[Minghui Net] (Mr. Zhang Shengzhao, journalist of Central News Agency, reported from Ottawa on April 30)

The Chinese [party name omitted] Party government's persecution of Falun Gong seems to be escalating. Even overseas Falun Gong practitioners who disobey may be harmed. Mr. Shou Heping, a chemical merchant in Montreal is an example.

Over two months ago, Mr. Shou submitted an application to renew his passport. Today, he found that his passport was returned to him nullified. The reason was simply that he refused to write a pledge to denounce Falun Gong. This ruined his plan to go to Europe for a business trip.

Mr. Shou came to Ottawa from Montreal on February 26 and applied to the Chinese Embassy to extend his passport. He had thought that around 11AM that morning the application would be completed, but his application was delayed without reason. His passport would expire on May 21.

After he inquired several times, Mr. Xu, an official in the Chinese Embassy asked him, "Are you a Falun Gong practitioner?" Mr. Shou Heping answered frankly, "Yes." Mr. Xu asked him to write a pledge to give up practicing Falun Gong. Mr. Shou answered that Falun Gong is a legally registered group. It is impossible to ask him to denounce it.

He talked to the Embassy several times and tried to find Ambassador Mei Ping and General Consul Huang Ping. None of them would consider his case. Today he traveled two hundred kilometers from Montreal to the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa just for a canceled passport.

Mr. Shou Heping, 40 years old, originally lived in China's Jiangsu Province but has now become a person without a nationality. He wants to appeal to Canada Foreign Affairs Ministry for help. It is hoped that his original business immigration plan will not be in jeopardy merely because he practices Falun Gong.