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Chinese Diplomat Gets the Boot for Collecting Information on Falun Gong
(Clearwisdom.net) According to an Epoch Times November 14, 2006
report, the Canadian government refused to extend the visa of Wang Pengfei, the
second secretary for the Education Office of the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa. Wang
Pengfei left Canada before October 25. Sources say Wang Pengfei was denied the
visa because he collected information on Falun Gong practitioners in Canada and
participated in other anti-Falun Gong activities, which exceeded his proscribed
diplomatic duties. According to the Epoch Times, sources confirmed on November 13 that
Wang Pengfei's visa had expired at the end of October 2006, and the Department
of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Canada) had refused his application
for an extension. Wang Pengfei was forced to return to China two weeks ago.
Wang's name appeared on the roster of foreign diplomats in Canada published in
September, but is not included in the most recent index from November.
Countries with established diplomatic relations usually issue visas for
diplomats. Denial of visa extension is a declaration that the diplomat is
"not welcome" and is "showing them the door." Wang Pengfei collects information on Falun Gong practitioners and organizes
anti-Falun Gong activities Wang Pengfei published an article under his real name entitled "Chinese
Embassy in Canada Holds Forum for Chinese Students and Scholars
Association" in the April 2004 issue of China Scholars Abroad, a
magazine by overseas Chinese students. The article states, "Sun Yan,
president of the CSSA at this university [Quebec University] introduced a rich
variety of propaganda activities sponsored by the CSSA, as well as a battle of
strength and intelligence against Falun Gong elements." Dai Gongyu, a Falun Gong practitioner living in Ottawa said the Education
Office of the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa is in charge of affairs concerning
Chinese students. Officials from this office collect information on Falun Gong
practitioners through different channels. They interfere with and obstruct Falun
Gong practitioners' activities in Ottawa through Chinese student organizations. Dai Gongyu also said, "Chinese premier Wen Jiabao visited Ottawa in
December 2003. Falun Gong practitioners held a peaceful protest in front of the
Westin Hotel where Wen Jiabao stayed. They had unfurled banners that read,
'Welcome, Wen Jiabao!' and 'Severely Punish Jiang Zemin.' One male official and
one female official from the embassy's Education Office directed Chinese
students to squeeze in front of Falun Gong practitioners and wave red flags, to
block the banner 'Severely Punish Jiang Zemin' from view. The officials shouted
to Chinese students, 'Make sure you cover it up!' Other Chinese people present
confirmed that the male official was Wang Pengfei. "The head of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) told Falun Gong
practitioners later on that those who organized the attempt to block Falun Gong
had received a warning." Zhang Lingdi, a student at Ottawa University said she received an email from
Xu, vice president of the CSSA at Ottawa University in September 2005. The email
detailed Zhang Lingdi's activities [in Ottawa] including holding a press
conference to rescue her father, who was illegally arrested and detained in
China for practicing Falun Gong. The email said, "according to reports from
some students and the investigation done by the association's cadre, you are
still a Falun Gong member." Xu (author of the email) "advised"
Zhang Lingdi and other Falun Gong practitioners to "take care and watch out
for yourself." Zhang Lingdi said, "I found it strange because it's my right to practice
Falun Gong, and it is legal in Canada. Why did the CSSA at Ottawa University
conduct investigations on my personal activities?" "I read the email again more carefully and found this sentence, 'the
CSSA at Ottawa University, under the direct leadership of the Education Office
of Chinese Embassy,' and then I realized who was collecting information on Falun
Gong practitioners, manipulating the CSSA, and threatening Falun Gong
practitioners." Chen Yonglin, a former official at the Chinese Consulate in Sydney, Australia
who defected from his post in June 2005 had testified at a U.S. congressional
hearing on July 21, 2005 that after the Communist regime began persecuting Falun
Gong, an important task for Chinese diplomats is to carry out persecution of
Falun Gong. One important assignment for Chinese diplomats is to "mobilize
the forces of the Chinese communities, Chinese students and Chinese companies to
squeeze Falun Gong's living space." Chen Yonglin revealed that there are
more than 1,000 spies who conduct anti-Falun Gong activities operate in Canada. Lucy Zhou, a spokeswoman for Falun Gong in Ottawa said, "the Wang
Pengfei incident serves as a lesson for all Chinese diplomats who swear loyalty
to the Chinese Communist Party--engaging in anti-Falun Gong activities in Canada
goes beyond their proscribed duties. Does this visa rejection mean Wang
Pengfei's activities have received attention? Will it destroy his future as a
diplomat or even prevent the possibility of visiting foreign countries in the
future? Which country would want to accept a person with a prior record such as
this one?" According to insiders, although Lu Shumin, Chinese Ambassador to Canada tried
very hard to lift Wang Pengfei's spirits before Wang took off for China, Wang
still looked very upset, which dampened the air at the embassy and adversely
affected other officials there. Pan Xinchun, the Deputy Consul General in Toronto was convicted of libel for
attacking a Canadian Falun Gong practitioner in a Canadian newspaper article. He
was fined 1,000 CAD, a symbolic amount requested by the plaintiff, and ordered
to pay 10,000 CAD litigation fee. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice issued a
subpoena for Pan Xinchun on November 16 to conduct an audit of his financial
assets. Pan Xinchun failed to appear in court. It is learned that he has left
Canada before the scheduled date. An article entitled "Chinese Accused of Slander" published on June
23, 2005 in the Edmonton Sun says, "According to city police,
Alberta Justice is looking at possible charges against staff at the Chinese
consulate over alleged propaganda material defaming the Falun Gong
movement." It is learned that the two Chinese officials who were charged had terminated
their terms and left Canada. Read the complete Edmonton Sun article at
http://www.fofg.org/news/news_story.php?doc_id=1086
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