In recognition of United Nations Human Rights Day members of the Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Tibetan, and Chinese communities marched through the centre of Melbourne, Australia, and held a rally at Federation Square on Saturday December 10.

In addition to the Human Rights Day theme of "End Torture Now" the united protestors, an estimated 200 men, women and children, aimed to encourage the ongoing membership resignations from Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that at present number over six million, and to promote public awareness of the situation of those Asian nations still under communist rule. As they walked through the city centre chants of "Free China", "Free Tibet", "Human Rights before trade", and "Stop persecuting Falun Gong" were punctuated by a cacophony of drums and cymbals.

Toward the front of the procession, five people held simple placards which read: Intellectuals, Falun Gong, Christians, Uighur Muslims, and Tibet – just some of the community groups who were represented behind them.

Other banners with slogans such as: While China Lies Tibet Dies, Taiwan's New Democracy Protecting Human Rights, and Communism is Collapsing China's New Era Begins, were carried up the middle of one of Melbourne's arterial streets. At least fifteen trams were delayed and police stopped intersecting traffic as the protesters paraded before the popular shopping strip.

Appropriately, considering the day's theme of "End Torture Now", amidst the procession a banner read: Tortures used on Falun Gong practitioners in China. It led a wooden structure that was wheeled along bearing a woman who was suspended by ropes tied at her wrists.

Spectators made comments of support and snapped photographs, while others stood transfixed watching.

At Federation Square, a large screen bore images like the brave Chinese student appealing for democracy, in front of a tank in Tiananmen Square during the July 1989 massacre. Beneath this screen, upon a stage, various speakers shared their thoughts.

The speakers, who represented a wide variety of organisations supportive of the end of the Communist Party in China, included John Liang, President of the Federation for a Democratic China, Thupten Dhondup, President of the Tibetan Community of Victoria, Dr Michael Pearson-Smith, Spokesperson for the Falun Dafa Association of Victoria, Peter Job, Refugee spokesperson and member of the Australian Greens Party, and Paul Lin from the Taiwanese Association of Victoria. Quan Dinh, representative of the Vietnam Human Rights Committee, told how the treatment of his people under Vietnamese Communism, is "similar to the CCP's and that the two party's fates were linked".

High profile defector and former Police Officer from the "610" Office (Chinese Gestapo), Hao Fenjun, said after his speech that, "I wish that through our voice, by appeal, we could help make China improve their Human Rights and move fast toward democracy."

Mr Hao was impressed by the unity between the various groups represented and hoped that, "More association between such groups would give support to the common purpose of improving Human Rights around the world."

Rachel Wass, of the Australian Tibet Council, mirrored Mr Hao's sentiments regarding "unity and common bonds" and the "sharing of common experiences", adding that she "hoped we could support parliamentarians to give them courage to make change."

Similar rallies were also held in Sydney and Brisbane.

Source: The Epoch Times