(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners held rallies in Canberra and Sydney on March 20 and 21, 2024, during the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. They condemned the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) ongoing persecution of Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) and called on the Australian government to place human rights and freedom before economic interests. 

Falun Gong practitioners held a rally in front of Parliament in Canberra on March 20. 

Shane Rattenbury (right), Attorney-General of the Australian Capital Territory and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), and John Deller (left), Australia Falun Dafa Association spokesman, addressed the rally. 

Falun Dafa representative John Deller said, “The Chinese regime fears Falun Gong, because Falun Gong continues to expose the real nature of the CCP and has awakened the world to the atrocities and harm it is committing. The world needs more people speaking up for Falun Gong practitioners and exposing the persecution.” He called on the Australian Foreign Minister to raise the Falun Gong issue during talks with her counterpart. 

Shane Rattenbury, MLA, supports Falun Gong’s peaceful protest and said in his speech that Australia should pay attention to the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong and must not avoid the issue. 

He pointed out, “Human rights should be respected, culture should be respected, and freedom of religion should be respected. These should be universal values.”

Other Members of Congress and Senators also came out of the Parliament House to speak at the rally.

Dr. David Gillespie MP remarked that the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong cannot be justified in any shape or form. He said, “We hear your struggle [calling for help to end the persecution] and we will keep arguing the case for human rights.”

Senator Dean Smith thanked practitioners for holding the protest and said it was very important.

Senator Janet Rice also expressed her support for the practitioners.

Practitioners held banners along the motorcade route to the parliament and in front of the Hyatt Hotel Canberra, where Wang stayed. 

Professor Feng Chongyi: Falun Gong Raises Awareness and Calls for Conscience 

Dr. Feng Chongyi of the University of Technology Sydney

Dr. Feng Chongyi, chairman of the Australia and New Zealand Alliance of Victims of the Chinese Communist Regime, China scholar, and professor at the University of Technology Sydney, said, “The CCP is an evil regime and it is very cunning. It has brainwashed and deceived many Chinese people for a long time. This requires those who are awake to take the lead to arouse the general awakening of the Chinese people.

“Today we are here not only to speak out to the Australian government and people, but also to the Chinese citizens and government. What we are showing is the will of the people. As normal people, we will not associate with this evil regime.”

Dr. Feng praised Falun Gong practitioners for their long-term persistence in exposing the evil of the CCP and guiding the Chinese people to rebuild their morality.

He said, “The CCP has not only destroyed our mountains and rivers, but also destroyed people’s morality. This is a more serious harm. The Falun Gong group believes in Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, tells the truth, and does good deeds, which are of great significance to China. It is a big contribution. In the future, even after the CCP is overthrown, Falun Gong will still play a big role in these aspects.”

President of the Uyghur Association of Australia: Falun Gong Helps the Chinese People Understand the Evil Nature of the CCP

Mehmet Obul, President of the Uyghur Association of Australia

Mehmet Obul, President of the Uyghur Association of Australia, said, “I support Falun Gong very much. Falun Gong is a peaceful and rational group. Falun Gong spreads the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and helps Chinese people to learn about the nature of the CCP. [As a result,] Many Chinese people have quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations.” 

He also said, “The CCP realizes that if the Chinese people are free, it will collapse, so it persecutes Falun Gong, and then persecutes Tibetans and Uyghurs.” He said that no matter what religion one believes in, we came into this world to help each other. We must stand against the CCP and stop all persecution as soon as possible.

Former Secretary of the Chinese Consulate General in Sydney: People Should Not Cooperate With the CCP and Allow It to Do Whatever It Wants

Chen Yonglin, Former Secretary of the Chinese Consulate General in Sydney

Former secretary of the Chinese Consulate in Sydney, Chen Yonglin said, “The Australian government must stop its policy of appeasement towards China. The CCP has a policy of using money to promote politics, using money to influence politics and expand its influence. Australia cannot give up basic human rights and universal values. It should speak out for persecuted groups, including the Falun Gong group that is brutally persecuted by the CCP. We should not cooperate with the CCP and allow it to do whatever it wants.” 

Chen commended practitioners for protesting the CCP’s persecution of belief and their efforts that have helped many Chinese people recognize the true nature of the CCP. 

Practitioners Call on the Australian Government to Urge the Chinese Regime to End the Persecution 

On March 21, Falun Gong practitioners held a rally in front of the Sydney Town Hall, and then staged a peaceful protest in front of the venue where New South Wales Governor Chris Minns met with Wang Yi. As Wang Yi’s motorcade passed by, practitioners shouted: “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!” and, “Stop the persecution of Falun Gong!”

Lucy Zhao, Chair of the Australian Falun Dafa Association, spoke in the rally in front of Sydney Town Hall on March 21. 

Dr. Lucy Zhao, Chair of the Australian Falun Dafa Association, addressed the rally and said that the CCP’s persecution has lasted for 25 years. Falun Gong is the biggest group being persecuted in China. Before the persecution, one in ten Chinese people practiced Falun Gong. Hundred of thousands of families were broken as a result of the persecution. Falun Gong practitioners are the main victims of the CCP’s live organ harvesting. 

She said that practitioners demand that the Chinese regime end the persecution and release all incarcerated practitioners.

Practitioners rallied to protest the CCP’s persecution in front of the Sydney Town Hall on March 21.

Wang’s motorcade passes by the Falun Gong banners. 

Australians Support Falun Gong 

During both events, practitioners held banners worded “Stop the Persecution, Stop Live Organ Harvesting, and Release all Detained Falun Gong Practitioners.” Many local people expressed their support for practitioners. 

Practitioners raise awareness of the persecution. 

Kathy said, “I learned about Falun Gong many years ago during a petition in Sydney’s Hyde Park. We want freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of thought, because these are the basic human rights that we all should enjoy. Trade is important, but nothing is more valuable than human rights. This is important to every Chinese.”

Kathy expresses her support for Falun Gong. 

When Paula heard about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, she said, “It is so sad because you can’t believe that something like this could happen today. We should stop this persecution. I think Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance are values that everyone should have.” 

Paula was happy to learn about the event and said everyone should be aware of the persecution. 

Paula added, “I like this kind of rally because the people behind the banners are very peaceful and friendly. I didn’t know about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong before I came here. This is a real thing happening in China. Everyone needs to know about the persecution.”

Fabio Diniz said, “This is the first time I heard that Falun Gong is being persecuted. We must stop the persecution and stop killing innocent people.

“Your rally today is very peaceful. We need a peaceful world. The principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance are necessary for our society today.”