June 19, 2005

The Chinese government has been spying on members of the Falun Gong movement in Australia, according to alleged Chinese security documents.

The claim has been made by Chinese defector Hao Feng Jun, who says he worked for the local branch of a security service known as 6-10, set up specifically to wipe out Falun Gong.

ABC TV's Lateline has obtained some of the hundreds of security documents Mr Hao says he smuggled into Australia on a computer file downloaded from a police computer in China.

Speaking through a translator, Mr Hao told ABC TV that while working for 6-10 in China he dealt with reports sent from overseas.

"They sent information they collected from overseas and this ... intelligence information they sent from Australia, also from North America, Canada," he said.

Lateline has had one document translated which apparently details plans by the NSW Falun Gong to hold a conference in Sydney after Christmas.

It names organisers including Australian Falun Gong practitioner John Deller, describing him as being "behind quite a few activities to disturb and damage the Chinese government".

Mr Deller told ABC TV that the information about the Falun Gong activities in NSW was correct.

"That's a little creepy to think that activities here in Australia are being monitored so closely by Chinese communist officials," he said.

"I think it's outrageous that an ordinary Australian citizen like myself is coming under surveillance."

Lateline details another document referring to Chinese-Australian student Yan Yan Che, detailing where she comes from in China, where she is studying and other personal information.

"It's surprising, it's just sickening, scary," she told ABC TV.

Another report refers to secret plans by Falun Gong in Australia to sue the Chinese government for human rights abuses, Lateline said.

If authentic, the documents appear to back claims made by former Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin, who says China has a network of 1000 spies operating in Australia.

Mr Chen asked for political asylum in Australia after abandoning his post at the Chinese consulate-general in Sydney on May 26.

His asylum application was rejected and he was advised to apply for the protection visa, which is under consideration.

William Luo, a Brisbane-based Falun Gong member, told ABC TV that he had been approached by a Chinese man a few years ago who threatened to kill his daughter because of his involvement in the movement.

The man identified Mr Luo's daughter within a group of children.

"He said: What about I kill your daughter, then see, will you still do it," Mr Luo said.

"Then I think he knows everything."