(Clearwisdom.net) Radio Free Asia (RFA) has reported that on July 18, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners filed a lawsuit in the Australian Supreme Court in a bid to lift restrictions on protests outside the Chinese Embassy in Canberra. Each month, Australia Foreign Minister Downer signs certificates which ban the use of large banners and amplified sounds by practitioners demonstrating against the Chinese Communist regime's persecution.
The court had a short hearing on the case on Monday. Mr. Bernard Collaery, a well-known human rights lawyer in Australia, was the plaintiffs' attorney in court; he submitted an affidavit that former Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin provided.
Mr. Collaery did not say what kind of evidence it contains, only that Mr. Chen provided the affidavit for the proceedings. He did not give details on other issues.
In addition, one of the two plaintiffs in the case, Zhang Cuiying, told more than 100 Falun Gong practitioners protesting outside the court that the certificates signed by Mr. Downer limited freedom of speech. The purpose of our holding banners in front of the Chinese embassy is to let the 1.3 billion Chinese people know the truth and the facts about the persecution of Falun Gong. It was learned that the court would hear the case again on August 1.
The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to stop further certificates from being issued that restrict protests.
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