A Time to Reflect: Shadow Minister Speaks Out on 25-Year Communist Oppression

Shadow Minister Reflects on 25 Years of Communist Oppression

April 24, 2024 TruthUSA

April 25 holds significance not only for Australians and New Zealanders but also for Chinese people worldwide.

The shadow multicultural affairs minister in Australia has urged the Albanese Labor government to persist in advocating for human rights in face of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Liberative Senator Paul Scarr’s remarks come as followers of the persecuted spiritual practice Falun Gong prepare for April 25—a day of importance for both the Chinese community and Australians commemorating Anzac Day.

On April 25, 1999, more than 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in China peacefully protested at the CCP headquarters in Zhongnanhai.

This rally was a response to an incident where Falun Gong adherents were detained after discussing a misleading article about the practice with authorities at Tianjin College of Education.

The peaceful gathering at Zhongnanhai aimed to address the “Tianjin incident” and received positive feedback from Premier Zhu Rongji at that time.

Related Stories

‘Peaceful Warriors’: Rally Marks Growing Momentum to Take Stand Against Communist China

US Report Highlights Covert Chinese Operations to Silence, Punish Critics Abroad

Despite the meeting with Premier Zhu, the situation for Falun Gong worsened, escalating into the official persecution by CCP leader Jiang Zemin on July 20, 1999.

Since then, Falun Gong practitioners have endured 25 years of state-backed oppression, facing blacklisting, illegal detention, torture, death, and even allegations of organ harvesting.

Senator Scarr wrote to The Epoch Times, stating, “The 25th anniversary of the Zhongnanhai protest is a time to reflect on the human rights situation of Falun Gong practitioners in China. The persecution of Falun Gong is a matter of significant concern to many Australians.”

Centre-right Liberal Party Senator Paul Scarr makes his first speech in the Senate Chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Sept. 10, 2019. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

“The Coalition continues to seek updates from the government on these matters,” Senator Scarr added, emphasizing the importance of religious freedom and condemning persecution based on religion.

He stressed the need for Australians to keep influencing Beijing on this issue, as Falun Gong remains one of the largest persecuted faith groups in China.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has flagged this persecution as a threat to Australia’s sovereignty and security, underscoring the government’s commitment to combatting foreign interference.

“It is fundamentally wrong for any foreign government to restrict fundamental rights and freedoms in Australia, including the freedom of religion,” a spokesperson remarked to The Epoch Times.

Source link