By Andrew Jefferson

March 11, 2002

MEMBERS of the Southern Highlands branch of the Falun Gong movement have criticized the brutal treatment of seven Australians detained in China following a brief protest in Tiananmen Square.

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Last week's protest by seven Australians outside the former imperial palace in central Beijing only lasted for a few seconds as followers held up a banner with the group's name before shouting " Falun Dafa is good" in Chinese.

Police quickly grabbed the five men and two women before subjecting them to detention, when it is alleged that some of the men were viciously punched and kicked.

It was the fifth protest since November on or near the square by foreign followers of Falun Gong, with former members (pictured) of the Southern Highlands branch arrested and allegedly beaten up before Christmas.

All later received five-year bans from visiting the country.

Gary Hastie, who has been practicing Falun Gong in the Highlands for four years, admitted he was not surprised by last week's treatment of the Australians at the hands of the Chinese police.

He said: " We are talking about a government which has only recently passed a law where followers of Falun Gong can be shot on the spot.

"A number of other governments around the world including Canada, the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom say what is going on in China should not be allowed to happen.

"The only way that the Chinese Government is going to stop this treatment is if all other countries in the world make a firm stand on its appalling human rights record".

Mr Hastie hinted that maybe one of the reasons why Australia and some other world governments were reluctant to openly reprimand the Chinese was tied up with the demands of big business today.

With Beijing being awarded the 2008 Olympic Games following assistance from organisers of the highly successful Sydney Olympics two years ago, a number of Australian firms are now in pole position to win key construction contracts in China.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer last week refused to directly criticise the Chinese,

only saying the Australian members of Falun Gong arrested were well aware that what they were doing was against the law.

Mr Hastie said: " By not openly criticising the Chinese, it could be well argued that Mr Downer is in fact condoning this type of treatment.

"The Australian Government must also be aware of the nature of the secret police operating in China and the widespread use of labour camps full of Falun Gong members in China.

"But Falun Gong is not an aggressive faith, and for me, it was what I have been looking for all my life for its simplicity, peace of mind and its preachings of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance".