Thousands Support Peaceful Change In China

In concern of the abduction and arrests by Chinese security of a number of human rights activists participating in the peaceful relay hunger strikes in China a massive 24 hour global hunger strike began on Monday March 6.

"The CCP's [Chinese Communist Party] behaviour once again demonstrates that it has no intelligible way to communicate with the [Chinese] people," said Dr Chen Hongxin, a research scholar of Chinese contemporary politics.

Dr Chen was among a number of speakers and participants in 24 hour relay hunger strike outside Sydney's Town Hall that included former Chinese diplomat Mr Chen Yonglin and prominent Chinese dissident and Law Professor Yuan Hongbin.

Organisers said that 100 people would participate in Sydney during the 24 hour period and that similar events were occurring in Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne.

Professor Yuan Hongbin told a press conference that "today over 10 000 people will simultaneously go on hunger strike across four continents."

Within mainland China it is feared that over ten activists partaking in the hunger strike who have gone missing have been abducted by Chinese state security. The majority of those participating in the hunger strike in Beijing have been placed under house arrest and two are missing. The high profile Beijing lawyer Mr Gao Zhisheng, who initiated the hunger strikes in February, continues to be harassed and intimidated.

"The [communist] government has been secretly arresting these people who have not only advocated the relay hunger strike, but also important volunteer workers," said Dr Chen.

It was Dr Chen's second time in participating in the hunger strike with her first being outside the Chinese consulate in February. Since then support for the hunger strike in Australia was increasing she told The Epoch Times.

NSW State Parliamentarian Greens MP Ian Cohen told the press conference he felt sad for those people being persecuted in China but also optimistic for the future with the peaceful calls for change.

"Despite the violence and threats…people who are effecting change in China are doing it peacefully," said Mr Cohen.

He said that the communist regime in China "must use violence in order to survive.

"They have nothing else – they have the military, secret agents, use thugs so they can stay in power…But with no support from the people, change will happen. Especially with more people standing up," said Mr Cohen.

The mass hunger relay strikes have also been held in New Zealand, Canada, US, UK, Germany and Hong Kong.