MEDIA ADVISORY

FALUN DAFA [25/08/2001] S.O.S. DAY

TWO OF MELBOURNE FALUN GONG HUNGER STRIKE THE CHINESE CONSUL GENERAL INVOKES DIPLOMATIC LOOPHOLE TO CURTAIL AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS' FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY ON AUSTRALIAN SOIL

Members of the Chinese Consulate complain that Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful vigil in front of the Consulate constitute an "impairment of [their] dignity." (Public Order (Protection of Persons & Property) Act 1971, Sect.14) �while in the notorious Masanjia Labor Camp of Liaoning Province, China, some 130 Falun Gong practitioners are on a hunger strike that has already lasted 20 days! The protest was set off by camp authorities' refusal to release the practitioners at the end of their terms. The authorities have put forth the directive that "we would rather violate the law [than set the practitioners free]. We absolutely will not release these persons." This is part of President Jiang's policy to "defame Falun Gong practitioners' reputations, break them financially, and destroy them physically." "�no means are too excessive to exterminate Falun Gong�" Now, these 130 practitioners have chosen to call for justice with their lives, as they hunger strike for their fundamental right to live with dignity. As of August 14, 2001, at least 263 practitioners have died in custody due to prolonged hardship or torture, over 100,000 have been detained, 20,000 sent to labor camps, over 1000 forced into mental hospitals for torture and abuse and over 500 have been sentenced for up to 18 years without due legal procedure. We call on the Chinese authorities to release these innocent practitioners unconditionally! We call on all governments, institutions and people of goodwill to lend their support to rescue the Falun Gong practitioners who are being viciously persecuted in China

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