23-7-07

Attack on Falun Gong practitioner protesting outside Chinese Embassy

On Tuesday 21 August at 10.30am Falun Gong practitioner Lena Zhang was attacked while protesting opposite the Chinese Embassy in Wellington.

Approximately seven Chinese (aged around 20 years old) emerged from the Embassy and began harassing and insulting Lena. One of the attackers tore down all the protest banners Lena had displayed on the wall and began trampling on them. They then surrounded her while a male began pushing her around. She endured over 15mins of irrate behaviour from the attackers. Afraid, and unwanting the attack to escalate, Lena began to call the police and the attackers left quickly while kicking stones at her.

* Lena believes the attackers were international students coerced by the Embassy (it has been revealed in other countries - including Australia, France, and the US - that the Chinese Communist Party organises, funds, and controls Chinese Student Associations to harass, interfere with, spy, and collect information on Falun Gong practitioners).

* Lena thought she could see onlookers from within the Embassy. However, they did not assist her. The Embassy denies any knowledge of the event.

* The police are requesting video footage from the Embassy and have given the Embassy a warning.

ENDS

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