Letter from Vancouver City Councilor Tim Louis to Officials of Qiangdao City Concerning the Persecution of Falun Gong in China

(Clearwisdom.net)

January 28, 2003

Mr. Xia Geng

Acting Mayor of Qingdao City

Xiang Gang Zhong Road

Qingdao Municipal Government, Qingdao, P.R. China,

266071

Dear Mr. Geng:

I am a Councilor with the City of Vancouver, Canada, elected by the people of Vancouver and working to serve their needs. I have heard a tragic story from a resident of Vancouver, Ms. Tianxiao Zhang. I am informed that she lost her brother-in-law, and then her mother, due to the persecution of Falun Gong in China. I am also informed that her brother-in-law, Songtao Zou, was tortured to death in the Wangoun Labor Camp of Zibo City, Shandong Province. He died suddenly in police custody at the age of 28 years. His body was forced to be cremated hastily at Zibo City. Songtao was transferred suddenly to this labor camp in September 2000 with his family, un-notified of the reason. After Songtao's family members returned to Qingdao City from Zibo, the were even ordered not to weep or cry at home since, as police said, their neighbors would know of Songtao's death. Even though Songtao had a Master's Degree in Marine Biology, he was deemed unemployable due to his unwillingness to give up his belief in Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance; the major principles of Falun Gong. Tianxiao's mother passed away in sorrow in 2001, struck by the death of Songtao and the homelessness of her young daughter, Yunhe Zhang. Further, her sister Yunhe Zhang is believed to have been held secretly at the Dashan Labor Camp located at Sifang District of Qingdao City for at least a few months since the beginning of 2002.

Since we are both in the service of civic governments, we are, professionally, colleagues. We both know that we should be responsible for our people. Please allow me to make two points here:

1. Falun Gong is practiced all over North America and I am informed that it has received nearly 800 awards and proclamations worldwide in recognition of its contribution to people's health and their morality. People in Canada who practice Falun Gong enjoy full freedom and are protected by the Canadian Charter (Constitution). These people are peaceful and do their best to follow the fundamental universal principles - Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance.

2. I am informed that Yunhe Zhang's right to practice Falun Gong is protected under the Chinese Constitution. She should never have been arrested for her belief in the first place, and her arrest did not observe a legal manner.

Canadian people respect human rights and justice, and through their Foreign Ministry and other channels, are closely watching you and your police system. I hope you can take my advice that you release Yunhe Zhang immediately and that you ask for forgiveness from Yunhe's family about the illegal actions done to them.

Sincerely,

Tim Louis

Councilor

clrlouis@city.vancouver.bc.ca

604.873.7248

cc: Mr. Du Shicheng - Qingdao City Mayor

Mr. Zou Lijian - Qingdao City Vice Mayor

Mr. Liu Jianhua - Qingdao City Vice Mayor

Ms. Zang Aimin - Qingdao City Vice Mayor

Mr. Ma Lunye - Qingdao City Vice Mayor

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