Speech of Canada's Li Jinyu at the Conclusion of the Vigil

Jinyu Li

August 13, 2001

Under the burning sun, I have held a vigil for 370 hours.

Today, I would like to tell everybody how I feel. Falun Gong practitioners in China are facing an extremely difficult situation. They are not only under brutal persecution, they are also deprived of the right to speak. The Chinese officials behave in the same scandalous manner without exception, even in Canada.

My many attempts to talk to the officials in the Chinese Embassy were rejected. When I heard that officials from the National Appeals Bureau had come to Canada to listen to appeals, I traveled to Toronto, hoping I could talk to them. Unfortunately, they refused to listen to me because I am a Falun Gong practitioner. I also witnessed how they cursed and pushed Falun Gong practitioners even on Canadian soil.

At the end of 1999, my husband and I went to the Public Appeals Office in Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong. We were surprised to see many policemen in the Appeals Office. As soon as we revealed that we were Falun Gong practitioners, we lost all our freedom. I was deported within 48 hours and my husband was sent to a detention center. Later, he was sent to a labour camp without trial for 18 months. The "crime" he was charged with by the authorities is that he "tried to have a peaceful dialogue with the Chinese government."

What a barbarous and evil government it is: its citizens have no right to speak or to appeal. What's more, attempts to speak or appeal can be treated as a crime and are subject to severe persecution. Tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been jailed and tortured. Some of them were persecuted to death--all because they wanted to say the true words from their hearts: "Falun Dafa is good," and, "Stop persecuting Falun Gong."

The severity of the persecution of Falun Gong practitioner in China is unprecedented in human history.

I hope all kind-hearted people can stand up and speak out for these innocent Falun Gong practitioners. Tell the Chinese authorities to "Stop the persecution and stop the killing of Falun Gong practitioners."

Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all those who have supported me during my vigil in front of the Chinese Embassy, especially to Mr. Irwin Cotler (MP), Mr. Scott Reid (MP), and Carol and Patricia from Amnesty International. Your support fills my heart with strength and warmth, and makes me more confident that righteousness is bound to triumph over evil.

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