13-03-2003

The Falun Dafa Association of New South Wales says a Chinese couple who [were scheduled to be] deported from Australia will certainly suffer persecution when they return to their homeland.

Falun Gong practitioners 66-year-old Wang Jun Tao and 62-year-old Wang Liluan have failed to gain refugee status and the Department of Immigration says they must return to China.

John Deller from the Falun Dafa Association says a misunderstanding meant the couple missed out on the opportunity of applying to the Refugees Review Tribunal and that opportunity should be given to them again.

"So we ask Mr Ruddock to please use his discretion under section 48B of the migration act to show clemency in this case at least ot allow them somehow to come before the RRT so their case can be heard," he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/justin/nat/newsnat-12mar2003-75.htm