SCMP: China Expels 2 More Australian Falun Gong Members

March 12, 2002

Chinese authorities have expelled two more Australian followers of the banned Falun Gong spiritual group who were detained for protesting on Tiananmen Square at the weekend, Australian officials said on Tuesday. Jarrod and Emma Hall, both aged 23, from Melbourne, were seized by police on Sunday after they tried to unfurl banners to protest against a government crackdown on their faith in China.

The protest during the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliament, was the latest in a series by Western Falun Gong followers, most of whom have been detained and then expelled from China after one night in custody.

On Friday, at least seven Australians were expelled for a Falun Gong demonstration on the politically sensitive square.

A spokeswoman from Australia's foreign office said the pair was released on Monday and deported.

"They are due to arrive back in Melbourne on Tuesday," the spokeswoman told Reuters.

The latest expulsions followed protests by 53 Westerners last month and by 35 foreign Falun Gong members in November.

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http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZNH27XCYC.html