March 22, 2002, Friday

I READ with concern the comments made by China's Foreign Minister, Tang Jiaxuan, that the Howard Government should crack down on Falun Gong to prevent friendly relations with China from being damaged ("Beijing heavies Canberra", 20/3).

Perhaps Mr. Tang is suggesting that the Australian Government co-operate with China by resorting to the same methods that the Chinese Government uses to control Falun Gong -- through mass arrests and state-sanctioned torture. As for Mr. Tang's claims that Falun Gong is turning violent since the [persecution], there has not been one independently verified account of a Falun Gong practitioner retaliating with physical violence. To do so would go against the beliefs of Falun Gong (truthfulness, compassion and tolerance) -- tenets that have been made illegal by Mr. Tang's Government.

I hope the Howard Government refuses to co-operate with Beijing on this issue.

Louise Stevanovic

Coopers Plain, Qld