Now Toronto (March 22-28, 2001) published Edward Lee's article: Chinese consulate whips up opposition to Falun Gong.

The article started, "In the midst of Toronto's contest with Beijing over the 2008 Summer Olympics, much has been made of the Chinese government's hostile treatment of the so-called evil Falun Gong."

"But a recent speech by a Chinese official in Toronto demonstrates that the regime seems to have exported its hate campaign to Canadian soil. "

The article said, "Two months ago in Spadina's Chinatown, Chinese consul general Zhao Xinbao addressed the Confederation of Toronto Chinese Canadian Organizations -- an umbrella organization of 47 member groups -- at a meeting not so subtly advertised as 'a forum on upholding Canadian-Chinese friendship and condemning Falun Gong.'"

The article continued, "Chinese authorities see the [group]'s members not as Canadians but as 'overseas' Chinese, he says, and see the matter as an 'internal problem that they can deal with in Canada.'"

"Outside the consulate, more than a dozen Falun Gong members stand in two rows performing in-synch slow-motion exercises. Next to them are sandwich boards of photos and reports detailing the abuse that members have suffered in China. "

The article also mentioned, "Marie-Christine Lilkoff at foreign affairs says the minister, John Manley, has said that 'once we can conclude whether Chinese diplomats have in some way breached their obligation in the appropriateness of their behaviour here, then we can take appropriate action. At the moment we don't know whether the allegations are true.'"

Posting date: 3/31/2001
Original article date: 3/22/2001
Category: News & Media Reports

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