¨…The plaintiffs have achieved the object of the proceedings…
and will be free to continue their protest without the limitations
that had been imposed upon them earlier by the certificates.
No further relief is required. ” Said Justice Crispin.
Falun Gong members are suing Mr Downer, saying certificates he issued banning their protests outside the Chinese Embassy were invalid.
The Falun Gong spiritual movement has been allowed to use large banners in its protests outside the Chinese embassy in the Australian capital [Canberra], four years after they were banned by Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer.
On Tuesday 8 August, erected mass banners will be included in the ongoing protest by Falun Gong practitioners outside the Chinese Embassy in Canberra for the first time in four years – a peaceful act that Foreign Minister Alexander Downer had prohibited from March 2002 until March 2006.
Falun Gong has been allowed to use large banners in its protests outside the Chinese embassy in Canberra, four years after they were banned by Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer.
At a directions hearing for the case yesterday (3/07/06), a representative of the law office representing the plaintiffs advised the court that the case would not be discontinued and sought leave from the court for a three-week extension which was granted.
John Fitzgerald, a professor in Asia-Pacific studies at the Australian National University, told a federal parliamentary committee that many in leadership positions in China felt the Government’s banning of Falun Gong and its subsequent persecution was a terrible mistake.
Mr Collaery told reporters this was a sensible decision and inevitable because of the impact on freedom of expression. He said Mr Downer was apparently reluctant to justify his statements that noise and music from demonstrators was impeding the work of Chinese diplomats and offending the dignity of the mission.
