Reuters, August 16, 2000

CANBERRA, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Australian followers of China's outlawed Falun Gong spiritual group urged a visiting Chinese human rights delegation on Wednesday to stop what they say is harassment of its members in Australia.

Their allegations have been denied by the Chinese Embassy.

A spokesman for Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the issue of harassment of Australian followers had already been raised with the Chinese Embassy in Canberra.

``This is a peaceful appeal for the Australian government to urge the Chinese government to stop persecution of Falun Gong in China and Australia,'' Tony Dai, a Falun Gong follower from Sydney, told Reuters.

Dai said practitioners of Falun Gong in Australia had been harassed by Chinese officials stationed here, with strange telephone calls, stalking and even car break-ins.

China's crackdown on followers of the movement has drawn widespread criticism from Western governments for violating U.N. anti-torture and human rights treaties.

Practitioners and human rights groups say tens of thousands of group members have been arrested or detained since the ban and 5,000 sent to labour camps without trial. At least 24 members have died in police custody.

AUSTRALIA RAISES CONCERNS OVER FALUN GONG

Australian officials said they would raise concerns with China over its human rights record, particularly treatment of Falun Gong followers, during talks on Wednesday and Thursday with Chinese officials, led by vice-foreign minister Yang Jiechi.

A DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) spokesman said 32 Australians had been detained in China related to Falun Gong activities since last November but were then released and deported.

However two Australians returned to China without visas and were arrested in early March and sentenced to eight months jail earlier this month. They were due for release in November.