By Li Hua, Minghui reporter from Vancouver

(Clearwidom.net) Falun Gong practitioners in Vancouver, Canada held a rally on July 15, 2006 in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery downtown to condemn the CCP's harvesting of organs from living Falun Gong practitioners and call on the Canadian Government to investigate, take action to stop the atrocities. After the rally, the practitioners marched from downtown to Chinatown, drawing close attention from people along the route.

Reading statement from the Canadian Falun Dafa Association

A statement from the Canadian Falun Dafa Association was read at the rally, calling on the Canadian government to publish an open statement condemning the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong, and urging the CCP to immediately release all illegally detained Falun Gong practitioners. The statement also called on the Canadian government to stop the current ineffective bilateral human rights dialogue, but take real, active and effective measures to urge the CCP regime to allow the international organizations to investigate all detention centers, forced labor camps, hospitals and mental hospitals where Falun Gong practitioners have been illegally incarcerated. The statement further called on the Canadian government to refuse to issue permits for broadcasting to the nine TV stations that are controlled by the CCP, and spread hate propaganda.

Former MP Simma Holt, who is a veteran reporter with 30 years of experience, made a speech at the rally. She repeatedly thanked Falun Gong practitioners, saying that Falun Gong practitioners are speaking on behalf of all free people in today's world. When the crimes of killing human beings are happening, nobody is safe. The (CCP's) persecution of Falun Gong and live organ harvesting constitute the crime of genocide in this new era. As a reporter, she strongly called on the media to take a positive role in exposing the evil.

Former MP Simma Holt makes a speech at the rally

Representative of Province of British Columbia General Union Fred Muzin makes a speech

A representative of the Province of British Columbia General Union, Fred Muzin, on behalf of 1100 subordinate unions and 470,000 employees, made a speech. He expressed that we can absolutely not remain silent facing crimes of mass killing of human beings and human organ harvesting for profit. The General Union has been calling on all kinds of human rights groups. Today, he would like to stand with Falun Gong practitioners to call on the Canadian government to not allow trade to override human rights, morality and justice. He also wanted to know about the sources for organ transplant and stop the crime of live organ harvesting. Mr. Muzin appreciated Falun Gong practitioners' courage and unremitting efforts for justice and dignity.

Mr. Muzin said that the members of Parliament will continue bringing forward the live organ harvesting incident at the parliament, and request the government to take action, and at the same time we should also do a lot of work to let MPs, citizens and the public learn about the current evil happenings in mainland China.

MPs from three Parties wrote letters to express their support for the rally, and concern over the CCP's harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners.

Bill Silsay from the New Democratic Party said that he was deeply disturbed by the report recently released by former MP David Kilgour and human rights lawyer David Matas. Their report requested the Canadian government to take measures to stop such crimes from continuing. He expressed that MPs of the New Democratic Party requested the United Nations, Amnesty International and other organizations to continue conducting investigations into this matter without any interference, and called on the Canadian government to exert pressure on China to immediately stop these atrocities.

MP Nina Grewal from the Conservative Party said in her letter that we cannot accept live organ harvesting. The Conservative Party government is substantially and carefully looking into these allegations. Foreign Minister Peter Mackay has requested the United Nations, human rights organizations and countries sharing the same intention to work together to conduct the investigations.

Ms. Grewal said that their position is clear: all persecution against Chinese Falun Gong practitioners should be stopped immediately, and investigations should be conducted into the allegations of live organ harvesting.

After the rally, participants held a grand parade. From downtown to Chinatown, the parade procession was solemn and serious. Falun Gong practitioners dressed in white suit, and all parade participants wore white flowers in front of their chests. Former MP Simma Holt and representative of Province of British Columbia General Union participated in the parade from beginning to end.

Simma Holt in parade procession

Reenactment exposing the CCP's live organ harvesting

people watching the parade

Many people in Vancouver learned about the investigative report from TV reports. Seeing the parade, they looked very serious, took the material and silently stood at roadside watching the parade procession march by. Chinese people in Chinatown, in particular, had obvious changes in their attitudes. They no longer had an indifferent attitude towards a Falun Gong parade, but watched attentively as the parade procession passed by.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2006/7/17/133231.html