Montreal University Press Conference for the Release of Ying Zhu and Shenli Lin

As part of the national campaign demanding the release of Mrs.Ying Zhu and Mr. Shenli Lin, a Press Conference was held from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on May 31, 2001, at Concordia University of Montreal, where Ying was a student.

This campaign was strongly supported by Amnesty International (Montreal), a Member of Parliament from Anjou-Riviere-des-Prairies, and particularly, by Concordia University authorities. A number of high-level administrators of the University attended this conference.

During the conference, after the introduction of the imprisonment and detention of Mrs. Ying Zhu and Mr. Shenli Lin for their practice of Falun Gong, the representative of the Falun Dafa Student Clubs of both Concordia and McGill Universities gave a brief profile of Ying, relating how she benefited from Falun Dafa and promoted Falun Dafa in society. The concern for Ying's safety was expressed in the statement through mention of the brutal persecution that Mr. Ming Zhao endured, since Ming has a similar international background as Ying. The student clubs called on the whole society to work together to rescue Ying and to release all innocent Falun Gong practitioners in detention--also to stop this brutal persecution of the lives of millions.

The organizer read the letter from Dr. Frederick H. Lowy, the Rector of Concordia University, to Mr. Mei Ping, the ambassador of China at Ottawa, after Ying's case had been introduced. The letter stated, "I am writing now to request that you do whatever possible to secure Ms. Zhu's release. As Rector and Vice-Chancellor of this University I am greatly disturbed to learn of the imprisonment of one of our students. As you know, Mr. Ambassador, Concordia University has a longstanding and mutually satisfactory relationship with several Chinese universities. We were very pleased, earlier this year, to be able to sign agreements of cooperation with six Chinese institutions of higher learning, and we look forward to developing joint programs with them. It would be most unfortunate if the detention of one of our students were to affect these mutually productive academic relationships". Dr. Lowy also wrote in the letter," I would be most grateful if you would inform me as soon as possible concerning Ms. Zhu's condition and when she will be released."

Mr. Yvon Charnonneau, Member of Parliament, wrote a letter for the conference which stated, "I was very distressed to hear of the arrest of Mrs. Zhu Ying. I met Mrs. Zhu for the first time more than a year ago. She and three Falun Gong practitioners came to my office to inform me of the group's activities and of the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China". This letter also states, "We were extremely shocked to hear of her arrest. I wholeheartedly support the campaign demanding her immediate release and return to Canada, and have already spoken to the Foreign Affairs Minister and the Prime Minister in this regard".

Mrs. Carole Channer, the representative of Amnesty International (Montreal) denounced China's brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. She expressed her hope that the Canadian government would put more efforts into pressuring the Chinese government to release Mrs. Ying Zhu and Mr. Shenli Lin and to stop the wrongdoing.

A number of news agencies attended the press conference, including the newspaper Gazette of Montreal and the news radio station CJAD.

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