A Time to Reflect: Shadow Minister Speaks Out on 25-Year Communist Oppression

April 25 is not only a significant date for Australians and New Zealanders, but also for the Chinese people around the world.
A Time to Reflect: Shadow Minister Speaks Out on 25-Year Communist Oppression
Falun Gong practitioners attend a parade to call for an end to the persecution in China of their faith, in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens, New York, on April 21, 2024. Larry Dye/The Epoch Times
Daniel Y. Teng
Updated:
0:00

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.

The rally was held in response to an incident days earlier, when Falun Gong adherents visited the Tianjin College of Education to speak with authorities about a magazine article slandering the meditation practice.

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.

Since then, Falun Gong adherents have endured a 25-year state-backed oppression with individuals subjected to blacklisting, illegal detention, torture, death, and cases of organ harvesting.

“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.”

Centre-right Liberal Party Senator Paul Scarr makes his first speech in the Senate Chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Sept. 10, 2019. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)
Centre-right Liberal Party Senator Paul Scarr makes his first speech in the Senate Chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Sept. 10, 2019. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

“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.

Practitioners overseas in Western countries continue to face foreign interference and pressure.

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.”

Daniel Y. Teng
Daniel Y. Teng
Writer
Daniel Y. Teng is based in Brisbane, Australia. He focuses on national affairs including federal politics, COVID-19 response, and Australia-China relations. Got a tip? Contact him at [email protected].
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