November 6, 2002, Wednesday

A GROUP of Fairfield Falun Gong practitioners formed part of 5000 peaceful protesters in the US recently.

Falun Gong, a practice of meditation, exercises and teachings, is based on the principle of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance. Joining Falun Gong practitioners from around the world, Willa Huang and several friends from Fairfield expressed their displeasure against Jiang Zemin, the Chinese leader she said was responsible for initiating the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners worldwide.

Returning to Australia last week, Ms Huang said supporters gathered to protest against the Chinese leader in Chicago, Houston and Mexico.

"They peacefully appealed outside the hotels where Jiang was staying, as well as each stop of Jiang's visit to North America, calling for an end to the three-year campaign of terror in China," she said.

"Peaceful appeals were carried out around the clock."

"During Jiang's visit, he and his bodyguards were served with a lawsuit charging him with genocide and exploiting his official position to commit atrocious human rights violations in direct violation of the values enshrined in constitutions, international treaties, and laws of all civilized nations today."

Ms Huang said details of 509 deaths since the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners began in 1999 had been verified.