Gold Coast Bulletin (Australia): Students take on big case

September 21, 2003

FOUR Griffith University students will participate in a high profile international human rights case to free an Australian citizen jailed in China.

Zhang Cui Ying, from Sydney, is said to have been detained and tortured in China in 2000 because of her involvement with Falun Gong.

Under the guidance of Gold Coast lawyer Chris Nyst, students Jodie Warren, Thomas Bray, Belinda Falla and Kathryn Young will help a team of lawyers, including international human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson, prepare a submission to the United Nations Human rights Commissioner on Ms Zhang's behalf.

Ms Warren and Ms Young said they were honored to be involved in the case. "This is a real case involving real people with an opportunity for real impacts. Effectively, we could be saving lives,' said Ms Young.

"Torture is not an acceptable act in any society, and although I expect this will be a long and involved case, it's an amazing opportunity. It's worth not being paid."

Ms Warren said she had been drawn to international human rights to make a difference.

"And to be part of such a high profile case with such incredible mentors. Once you start working you forget that you are juggling university and the case; you forget it's work," said Ms Warren.

Mr. Nyst said the aim was to help an Australian citizen and give local students experience with human rights issues.

"The students will be researching and assisting in any way they can, gaining field experience and we're not paying them a thing. It's a win-win situation," he said.

"The case involves what we assert is a human rights issue violation arising out of the detention and torture over a lengthy period of time of an Australian citizen, resident and prominent international artist who also happens to be a practitioner of Falun Gong."

LOAD-DATE: September 21, 2003