编者按：2008年2月，新西兰首都惠灵顿市政府官员命令法轮功拆除竖立在植物园的横幅，因为公园是休闲娱乐的地方，法轮功的活动含有政治因素。此后，没有在该公园发现法轮功类似横幅。

　　【新西兰《自治领邮报》2008年2月26日报道】自从法轮功成员被告知拆除在公共公园内宣传法轮功的标语后，法轮功和惠灵顿的官员之间的争执进一步升级。

　　法轮功每周日在植物园集会练功。本月，一位惠灵顿市政府官员命令其拆除“法轮大法：打坐、炼功、免费教功”的横幅。

　　市议会在上周的信中提及，由于法轮功的政治因素，法轮功的横幅违反了一些法规。

　　公园管理者David Sole说：“我们不允许在公园里竖立横幅、举办政治主题的音乐会或者其他有争议的活动，原因很简单，这是一个休闲和娱乐的地方。”

　　但法轮功成员拒绝拆除横幅，辩解说练功集会并非政治，他们受到不公平的待遇。

　　继法轮功和市议会一系列的争执中，最新的争议包括官员试图阻止法轮功进入圣诞节及农历新年游行，这促使法轮功去年向高等法院递交诉状。

　　法轮功在中国被取缔，惠灵顿市议会拒绝法轮功参加这些活动的原因之一是它是一个政治团体。

　　然而，法轮功称自己是一种精神和文化组织，并认为这是对他们的歧视。

　　市议会否认这是对法轮功的歧视。市议会发言人Richard MacLean说：“他们是谁并不重要。公园使用者不能未经批准就展示横幅。”如果法轮功继续向高等法院提起诉讼，市议会将捍卫自己的立场。

　　原文网址：http://www.stuff.co.nz/4415342a11.html

　　备注：《自治领邮报》（Dominion Post）为新西兰第二大报，隶属于澳大利亚费尔费斯集团。2002年7月8日，由创刊于1907年的《自治领报》和创刊于1865年的《晚邮报》合并而成，总部设在首都惠灵顿。该报曾多次被评为新西兰年度最佳报纸。

Gardens bans Falun Gong

The row between Falun Gong and Wellington officials has stepped up after members were told to remove a banner promoting meditation sessions from public gardens.

The group, which exercises every Sunday in the Botanic Gardens, was ordered by a Wellington City Council officer this month to remove a banner, which reads: "Falun Dafa - meditation, exercise, teaching".

The council said in a letter last week that the banner used by the group breached regulations because of Falun Gong's political links.

"We do not permit banners, political concerts or other contentious activities in the garden for the simple reason that it is a place of rest and recreation," acting gardens manager David Sole said.

But members, who have refused to remove the banner, say the session is not political and they are being unfairly targeted.

The latest controversy follows a series of rows between Falun Gong and the council, including an attempt by officials to stop members from entering Christmas and Chinese New Year parades, prompting the group to file a High Court case last year.

Falun Gong is a banned organisation in China and one of the reasons given by the council for excluding it from events here is that it is a political group.

However, Falun Gong says it is a spiritual and cultural organisation.

The council denies it is discriminating against Falun Gong. "It doesn't matter who they are, park users can't display banners without authorisation," council spokesman Richard MacLean said.

The complaints had no impact on council decision-making.

The council would defend its stance if Falun Gong continued High Court action.

(Dominion Post, February 26, 2008)