(Clearwisdom.net) New South Wales Falun Dafa Association has recently taken legal action against a local Chinese Newspaper (Chinese Daily), which is known as 2 ac for defamation, according reports from Epoch Times, ABC Online (Australia) and AAP. On December 18, 2003, the Chinese Daily published an article based on information provided by a Sydney Chinese consulate, who took the opportunity to attack Falun Dafa by repeating lies of former Chinese president Jiang Zemin's regime.

The spokesman of NSW Falun Dafa Association Mr. John Della told media that the article caused harm to Falun Gong practitioners and severe damage to the reputation of Falun Dafa.

"They [Chinese Falun Dafa practitioners] come to Australia, expecting and hoping for a free democracy where they can live in peace and without that sort of terror...and they read such an article and...it brings up all those memories and experiences," Mr. Della said in an interview with ABC Online, Australia.

It is reported that Falun Dafa is a registered organization in Australia and is protected by Australian laws. According to a report by www.xinguangming.org, before seeking for legal solution, Falun Gong practitioners offered the Newspaper an opportunity to publish an open apology to offset the damage it has made. However, the Newspaper declined the offer.

Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is an ancient Chinese practice of mind and body based on the universal principle "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance." It is estimated that Falun Dafa has more than 100 million practitioners in more than 60 countries and regions. Falun Dafa's positive benefit on stabilizing society and improving both physical and spiritual health has been widely recognized. However, Falun Dafa has been persecuted in China since 1999 reportedly for its staggering popularity and the jealousy of former Chinese president Jiang Zemin who is still the actual No.1 person in the Chinese authority.

References:

http://www.dajiyuan.com/gb/4/5/17/n541821.htm (Chinese)

http://www.xinguangming.org/newsPage.asp'ID=4184 (Chinese)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1109919.htm