their ability?"

Meanwhile, five members of Falun Gong are travelling to Canberra hoping to appeal for assistance from the federal government.

Group spokesman David Bryceson, who was among those expelled from China last Friday, said they wanted the government to appeal to the Chinese to stop the "horrendous treatment" of Falun Gong practitioners in China.

China outlawed Falun Gong 1999, [...], and has detained thousands of Chinese followers since, imprisoning many in labour camps.

Falun Gong organisers abroad claim 375 Chinese followers have been killed, [...].

Hundreds of uniformed and plainclothes police on Sunday patrolled Tiananmen Square, swelling the crowds of Chinese and foreign tourists.

Police stopped and questioned foreigners before allowing them onto the vast plaza and followed them as they walked around.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said officials were aware of the reports the couple had been arrested and were making inquiries with Chinese authorities.

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