Dalian City Delegation Visits Canada, Mayor Xia Deren Absent from Group (Photo)

Minghui correspondent Yingxin reports from Ottawa

(Clearwisdom.net) From September 22 to 24, 2005, a delegation from Dalian, China visited Canada. Dalian Mayor Xia Deren, planning to lead the delegation, did not appear in the delegation's visit to Canada. Based on Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program, Xia Deren was added to the watch list of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for his crimes in persecution Falun Gong. At the beginning of September, another Chinese official, Bo Xilai, also on the watch list did not make a scheduled trip to visit Canada.

Falun Gong practitioners holding anti-torture exhibition to call for denial of entry of Chinese officials involved in the persecution of Falun Gong (August 26, 2005)

Based on inside information, the Dalian delegation arrived at Toronto on September 22 and left for the U.S. Department of Commerce on September 24. Dalian Mayor Xia Deren did not appear in the delegation during the visit to Canada, but attended activities in the U.S.A. It was learned that the delegation and the Chinese Consulate in Toronto were uneasy about Xia's leading the delegation.

Falun Gong practitioner Lucy Zhou said in an interview that Liaoning Province and Dalian City are among the worst provinces and cities in the persecution of Falun Gong. Xia Deren cannot be excused, as he is Vice Governor of Liaoning Province and Mayor of Dalian City.

According to the Minghui/Clearwisdom website, so far 329 practitioners were tortured to death in Liaoning Province, just under the 370 deaths in Hebei Province and 336 deaths in Heilongjiang Province. In Dalian City, 53 practitioners were tortured to death and among them, 25 of the practitioners were over 60 years old.

Ms. Zhou said that people should be clear that those participating in the persecution of Falun Gong will be held responsible.

Another Chinese official on the watch list, Bo Xilai, former Governor of Liaoning Province, planned to visit Canada with Chinese President Hu Jintao. On September 5, Bo's name disappeared from the list of delegates. On September 8, Bo was not seen in Hu's delegation to Canada.

It was believed that the cancellation of Bo's and Xia's visits to Canada was because of the strong appeal of the Canadian people, Members of Parliament, attorneys and supporters of Falun Gong. Renowned Canadian human rights attorney David Matas wrote to the relevant Canadian officials on August 25, pointing out that based on Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program, one would be denied entry into Canada if he were found guilty of crimes against humanity.

Canadian MP David Kilgour agreed with Attorney David Matas. He said that only China persecutes Falun Gong across the world, and Canada should not let those persons involved in the persecution enter the country.

Xia Deren was sued in California, U.S.A. for his crimes against humanity and of torture. On December 8, 2004, the U.S. Federal Court of Northern California found Xia Deren responsible for torture, cruel and inhuman treatment and arbitrary detention of Falun Gong practitioners.

On September 27, Xia Deren led a delegation to visit Oakland, California. A practitioner tried to hand a package to him with information about the court ruling and lawsuit materials. Xia refused to accept it, as if he knew about the information contained in the package.

Mr. Kevin Yang, a representative of the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG), warned those Chinese officials involved in the persecution to check and see if their names are on the WOIPFG's list of persecutors when going to visit countries overseas.

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