By Glen Mullins
Epoch Times Australia Staff
Oct 28, 2007


Jameila Douglas dressing as a Goddess carries a torch during the Human Rights Torch Relay in Sydney. (James Burke/The Epoch Times)

SYDNEY—The Human Rights Torch Relay arrived in Sydney on October 27 after successfully completing its two-month European leg.

The welcoming ceremony held at Sydney's Town Hall was met with a large crowd of supporters. The ceremony began with Deputy Mayor of Waverly Dominic Wy Kanak acknowledging the aboriginal owners of the land and speeches followed from Dr Sev Ozdowski Human Rights Commissioner 2000 - 2005 and Greens Senator Kerry Nettle, who are both members of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) in Australia.

"This is a historic occasion," said Dr Ozdowski. "We are creating a new tradition. This is the first time ever – [the running of the human rights torch relay]."

"The human rights torch relay is about people's power, and remember, not that long ago, people's power crumpled the Berlin Wall and brought an end to the Soviet empire, so let us ensure that Olympics and crimes against humanity cannot coexist in China," he said.

Senator Nettle was the first torch bearer in a relay that involved dozens of runners down the main street of Sydney all seeking to highlight human rights abuses occurring in China — the plight of Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetans, Christians, democracy campaigners, outspoken lawyers and reporters in China, as well as the situation in the Sudanese region of Darfur and in Burma.

As the relay reached the historic Rocks district near the Australian icons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, it was Randall Nelson from the Kings Cross Bikers Social and Welfare Club, and Michael Roy from Wednesday Wheelie-Warriors, who added some extra colour to the event by transporting the torch via motorbikes around the popular tourist district.

Speeches and musical acts were held in the afternoon at Circular Quay. Among the speakers was 1964 Olympian swimmer Jan Becker and Pan Qing from the All- China alliance for protecting human rights and opposing violence.

In the crowd was former Wallaby rugby Union player Barry McDonald who was to carry the torch to the Sydney Opera House. In 1969 Mr McDonald toured with the Australian rugby team to South Africa which was then ruled by the racist Apartheid regime.

"I was so shocked by what I saw," he said of the tour to South Africa. "I stood down from selection when they [a racially selected South African side] were coming to Australia in 1970.

I only played a small part – but it as a bit of pressure on the [Apartheid] government – the feeling of isolation that they were becoming international outcasts on the sporting field."

Today Mr McDonald says international pressure on the Chinese regime needs to increase and events like the relay he believes is a good start.

"If nothing happens they are just going to continue with these gross violations of human rights and we have seen it at Tiananmen Square – you know they have shown the whole world what they are prepared to do – and nothings changed since that," he said.


A group photo at the Sydney Opera House during the first day of the Human Rights Torch Relay in Australia. (James Burke/The Epoch Times)

"If anything it has gotten worse and its gone underground and they are using the Olympic Games as a means of showing the world how prosperous they are coming and how wonderful the Chinese are becoming under this regime – but y'know there is another side of China that should be shown to the whole world."

Mr McDonald and several other torch relay runners made their way to the Sydney Opera House from where it then traveled via yacht across the Sydney Harbour to the beachside suburb of Manly where more ceremonies and speeches awaited.

Manly Mayor Peter MacDonald told reporters that the Manly community has a good record of speaking out on social justice and human rights and it is a tradition that he said would continue.

"I would like to see lots of councils throughout New South Wales and Australia join us and speak out," he said. "I think this is where the pressure for the organizers of today, that they need to invite other mayors, and I will be happy that they use this example to be repeated together."

Mr MacDonald said he had read the reports on the killing of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience for their bodily organs. "I don't think there is any doubt that there are some terrible things are happening in China, some shocking things," he said.

"I think as individuals we can't do many things, but collectively by joining groups like Amnesty International, by coming to occasions like today held by a local council, who represents 50,000 well off, comfortable Australians, by unanimously saying we need to acknowledge this group and we need to welcome them here and we need to join with them and that we show that we understand the pain and suffering they are going through, that's what we can do," said Mr MacDonald.

The 12-month relay started on August 9 in Athens, Greece and will travel across five continents before arriving in Hong Kong in August 2008. It will leave Australia in mid December and make its way to New Zealand.


(L-R) Aboriginal artist Aedenn Rowan, Senator Kerry Nettle, author Jennifer Zeng and Dean Carey (behind Jennifer), director of the Actors Centre Australia, and young student Morgan Lynch walking with the torch during the first relay leg of the Human Rights Torch Relay in Sydney. (James Burke/The Epoch Times)


Darfari refugee Adam Khamis and supporters to end the violence in Darfur and Tibetans walk with the torch during the Human Rights Torch Relay in Sydney. (James Burke/The Epoch Times)


Senator Kerry Nettle receives the torch at Town Hall in Sydney during the welcoming ceremony for the Human Rights Torch Relay. (James Burke/The Epoch Times)


Young Darfur children play around at Circular Quay during the Human Rights Torch Relay in Sydney. (James Burke/The Epoch Times)


Former Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin walking through downtown Sydney with the torch. (James Burke/The Epoch Times)


1964 Olympic swimmer Jan Becker holds the torch while Randall Nelson drives a motorbike through downtown Sydney during the Human Rights Torch Relay. (James Burke/The Epoch Times)


(L-R) Jameila Douglas, Jan Becker, Dr Sev Ozdowski and Ian Cohen in front of the Sydney Opera House. (James Burke/The Epoch Times)


Viola Chen runs with the torch during the Human Rights Torch Relay in Sydney. (James Burke/The Epoch Times)

Published: Thursday 25th October 2007

My cousin and her husband have both retired. She was a manager and her husband was a Judicial Department head. They came to visit my parents today. About a year ago, I gave them a copy of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, but they never told me they wanted to quit the CCP (Chinese Communist Party).

I sent forth righteous thoughts on the way to my parents' place. As soon as I sat down, my cousin's husband told me, "About the Nine Commentaries you gave us, I have recommended it to several close friends." I asked him, "Have you quit the CCP? I can help you with it if you want."

They told me they had already quit."We thought about this quite a while ago. The CCP will be over sooner or later, since it is so corrupt. We do not want to pay the CCP membership fee, but it is deducted from our salary."

My cousin then asked me how Falun Gong practitioners pay for the expense of making materials to expose the persecution. I said, "All of the money comes from Dafa practitioners, since we want to explain the truth and save people. In fact, some practitioners live miserable lives because of the persecution, but they are very thrifty so that they can save one or two more yuan to clarify the truth and save people."

My cousin said, "I came with my husband today and did not bring any money with me." She then asked her husband to give me 100 yuan to make materials. He only had 30 yuan with him.

I said, "I want to thank you for your willingness to support us. But I think you need to keep the money, because what if you need some cash on the way home?" My sister said, "No, we will not need money on our way home. In fact, we offer this money not to you personally; we want to give this money so that more people can know the truth and quit the CCP too."

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Published: Monday 22nd October 2007

On the 10th of October 2007, before the human rights dialogue between the EU and China, and before the CCP’s seventeenth congress, the European Parliament held a press conference about human rights in China and freedom of belief. It was run by the Vice Chairman of the European Parliament, Edward McMillan-Scott. Director of Human Rights without Frontiers International Willy Fautre, Senior MP from the European Parliament and Chairman of the Multi-Party of Tibet Thomas Mann, and Member of European Parliament, Istvan Szent-Ivanyi were also present.




A Member of the European Parliament stressed that there is only ten months left before the Beijing Olympics, but many groups are still being persecuted in China. McMillan-Scott said he has sent a letter to the Chairman of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering, last week and mentioned the continuous persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, launched by the CCP. The letter related their circumstances of being persecuted to the secretary of the International Criminal Court along with a report that about 3,000 Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted to death. According to a suggestion from the International Criminal Court, the European Parliament should submit a formal document based on the International Convention of Genocide.

The dialogue between the EU and China started on 15th October in Beijing. Mr. McMillan-Scott requested the CCP to release all Falun Gong practitioners before the dialogue. The EU will raise these cases during the dialogue.

In the meeting, Mr. Hu Jia, a human rights activist in mainland China, was contacted by phone. He expressed his opinion about human rights in China and the Olympics in 2008 and also announced the recent situation of the human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng. Hu Jia said, ‘We are very concerned about the human rights situation of ordinary people, especially from many continuing things happening recently. We hope to expose the truth happening in China by our own efforts and, at the same time, hope the international society pays more attention to the evil which has gone on underneath the surface of the preparations for the Olympics.’’

During the meeting, Baiguang Li, another Chinese human rights activist, was also contacted. He stated that the Olympics should be a peaceful and friendly meeting for human beings rather than a chance for abusing human rights in China. He strongly requested that the Chinese government should really make an effort in order to be a country based on the constitution and respecting human rights.

Willy Fautre, Director of Human Rights without Frontiers International, delivered a statement, requesting all heads of democratic elected countries and politicians not to go and take part in the Olympics, because people in China are still suffering from persecution and tens of thousands people suffered from suppression because of their religious belief. Mr Fautre said that the whole world should focus on the real side of China.

(The Epoch Times)

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Chinese version available

The first International Chinese Vocal Competition was held in Kaufmann Concert Hall, New York City, on October 15th-17th, 2007. New York State Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer issued a citation to commemorate NTDTV and the First International Chinese Vocal Competition.

New York State Assembly

Citation

From

Assemblywoman Audrey I. Pheffer

Commemorating

New Tang Dynasty Television

and their

International Chinese Vocal Competition

Whereas, Organizations and individuals who give their time and energies and serve the best interest of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and cannot be sufficiently extolled; and

Whereas, It is the tradition of this State and this Nation to pay tribute to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to the ethical, social, and spiritual values of their communities; and

Whereas, This Assemblywoman is honored to commend the New Tang Dynasty Television on their International Chinese Vocal Competition to be held in New York City on October 15 thru 17, 2007; and

Whereas, New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV) is the world's largest independent, nonprofit Chinese-language television network and a leading voice in the overseas Chinese communities; and

Whereas, Nearly 100 vocal singers from Asia, Europe, Australia and North America will be competing; and

Whereas, This vocal competition is part of a series of international cultural arts competitions hosted by NTDTV, with the aim being to foster cultural exchange and promote traditional vocal arts of pure authenticity, goodness and beauty; and

Whereas, On this occasion this Assemblywoman is proud to commend NTDTV for bringing this wonderful performance together and celebrating traditional Chinese culture, bringing the best of traditional Chinese performing arts to the world stage; and

Whereas, It is the custom of this Assembled Body to take note of enduring, dedicated organizations and to bring such institutions to the attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That this Legislator pause to commemorate NTDTV's International Chinese Vocal Competition, running from October 15th to the 17th at the Kaufmann Concert Hall in Manhattan; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this Citation, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the New Tang Dynasty Television.

Audrey I. Pheffer

Member of Assembly

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Published: Saturday 20th October 2007

By a European practitioner

On October 17th 2007, the Human Rights Torch Relay (HRTR) held by the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong, reached Dublin, which is the 24th city in the 19th country that the relay has visited.



David Norris, a member of the Irish Senate said: “We will wake up the people with Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.”

In downtown Dublin, the capital of Ireland, a ceremony and rally for the arrival of the Human Rights Torch were held. The purpose of the torch relay is to call upon the international society to pay attention to the human rights violations and the persecution of Falun Gong in China, and to ask them to boycott the 2008 Olympics if they are held by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Many human right activists and politicians came to the rally to express their support. In his speech, Senator Joe O’Toole said that the persecution of Falun Gong is worse than the Nazi’s concentration camps. He pointed out that the worst part of the persecution is the organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners, which is genocide and must be stopped. Senator O’Toole said that the CCP is the worst dictatorship in the world, and the international society should not ignore the persecution of Falun Gong launched by the CCP. He called upon the Irish Government to cooperate with the European Union to investigate the persecution and condemn the human right violations in China. He expressed that people should not go the Olympics, because a lot of human rights abuses are behind it. He said that the purpose of the rally and torch relay is to let everybody in the world know about the persecution.

Senator David Norris in his speech expressed that the organ harvesting is a new form of evil yet to be seen on this planet. He asked what kind of government persecutes people who believe in “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance” and what kind of government jails its own people just because they practise Falun Gong.

Senator Norris also expressed that he was glad to see support for the torch relay from different political parties. At the end of his speech, he said “We will wake up people with Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.”

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