March 19, 2002

The Federal Government has imposed a legal ban on the Falun Gong [group] displaying banners or using loudhailers in order to avoid diplomatic embarrassment during a visit to Canberra today of the Chinese Foreign Minister, Tang Jiaxuan.

It was the first time in a decade that regulations under the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act have been used to limit peaceful protest.

In a twist to what critics said was a gross infringement of civil liberties, it was revealed that the original banning order issued by the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, was not legal.

The Australian Federal Police, charged with its implementation, conceded that it carried no date, after apparently being prepared in haste following demands from the Chinese Government.

Eventually, it was claimed that the error was corrected, but yesterday the Falun Gong was still not able to obtain a copy.

Mr Tang, who has been to NSW and Queensland in the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister for a decade, is due to hold talks in Canberra today with Mr Downer on human rights and other issues.

In 1992 the Labor foreign minister, Gareth Evans, invoked the act to force the removal of East Timorese protesters' flags and banners from outside the Indonesian embassy.

The Chinese Government has branded the Falun Gong an [slandering words omitted] bent on subverting order. Last week 10 Australian adherents were among protesters detained in Beijing and deported.

The issue of freedom of speech raised by the banner ban has now been referred by Australian Falun Gong practitioners to the Human Rights Commission, United Nations representatives in Australia and private lawyers.

Falun Gong spokesman Daniel Clark said: "It appears the action has been motivated by Foreign Minister Tang's visit. We are concerned about what that means for peaceful protest in Australia. Not just for us, but other groups as well."

A spokesman for Mr Downer said the embassy had asked the Government to uphold its international obligations to "protect the security and dignity of diplomatic missions and their staff".

He noted that the Falun Gong had maintained a presence at the Chinese embassy since last May - with banners and loud music - and there had been regular protests outside the consulates in Sydney and Melbourne.

The spokesman referred to the Canberra embassy protest as a "picket" though no attempt had been made to stop anyone entering or leaving the compound.

Mr Downer's spokesman said there had been admissions that an aim of the protest was to "unsettle" embassy staff.

Liqi Zhao, 44, a Falun Gong member who was meditating and protesting outside the Chinese embassy in Canberra yesterday, said: "My meditation teaches me true compassion, balance and forbearance.

"I love my country, China, and now I am an Australian citizen I love Australia very deeply.

"However, this ban is not like we know of Australia in the past - a land of freedom."

Some of the banners ordered to be removed merely proclaimed a belief in "justice and compassion".

However, other banners accused Beijing of repressive action against its members, including torture and false imprisonment.