By Ming Yuan
On October 17, 2006, Falun Quite a few political Reenactment Political and community leaders speak out in support of Falun Gong Member of Parliament (MP) Dr. Carmen Lawrence, MP Chris Bowen, Senator Andrew In her speech at the rally, MP Dr. Carmen Lawrence called Dr. Senator Andrew Barlett said, “A significant number of Senator Senator signs the practitioners’ petition letter After his speech, MP Chris Bowen accepted Senator Trish Crossin and her legislative In The
Gong practitioners from Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane held a rally
and anti-torture exhibition in front of Parliament House in Canberra. They called
on the Australian government to pay attention to the CCP’s atrocities of
organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners and take to measures to
stop this crime against humanity.
and community leaders attended the rally and gave speeches to call for an end
of the persecution of Falun Gong and an investigation into the CCP’s crime
of live organ removal. They also made requests for more effective means to pressure
the CCP into stopping the persecution, and urged the international community to
pay attention to the issue and make sure human rights won’t be overshadowed
by trade and sports.
to expose the CCP’s atrocity of live organ removal
Calling for an end of the CCP’s atrocity of live organ removal in front of
Australia’s Parliament House
Dr. Carmen Lawrence gives a speech
Senator Andrew Barlett
Senator Kerry Nettle
MP Chris Bowen accepts 14,000 signatures
Sister Jane Keogh from Refugee Action Committee, a human rights organization
Vietnam community leader Bich Pha
Director of Vietnamese Radio Station
Barlett, Senator Kerry Nettle, Sister Jane Keogh of Refugee Action Committee,
Vietnam community leader Bich Pha, and the director of a Vietnamese radio station
attended the rally and gave speeches. Senator Trish Crossin and her legislative
assistant attended the rally and signed in support. One member of the Coalition
to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong also wrote to express his support
and called for an immediate end to CCP’s brutal persecution of Falun Gong
practitioners.
on people to pay attention to the persecution of Falun Gong in China. She reminded
everyone to read the details and analysis in the Canadian independent investigation
report on the CCP’s live organ removal. She thought that human rights observers
and all others should expose China’s poor human rights record before the
Olympic Games. All the CCP’s crimes of live organ removal from living Falun
Gong practitioners and selling for profit must be stopped and condemned.
Lawrence said to the practitioners at the rally, “I join with you in protesting
strongly the mistreatment of Falun Gong practitioners in wanting to draw the attention
of the global community to what is happening in China and to ensure that trade
and sport don’t overshadow human rights. The protection of human rights in
China must be the foremost consideration of all the members of the Parliament
seated here today.”
people in Parliament have a deep and strong concern about the extremely serious
human rights abuses and allegations that are occurring. They are looking at ways
to further pressure the Chinese government to change its ways and looking at opportunities
to draw more attention to the reality of what is happening. This is something
that affects Australia and Australians. It is not something that we just can forget
about it and pretend that it is happening in another part of the world.”
Kerry Nettle said, “Just today the leader of the Greens, Bob Brown, was calling
on the Australian government to do what it can to stop Australians from going
to China for organ transplants until this issue of whether they are Falun Gong
practitioners or others being executed for their organs is resolved. Until that
issue is dealt with, the Australian government needs to show that Australians
are not being caught up in this horrendous trade that is leading to the death
of so many people.”
and MP accepts the signatures
the petition with 14,000 Australian signatures from the practitioners. The petition
called on the Australian government to immediately investigate the CCP’s
atrocities of live organ removal and stop the persecution. He said he would convey
the Australian voices to the Parliament.
assistant also came to the rally and signed a petition letter in support.
August, Mr. Kilgour, former Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) for Canada, and
Mr. McMillan-Scott, the Vice-President of the European Parliament, held various
hearings in the Australian Parliament and local assemblies on their “Report into
Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China.” Their hearings
not only caught the attention of Australian mainstream media, which carried special
reports, but also won active response from Australian political parties. The Australian
government and its opposition reached an agreement to support an investigation
into the CCP’s organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners.
rally concluded at 3 p.m.
Posting date: 25/Oct/2006
Original
article date: 24/Oct/2006
Category: Australian
News
