Canadians Gather Outside Chinese Embassy to Call an End to the Persecution on Falun Gong

Media Advisory For Immediate Release: August 11, 2001

12-Year-Old Student and His Mother Continue the Round-the-Clock Vigil for Two Weeks

OTTAWA, MONTREAL - The round-the-clock vigil in front of the Chinese Embassy, started on July 6th in protest against the brutal crackdown of Falun Gong in China, goes on despite the heat wave.

On Monday, August 13, a twelve-year-old student, Chaochen Guan from Montreal, will continue the vigil for two weeks along with his mother. Montreal artist Jingyu Li will finish her vigil held for her husband.

Professor and 25-Year Friend of China Joins Falun Gong Vigil to Protest Barbaric Brutality

On the same day, University of Montreal retired Professor Jacques Lamontagne, who has been friend of China for 25 years, will join the Falun Gong vigil together with his wife, Zhili Li, from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm. Zhili Li was refused entry to China in May for being a Falun Gong practitioner.

Since 1980, Professor Lamontagne has lived and worked in China as a foreign specialist, teacher and researcher on several occasions for a total of five years. He is not a Falun Gong practitioner. For the past nine years, he has been leading a Sino-Canadian research project in Peking University on "The Regional Development of Education in China." He said: "I am appalled that human beings act so cruelly towards other human beings. I appeal strongly to the Chinese authorities: immediately cease the mistreatment of Falun Gong practitioners in Chinese prisons." He will deliver a letter to the Chinese Embassy on Monday.

Professor Lamontagne will be available for media interviews 11:30am- 3pm, Monday, Aug. 13.

Round-the-clock vigil relay ceremony

Time: Monday, August 13, 2001, at 11:30 am

Place: In front of the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa (515 St. Patrick St.)

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Background Information

On July 6, Gerry Smith started a 330 hour round-the-clock vigil in front of the Ottawa Chinese Embassy. Gerry and people around the world were shocked by the horrific news of the torture deaths of 15 female practitioners in Wanjia Labour Camp, China. This vigil has been relayed by Bill Guan, and later by Jingyu Li, and is part of the global campaign "SOS: Rescue Falun Gong practitioners persecuted in China!"

Jingyu Li's vigil for her husband, Shenli Lin, began July 26. Shenli, a prisoner of conscience, was scheduled to be released on July 23 after 18 months of suffering in a Chinese labour camp for being a Falun Gong practitioner. But on that day, his term was extended for another 6 months with no reason given.

Falun Gong (a.k.a. Falun Dafa) is a peaceful meditation practice of mind and body based on Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Since July 1999, Chinese president Jiang Zemin has engaged in a vicious persecution of the practice that has affected the lives of millions of families. At least 263 practitioners have died in custody.

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