South China Morning Post: Falun Gong sues SAR media group for defamation


MICHAEL CHUGANI in Seattle and STELLA LEE

Saturday, December 22, 2001


Falun Gong members have filed a multi-million dollar defamation lawsuit in a Canadian court against a Hong Kong newspaper group for carrying an article that likened its members to September 11 terrorists.

The suit was filed in Toronto on Wednesday by 156 Falun Gong members - including three Hong Kong residents - against Sing Tao's Canadian operation, jointly owned by the Hong Kong Sing Tao group and the Toronto Star newspaper group.

Sing Tao publishes editions in major Canadian cities. The article also appeared in Hong Kong and overseas.

Public court documents show the claimants are demanding more than C$13 million (HK$65.48 million), or C$85,000 each, in damages.

Falun Gong lawyer Rocco Galati said he would seek to turn the lawsuit against Sing Tao into a class action that could involve thousands of claimants.

The suit claims the September 20 article defamed the movement and exposed it to hostility. It claims Falun Gong is a peaceful movement being undermined by mainland authorities.

The movement is also demanding a front-page apology and a court order banning Sing Tao from publishing defamatory articles against it.

The paper declined to comment yesterday.

www.scmp.com

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