Correspondent Li Hua from Vancouver reports: Hu Jintao is about to set off on his trip to North America. Falun Gong practitioners in Vancouver held a series of activities including a press conference, clarifying the truth, collecting signatures and other activities, in the hopes that more people can learn about the truth of Falun Gong and the unprecedented persecution of Falun Gong in China that has lasted for six years. The practitioners also hoped that during Hu Jintao's visit to North America, people who have learned the truth would send out more voices for justice and work together to stop the persecution.
Press conference calls for denying Bo Xilai and Xia Deren entry into the country
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| Press Conference |
On August 27th, 2005, practitioners in Vancouver held a press conference in front of the art gallery in downtown Vancouver, requesting the Canadian government to bar entry to Bo Xilai and Xia Deren. Bo Xilai is Minister of Commerce of China and Xia Deren is Deputy Governor of Liaoning Province. Recently, based on the systematic and widespread nature of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong, the Canadian IRB ruled that the persecution is a "Crime Against Humanity." Several local Chinese and English media outlets came to cover the activity.
A local practitioner said in a speech that Bo Xilai and Xia Deren are among the major perpetrators of the persecution of Falun Gong. Liaoning Province is one of the provinces where the persecution is most severe. In Vancouver, at least three practitioners' relatives are suffering persecution in Liaoning Province. Bo Xilai was listed on a monitor list by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in January 2004 for participating in the persecution of Falun Gong. Xia Deren, deputy governor of Liaoning Province, is also on the list. The Canadian government must not open the door to these criminals. Practitioners ask the international community including Canada to conduct an investigation into the serious crimes against humanity, including the incitement of hatred, economic destruction, torture and murder, and join together to stop the persecution.
A letter from renowned international human rights lawyer David Matas to the Ministers of the Canadian Ministry of Security, Ministry of Immigration and Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated on August 25, 2005 was read at the press conference. Mr. Matas requested the Canadian government to deny Bo Xilai and Xia Deren visas and stated that his request was proposed on the basis of Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program, and Canada's implementation of international law concerning these issues.
Mr. Matas pointed out that based on Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, one would be denied entry to Canada if he is found guilty of crimes against humanity. He said that if such officials entered Canada, a message would be passed to the public, and Canada would be sanctioning genocide and human rights persecution.
MP David Kilgour, former chairman of the Commission on Diplomatic and Human Rights, said he supported David Matas' conclusions and "[I]...agree fully that these individuals should not be permitted to enter Canada on the basis of their complicity in the violation of the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners."
Falun Gong practitioner Zhang Chunyu expressed that his mother and elder sister are illegally incarcerated in Liaoning Province for practising Falun Gong. He said that the CCP is the prime culprit for suppressing Falun Gong practitioners, and also the prime culprit for destroying Chinese traditional culture and religious groups. The CCP by no means can represent the Chinese people. At present, degeneration of moral standards has led to systematic corruption. The CCP has completely lost the trust of the people, and is on the brink of collapse. The relations between Canada and China are not at all the relations between Canada and the CCP. He called for the Canadian government to uphold Canadian's principle of freedom of beliefs and justice, and urge Hu Jintao to stop the persecution and seriously punish the perpetrators.
Bo Xilai was former Vice Secretary of Liaoning Party Committee, Governor of Liaoning Province, Secretary of Dalian City Party Committee and Mayor of Dalian City. Since the initiation of the persecution of Falun Gong, Bo has managed and directed the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in Liaoning Province. When Bo was in charge of Dalian, the city was one of the cities where the most severe persecution occurred in China. Fifteen practitioners were tortured to death. When he was governor of Liaoning Province, one billion yuan (about $123 million) was invested in reconstruction of prisons. More than 500 million yuan (about $61.6 million) was invested in Masanjia Labour Camp, Shenyang City. In 2003, Masanjia was built to be the number one prison in China. Many Falun Gong practitioners have been imprisoned and tortured in the camp.
Xia Deren was formerly the mayor of Dalian City and supported the persecution of Falun Gong in the Chinese People's Congress on February 9th, 2004 while representing the Dalian City Government. Xia was sued in the United States on February 7th, 2002 for crimes of torture and anti-humanity, and found guilty by a U.S. court in June 2003.
Anti-torture exhibit touches people's kind nature
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| Anti-torture exhibit |
On August 27th and 28th, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners in Vancouver once again held an anti-torture exhibit in front of the art gallery downtown. By reenacting the torture methods used on Falun Gong practitioners in China, the practitioners showed the public the brutal torture and abuses imposed upon Falun Gong practitioners in the past six years under the CCP autocratic ruling.
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| Clarify the facts and collect signature |
While clarifying the facts, Falun Gong practitioners collected signatures for a petition letter to be delivered to Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin. The petition requested Martin to propose to Hu Jintao during his visit to Canada to stop the persecution of Falun Gong. At the same time, the petition requested the Canadian government to deny Bo Xilai and Xia Deren visas, based on international human rights law and Canada's "Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes" program.
People who have learned about the truth signed the petition and many people left messages on the petition, condemning the CCP's brutal persecution of people who believe in "Truthfulness-Benevolence-Forbearance," and calling for the Canadian Prime Minister to help stop the persecution.
The following are some of messages on the petition:
"This (persecution) must be stopped immediately!"
"Immediately stop the persecution!"
"Call for humanity and freedom for everyone!"
"Mr. Martin, please help Falun Gong practitioners. Stop the brutality!"
"Martin, please not abet the dictators."
"I request you to immediately take action-help stop the persecution!"
"China should have democracy."
"Why? Why? Why? Why do we do business with such a government?"
"Stop committing such atrocities against our fellow people!"
"Prime Minister, please do not permit the perpetrators to enter Canada!"
"You (Falun Gong practitioners) are a good group of people, only that many people do not know you."
"Bless you! Your spirits will accompany you forever!"
"Everyone has a right to live a beautiful life."
Upon hearing that many cheap products made in China sold in Canada are produced by Falun Gong practitioners and prisoners imprisoned in forced labour camps, who are forced to work 10 to 15 hours per day but are not given any income for their labour, many people were shocked and thanked practitioners to let them know the news. They expressed that they would consider carefully if they would buy products made in China in future.
A teacher from Brazil viewed the anti-torture exhibit and said seriously, "This is too sad. I want to help you." She said she would show the photos taken today to the Brazilian embassy, and tell her students about the persecution happening in China. She said that the media should cover this event and let all people learn about it. She also said that her friends worked in the media.
Practitioners answered people's question on why the CCP persecutes Falun Gong, and recommended they read the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. The practitioners told people that the book is about CCP history, and is conducive for them to learn why the inhumane persecution is still taking place in China, and why the CCP is the biggest threat to the world's peace.
Many people expressed that they would check information about Falun Gong after going back, read the Nine Commentaries and help spread the truth.
Four years' anniversary of peaceful appeal in front of the Chinese Consulate
On August 21st, 2001, Falun Gong practitioners in Vancouver started their 24-hour round the clock peaceful appeal in front of the Chinese Consulate. It has been four years today of nonstop appeal. After experiencing cold winter and hot summer, rain or shine, practitioners know clearly the hardships they have gone through, and the people of Vancouver also have seen this.
Countless people have learned about the facts of Falun Gong, and countless people have learned about the CCP atrocities from practitioners who have been peacefully appealing here. People have thus generated kind thoughts in their hearts.
On August 20th this year, practitioners held a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate to commemorate the "4th anniversary of peaceful appeal." The practitioners wanted to express their confidence and courage for persisting in their belief and justice and resisting the persecution without fearing brutality.
The practitioners expressed that the persecution has lasted for six years, and their fellow practitioners have endured so many tribulations, but they still want to give Hu Jintao an opportunity to do good. The practitioners hoped that during Hu's visit to North America, he can make himself clear headed, make a prompt decision, and immediately stop the persecution of Falun Gong.
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