SCMP: Falun Gong and MPs team up for rights bid

MICHAEL CHUGANI in Seattle

Canadian-based Falun Gong members have teamed up with lawmakers in a nationwide drive to pressure Prime Minister Jean Chretien to spearhead a resolution condemning China at next month's annual United Nations Human Rights Commission meeting in Geneva.

Thursday's move came amid growing anger over last week's alleged beatings and arrests by mainland police of dozens of Westerners, including six Canadians, who demonstrated in Tiananmen Square in support of the Falun Gong.

Every year Beijing has managed to block Geneva motions attacking its human rights behaviour despite heavy American pressure on other commission members to back Washington in taking the mainland to task.

Canadian lawmakers and Falun Gong supporters said Beijing's rough treatment and mass expulsion of the Westerners last week made it vital for Ottawa to initiate this year's resolution since the United States could no longer do so, having been voted out as a commission member last year.

Member of Parliament Rob Anders expressed fears that the rough treatment of the foreigners meant mainland Falun Gong followers would suffer an even worse fate. "Just imagine how Chinese citizens would be treated," he said.

Mr Anders has written to Mr Chretien demanding a public condemnation of Beijing's actions and urging Canada's leadership to sponsor a Geneva motion against the mainland.

Jason Loftus, 23, one of the expelled Canadians, said mainland police punched and choked him.

Adrian Sturdza, 33, said the police smashed his glasses and broke his ribs. "I was thrown to the ground and 10 policemen stomped on me," he said.

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