Australia’s shadow multicultural affairs minister has called on the Albanese Labor government to keep pressing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on human rights issues.
Liberal Senator Paul Scarr’s comments come as adherents of the persecuted spiritual meditation practice Falun Gong gear up for April 25—a significant date not only for the Chinese community, but also for Australians everywhere who will commemorate Anzac Day.
On April 25, 1999, over 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in China gathered to peacefully protest at the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership’s headquarters in Zhongnanhai.
However, these adherents were met with a heavy-handed response from local police, which saw 45 individuals detained.
The gathering at Zhongnanhai was aimed at finding a resolution to the “Tianjin incident” and was, at the time, well-received by then-Premier Zhu Rongji.
However, despite the meeting with Mr. Zhu, the situation for Falun Gong would begin to deteriorate (at the behest of CCP leader Jiang Zemin), gradually escalating into the official start of the persecution on July 20, 1999.
“The 25th anniversary of the Zhongnanhai protest is a time to reflect on the human rights situation of Falun Gong practitioners in China,” Senator Scarr wrote to The Epoch Times. “The persecution of the Falun Gong is a matter of great concern to many Australians.”
“The Liberal-National Coalition parties, in both government and opposition, has consistently made our concerns about human rights abuses known to the Chinese government and has strongly urged the Albanese Labor government to continue making those representations,” he said.
“The Coalition continues to seek updates from the government on these matters.”
He also said religion should never form the basis of persecution and that freedom of religion is a fundamental human right, in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
“During my time in Parliament, I have received delegations and representations in relation to the human rights situation of the Falun Gong in China, and also with respect to individual adherents of the faith who have been incarcerated. I have been deeply moved by the distress this has caused many Australians.”
The senator said Australians had a moral obligation to continue pressing Beijing on the situation.
Falun Gong is a peaceful meditation practice and is arguably the largest persecuted faith group in China by number of adherents—70 million to 100 million by official estimates in the mid-1990s.
Once the official persecution began, Beijing-linked media outlets also began producing hundreds of hours of propaganda to defame the practice. At the same time, CCP officials pressured and encouraged overseas institutions and governments to toe the party line.
Regarding this issue, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has called it a “serious threat to Australia’s sovereignty and security.”
“The Australian government has made it clear that it is concerned by reports of harassment and monitoring of people in Australia by foreign governments,” a spokesperson said to The Epoch Times.
“It is unacceptable for any foreign government to target members of our community in ways that prevent individuals exercising their fundamental rights and freedoms in Australia, including practicing their religion.
“We will continue to take strong action to deter foreign interference, protect the Australian community, and uphold our laws and values.”
