July 28, 2003, Monday

Falun Gong members protested outside the Chinese embassy in Canberra today as Australia raised the issue of China's treatment of followers during talks in Beijing.

The Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa) demonstrators called for an end to the persecution of members of the meditation group in China.

"For Falun Dafa practitioners in China, the situation has dramatically worsened despite the best intentions of these dialogues," a statement from the group said today.

"The last year alone has seen 300 recorded deaths of Falun Gong practitioners due to torture in Chinese labour camps and detention centres, compared to the toll over the past four years where 754 deaths have been verified. The real death toll is more likely in the thousands."

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the treatment of Falun Gong members and human rights issues in Tibet would be raised during the seventh round of the annual Human-Rights Dialogue with China.

"The talks in Beijing will cover judicial administration, civil and political freedoms, the rights of women and children and the treatment of Falun Gong members and other disadvantaged groups in China," Mr Downer said in a statement.

"We will also raise individual cases of concern. [...]

The Australian delegation is headed by Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Dr Geoff Raby.

Other members include President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission John von Doussa QC, and also officials from government departments responsible for human rights matters in Australia.

China's delegation is led by Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Shen Guofang and includes representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme People's Court, the Ministry of Public Security, the All China Women's Federation and the United Front Work Department.