AN Australian member of the Falungong sect launched a suit against former Chinese president Jiang Zemin in a Sydney court today, alleging she was illegally tortured for her beliefs while on a visit to China four years ago.
The lawsuit alleges that Zhang Cuiying, 42, was arrested in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen in March 2000 while on her way to a Falungong protest in Beijing and subsequently imprisoned for eight months.
The Australian national said she was shackled and forced to work 10 hours a day in a "damp, dark cell" she shared with a mental patient.
"Bruises covered my entire body and the pain made me unable to sleep," she said outside the court, speaking through an interpreter.
"The skin all over my body began to rot and fester, and since I refused to give up Falungong practice, the guards put me into the quarters for male prisoners to humiliate me."
She was eventually released after representations from the Australian government.
The civil action seeks unspecified damages against Jiang and the Chinese government, although Zhang said the case was not about money but bringing the former Chinese supremo to account.
"It is for upholding justice that I'm taking Jiang Zemin to court for his grievous violations of human rights and crimes against humanity," she said.
Zhang's legal team said the Australian case was one of 46 lawsuits filed against Jiang in 26 countries by Falungong members.
The spiritual group once claimed millions of followers in China, but has faced a crackdown by the government, which has labelled it an "evil cult" and considers it one of the most serious threats to its rule.
Neither Jiang nor the Chinese government were represented at the hearing in the New South Wales state Supreme Court, which was held over until February 28 next year to allow further argument.