Former Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin joined a rally in Sydney on Saturday December 15, celebrating the upcoming 30 million withdrawals from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
"I come here with a heavy heart because I just heard that one Chinese writer was just detained in China because of his open and brave writing on the website," said Mr Chen, who was the former first secretary of the Sydney Chinese Consulate-General before defecting to Australia in 2005.
"He is one of my friends. He is strong in spirit." His unnamed friend was arrested for writing for a website that has been blocked by Chinese authorities.
"However, I feel relief that 30 million Chinese Communist Party members, youth league members and young pioneers have withdrawn from the Communist Party organisations."
At the rally at Belmore Park, Mr Chen said pressure was mounting against the CCP, with high-profile Party members speaking out. "I hope more people can say no to the Communist Party," Mr Chen said. "I'm fully confident that this regime will be collapsing soon. If everyone can give a little push, it will collapse immediately."
Mr Chen was one of several rally speakers who were supporting the "Quit CCP" movement organised by human rights coalition Free China. The Quit CCP movement was inspired by the release and global circulation of The Epoch Times editorial series Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party on November 11, 2004. Since then, millions of Chinese have made their withdrawals via a website dedicated for the purpose, posting resignations in public places in China, by phone or in person at hundreds of Quit the CCP centres around the world, such as the one established in Sydney's Chinatown.
Christine Donayre, who represented The Greens' Kerry Nettle, said 30 million withdrawals from the CCP were to be celebrated.
"When the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party were written, I'm sure that its authors could not have imagined that just three years later, 30 million members would have signed a declaration denouncing the Party, including Government and Party officials," Ms Donayre said.
"How can we stand by in our free democratic country and not demand the same for the people in China? The Greens are committed to freedom in China. We will continue to work with you by bringing up these matters in Parliament," Ms Donayre said.
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