July 3, 2004

AN Australian wounded in a drive-by shooting in South Africa alleges he was the target of gunmen hired by the Chinese government.

Sydney man David Liang, 41, a follower of the religious group Falun Gong which is outlawed in China, is recovering in a South African hospital from gunshot wounds to his feet.

Mr Liang was among nine Australian-based Falun Gong members who entered South Africa on Monday to protest during a visit there of Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong and Commerce Minister Bo Xilai about China's human rights abuses.

Five of the protesters became lost travelling to Pretoria from Johannesburg Airport and their car came under fire from another vehicle.

Mr Liang, who was driving the car, accused the Chinese officials of hiring hit men to kill the Falun Gong group. The shooting has been major news in South Africa this week.

"We did not see them, but we think that the vice-president and the minister have hired people to kill us," he said from the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

"After shooting at us, they did not rob us and simply sped away. We are sure the Chinese government is involved."

[...]

A friend of Mr Liang and fellow Falun Gong practitioner in Brisbane said yesterday that the evidence was pointing to a "premeditated shooting".

"The driver (Mr Liang) was the only one in the car wearing a Falun Gong jacket and he was being targeted," she said.