(Clearwisdom.net) Correspondent Li Hua from Vancouver reports: Hu
Jintao is about to set off on his trip to North America. Falun Gong
practitioners in Vancouver held a series of activities including a press
conference, clarifying the truth, collecting signatures and other activities, in
the hopes that more people can learn about the truth of Falun Gong and the
unprecedented persecution of Falun Gong in China that has lasted for six years.
The practitioners also hoped that during Hu Jintao's visit to North America,
people who have learned the truth would send out more voices for justice and
work together to stop the persecution.
- Press conference calls for denying Bo Xilai and Xia Deren entry into the
country
Press conference
On August 27, 2005, practitioners in Vancouver held a press conference in
front of the art gallery in downtown Vancouver, requesting the Canadian
government to bar entry to Bo Xilai and Xia Deren. Bo Xilai is Minister of
Commerce of China and Xia Deren is Deputy Governor of Liaoning Province.
Recently, based on the systematic and widespread nature of the Chinese Communist
Party (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong, the Canadian IRB ruled that the
persecution is a "Crime Against Humanity." Several local Chinese and
English media outlets came to cover the activity.
A local practitioner said in a speech that Bo Xilai and Xia Deren are among
the major perpetrators of the persecution of Falun Gong. Liaoning Province is
one of the provinces where the persecution is most severe. In Vancouver, at
least three practitioners' relatives are suffering persecution in Liaoning
Province. Bo Xilai was listed on a monitor list by the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police (RCMP) in January 2004 for participating in the persecution of Falun
Gong. Xia Deren, deputy governor of Liaoning Province, is also on the list. The
Canadian government must not open the door to these criminals. Practitioners ask
the international community including Canada to conduct an investigation into
the serious crimes against humanity, including the incitement of hatred,
economic destruction, torture and murder, and join together to stop the
persecution.
A letter from renowned international human rights lawyer David Matas to the
Ministers of the Canadian Ministry of Security, Ministry of Immigration and
Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated on August 25, 2005 was read at the press
conference. Mr. Matas requested the Canadian government to deny Bo Xilai and Xia
Deren visas and stated that his request was proposed on the basis of Canada's
Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program, and Canada's implementation of
international law concerning these issues.
Mr. Matas pointed out that based on Canada's Immigration and Refugee
Protection Act, one would be denied entry to Canada if he is found guilty of
crimes against humanity. He said that if such officials entered Canada, a
message would be passed to the public, and Canada would be sanctioning genocide
and human rights persecution.
MP David Kilgour, former chairman of the Commission on Diplomatic and Human
Rights, said he supported David Matas' conclusions and "[I]...agree fully
that these individuals should not be permitted to enter Canada on the basis of
their complicity in the violation of the human rights of Falun Gong
practitioners."
Falun Gong practitioner Zhang Chunyu expressed that his mother and elder
sister are illegally incarcerated in Liaoning Province for practicing Falun
Gong. He said that the CCP is the prime culprit for suppressing Falun Gong
practitioners, and also the prime culprit for destroying Chinese traditional
culture and other religious groups. The CCP by no means can represent the
Chinese people. At present, degeneration of moral standards has led to
systematic corruption. The CCP has completely lost the trust of the people, and
is on the brink of collapse. The relations between Canada and China are not at
all the relations between Canada and the CCP. He called for the Canadian
government to uphold Canadian's principle of freedom of beliefs and justice, and
urge Hu Jintao to stop the persecution and seriously punish the perpetrators.
Bo Xilai was former Vice Secretary of Liaoning Party Committee, Governor of
Liaoning Province, Secretary of Dalian City Party Committee and Mayor of Dalian
City. Since the initiation of the persecution of Falun Gong, Bo has managed and
directed the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in Liaoning Province. When
Bo was in charge of Dalian, the city was one of the cities where the most severe
persecution occurred in China. Fifteen practitioners were tortured to death.
When he was governor of Liaoning Province, one billion yuan (about $123 million)
was invested in reconstruction of prisons. More than 500 million yuan (about
$61.6 million) was invested in Masanjia Labor Camp, Shenyang City. In 2003,
Masanjia was built to be the number one prison in China. Many Falun Gong
practitioners have been imprisoned and tortured in the camp.
Xia Deren was formerly the mayor of Dalian City and supported the persecution
of Falun Gong in the Chinese People's Congress on February 9, 2004 while
representing the Dalian City Government. Xia was sued in the United States on
February 7, 2002 for crimes of torture and anti-humanity, and found guilty by a
U.S. court in June 2003.
- Anti-torture exhibit touches people's kind nature
Anti-torture exhibit |
Anti-torture exhibit |
Anti-torture exhibit |
On August 27-28, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners in Vancouver once again held
an anti-torture exhibit in front of the art gallery downtown. By reenacting the
torture methods used on Falun Gong practitioners in China, the practitioners
showed the public the brutal torture and abuses imposed upon Falun Gong
practitioners in the past six years under the CCP autocratic ruling.
Clarify the facts and collect signature |
Clarify the facts and collect signature |
Clarify the facts and collect signature |
While clarifying the facts, Falun Gong practitioners collected signatures for
a petition letter to be delivered to Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin. The
petition requested Martin to propose to Hu Jintao during his visit to Canada to
stop the persecution of Falun Gong. At the same time, the petition requested the
Canadian government to deny Bo Xilai and Xia Deren visas, based on international
human rights law and Canada's "Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes"
program.
People who have learned about the truth signed the petition and many people
left messages on the petition, condemning the CCP's brutal persecution of people
who believe in "Truthfulness-Benevolence-Forbearance," and calling for
the Canadian Prime Minister to help stop the persecution.
The following are some of messages on the petition:
"This (persecution) must be stopped immediately!"
"Immediately stop the persecution!"
"Call for humanity and freedom for everyone!"
"Mr. Martin, please help Falun Gong practitioners. Stop the
brutality!"
"Martin, please not abet the dictators."
"I request you to immediately take action-help stop the
persecution!"
"China should have democracy."
"Why? Why? Why? Why do we do business with such a government?"
"Stop committing such atrocities against our fellow people!"
"Prime Minister, please do not permit the perpetrators to enter
Canada!"
"You (Falun Gong practitioners) are a good group of people, only that
many people do not know you."
"Bless you! Your spirits will accompany you forever!"
"Everyone has a right to live a beautiful life."
Upon hearing that many cheap products made in China sold in Canada are
produced by Falun Gong practitioners and prisoners imprisoned in forced labor
camps, who are forced to work 10 to 15 hours per day but are not given any
income for their labor, many people were shocked and thanked practitioners to
let them know the news. They expressed that they would consider carefully if
they would buy products made in China in future.
A teacher from Brazil viewed the anti-torture exhibit and said seriously,
"This is too sad. I want to help you." She said she would show the
photos taken today to the Brazilian embassy, and tell her students about the
persecution happening in China. She said that the media should cover this event
and let all people learn about it. She also said that her friends worked in the
media.
Practitioners answered people's question on why the CCP persecutes Falun
Gong, and recommended they read the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party.
The practitioners told people that the book is about CCP history, and is
conducive for them to learn why the inhumane persecution is still taking place
in China, and why the CCP is the biggest threat to the world's peace.
Many people expressed that they would check information about Falun Gong
after going back, read the Nine Commentaries and help spread the truth.
- Four years' anniversary of peaceful appeal in front of the Chinese
Consulate
Activity commemorating the 4th anniversary of peaceful appeal |
Activity commemorating the 4th anniversary of peaceful appeal |
On August 21, 2001, Falun Gong practitioners in Vancouver started their
24-hour round the clock peaceful appeal in front of the Chinese Consulate. It
has been four years today of nonstop appeal. After experiencing cold winter and
hot summer, rain or shine, practitioners know clearly the hardships they have
gone through, and the people of Vancouver also have seen this.
Countless people have learned about the facts of Falun Gong, and countless
people have learned about the CCP atrocities from practitioners who have been
peacefully appealing here. People have thus generated kind thoughts in their
hearts.
On August 20 this year, practitioners held a candlelight vigil in front of
the Chinese Consulate to commemorate the "4th anniversary of
peaceful appeal." The practitioners wanted to express their confidence and
courage for persisting in their belief and justice and resisting the persecution
without fearing brutality.
The practitioners expressed that the persecution has lasted for six years,
and their fellow practitioners have endured so many tribulations, but they still
want to give Hu Jintao an opportunity to do good. The practitioners hoped that
during Hu's visit to North America, he can make himself clear headed, make a
prompt decision, and immediately stop the persecution of Falun Gong.
