(Clearwisdom.net) On March 20, 2008, Falun Gong practitioners held a rally in front of Chinese Consulate to protest Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s large scale arrest of Falun Gong practitioners throughout China in "preparation" for the Olympics. This new round of persecution has led to an increased number of death cases.

Falun Gong practitioners held banners in English and Chinese to condemn the CCP's atrocities. They also called on the public to recognize the CCP's evil nature and speak out to stop the CCP's arrests of Falun Gong practitioners and demand that the CCP release all imprisoned practitioners. They emphasized the theme of the Human Rights Torch Relay: The Olympics and crimes against humanity cannot coexist.

Falun Gong practitioners in Australia protest the CCP's atrocities in front of Chinese Consulate and call for an end to the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong

Since the end of last year until March 11, 2008, more than 1,878 Falun Gong practitioners were arrested in 29 provinces, cities or autonomous regions. Spokesperson John Deller for the New South Wales Falun Dafa Association pointed out that along with the coming of the Olympic Games, China's human rights had become a focus of world attention. He said the CCP's recent action is because it cannot and does not like to face its brutal atrocities, but would rather eliminate the evidence of the persecution of Falun Gong and prevent witnesses from contacting foreign reporters.

Mr. Deller called on Australian people and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who will visit China in April to pay attention to the persecution and help stop it.

Falun Gong Spokesperson Ms. Key of Sydney pointed out that the CCP is desperately trying to hide what is going on in China under its rule. It is afraid that people will learn the actual horrifying situation, especially the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, while participating in the Olympics.

Ms. Key strongly called for the attention of the international community. She also called on people to learn about the facts of the persecution of Falun Gong and help stop the brutal persecution that has gone on for nearly nine years in China. She mentioned that the CCP's killing of Tibetan people recently further reveals the CCP's evil nature.

Ms. Key also called on Prime Minister Rudd to put forward the issue of the persecution of Falun Gong when he visits China next month and help stop the persecution, saying, "This is the most effective way to help stop the CCP's killing of innocent people."

Sydney Falun Gong practitioner and renowned artist Zhang Cuiying said in her speech, "The CCP's regime promised to improve human rights when it bid for hosting the Olympics. It has been demonstrated that the CCP's promise is a lie. China's human rights have not improved. On the contrary, the CCP intensifies the persecution of Falun Gong and dissidents using 'preparation' for the Olympics as an excuse."

Ms. Zhang said, "My nephew Chen Zhongsheng was a policeman before. He was sent to a forced labor camp and suffered brutal tortures for practicing Falun Gong. He is still imprisoned. Prison guards forced him to take off his clothes and beat him, and deprived him of sleep or going to restroom. When he was too sleepy to keep his eyes open, prison guards beat him, poured cold water onto him and pinched his nipples. He was tortured to the brink death and finally suffered a mental collapse and began to have hallucinations. He cannot stand or walk by himself due to his mental state and a badly injured foot."

At the end of her speech, Ms. Zhang pointed out, "Next week, Australian Prime Minister Rudd will visit China. I hope that from the standpoint of justice and human rights he will request the Chinese government to stop persecuting Falun Gong and release all imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners, including my nephew Chen Zhongsheng."