The Concordia Student Union is requesting your participation and cooperation in our current campaign to secure the release one of our students from incarceration in China. Ying Zhu, a permanent resident of Canada and full-time Concordia student, was arrested on May 10th, 2001 when she returned to China to visit her ailing mother. Ying's only crime, as reported by the Hong Kong Human Rights Centre, was her faith in Falun Gong.
The Draconian measures employed by the Chinese Government in their fight to "eliminate" Falun Gong, which have already led to the death of over 221 innocent citizens in police custody and labour camps, cannot go without condemnation. (see attachment #7)
Please help us spread the information about Ying's case around your organization and University. We hope that our united efforts can help secure Ying's release so that she can return to Canada and resume her studies at Concordia as soon as possible. Your support is on the basis of human rights and does not entail your support for the views or beliefs of Falun Gong.
We ask your organization to inform yourselves, and to please take action! It can be as easy as forwarding the information in this e-mail to your Faculty, Clubs, Associations, etc. You can also write a letter from your organization, using the information and samples provided in the attachments. Please also join Falun Gong's signature campaign. Completed petitions can be returned to our offices (see attachment #3 for the address).
The following attachments should provide you with the information you need. Contact us if you would like more information or have any suggestions.
Thank You,
Genevieve Page
Concordia Student Union
Attachment 1: Cross-party coalition of MPs calls for release of Ying Zhu
Attachment 2: Letter to the Ambassador from the Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University
Attachment 3: A letter to the Chinese Ambassador from the Concordia Student Union (CSU).
Attachment 4: Speech by Amnesty International Secretary General
Attachment 5: Contact information for the Canadian Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Chinese officials.
Attachment 6: Introductory information on Falun Dafa.
Attachment 7: The brutal persecution of Falun Gong in China.
Attachment 8: PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED
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Attachment 1:
Cross-party coalition of MPs calls for release of Ying Zhu á OTTAWA May 31
The cross-party coalition of MPs held a news conference today, along with Xun Li of Falun Gong and Alex Neve of Amnesty International. They urged the Chinese government to release Ms. Zhu immediately and to return her safely to Canada, where she has been a landed immigrant since 1997.
"As Canadian members of Parliament, we feel that it is our obligation to stand up for the rights of all Canadians, and to ensure that they are not victims of arbitrary justice or injustice by foreign powers. Persecution for religious or spiritual beliefs is utterly unacceptable; we decry such abuse of individual civil liberties and human rights, and urge the Minister of Foreign Affairs to personally intervene," said the group.
The Montreal resident travelled to China earlier this month to visit her family, when she was arrested by the Public Security Bureau in Guang Zhou, Guang Dong province, on May 10. All sources of information indicate that she has committed no crime, and was arrested simply for being a practitioner of Falun Gong.
Ying Zhu is a prisoner of conscience and is being detained without just cause. MPs Cotler, Reid, Lalonde, Davies and Casey have stated that they will continue to raise awareness of her imprisonment, and urge all like-minded Canadians to join them in calling upon Chinese authorities to release her unconditionally.
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For further information, contact:
Irwin Cotler, MP (613) 995-0121
Scott Reid, MP (613) 947-2277
Francine Lalonde, MP (613) 995-6327
Libby Davies, MP (613) 992-6030
Bill Casey, MP (613) 992-3366
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Attachment 2:
Letter to the Chinese Ambassador from Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University
His Excellency Ping Mei
Ambassador of the People's Republic of China
515 St. Patrick Street
Ottawa, ON
K1N 5H3
Dear Mr. Ambassador:
It has come to my attention that a Concordia student, Ms. Zhu Ying, has been arrested on May 24, 2001 on her way from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. According to the information I was given she was arrested because she is a Falun Gong practitioner.
I am writing now to request that you do whatever possible to secure Ms. Zhu's release. As Rector and Vice-Chancellor of this University I am greatly disturbed to learn of the imprisonment of one of our students. As you know, Mr. Ambassador, Concordia University has longstanding and mutually satisfactory relationship with several Chinese universities. We were very pleased, earlier this year, to be able to sign agreements of cooperation with six Chinese institutions of higher learning and we look forward to developing joint programs with them. It would be most unfortunate if the detention of one of our students were to affect these mutually productive academic relationships.
I would be most grateful if you would inform me as soon as possible concerning Ms. Zhu's condition and when she will be released.
Yours sincerely,
Signature
Frederuc H. Lowy
Rector and Vice-Chancellor
c.c.: Hon. John Manley, PC
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Int'l. Trade
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Attachment 3: Letter to the Chinese Ambassador from the Concordia Student Union
Concordia Student Union 1455 de Maisonneuve, Ouest
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1M8 Tel: (514) 848-7474
Mr. Ping Mei
Ambassador of the People's Republic of China
515 St. Patrick Street
Ottawa, ON
K1N 5H3
Re: Ying Zhu's release
Dear Mr. Ambassador,
The Concordia Student Union is greatly concerned about the disappearance and arrest of one of our students, Ying Zhu. As an active member of our community, Ying has contributed much to student life at Concordia.
Since Falun Dafa is a recognized student club, news of the persecution in China is unacceptable. We call on you to release Ying Zhu immediately and ask you to stop all the violations and abuses of the fundamental human rights perpetrated against political dissidents, religious groups and Falun Dafa practitioners in China. We also condemn the extension of all forms of repression by the Chinese government outside its borders.
Different means of pressure will be deployed until the release of Ying Zhu is secured. We will be anticipating concrete signs of your cooperation soon in order to resolve this issue. As representatives of Ying Zhu and all other concerned Concordia students, we ask for information on her whereabouts and we demand her immediate release.
Waiting,
Sabrina Stea- President Genevieve Page- Vice-President External
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Attacnment 4: Letter from Amnesty International Secretary General- Alex Neve
Speech by Alex Neve,
Secretary General of Amnesty International of Canada
May 31 Press Conference
When will China finally be persuaded to live up to its obligations to protect the basic human rights of its citizens?
When will the relentless Campaign of persecution of Falun Gong followers in China come to an end?
When will Canadian citizens, permanent residents and relatives of Canadians, who choose to practice Falun Gong, be able to live in or visit China without fear of being arrested, detained, tortured and of possibly even dying as a result?
China's record of human rights persecution continues to be abysmal. The international community, including Canada, continues to bear the shame of failing to decisively take China to task for that record.
And today we have news that among the many thousands and thousands who continue to suffer repression in China, a Canadian permanent resident, Zhu Ying, everything points to the almost inescapable conclusion that she was arrested in China, probably 3 weeks ago, because of her adherence to Falun Gong. AI has every reason to believe she may be a Prisoner of Conscience, imprisoned because of her beliefs.
And we knew as well that Canadian citizen Li Jinyu's husband remains in detention, again because of his Falun Gong beliefs.
These cases with Canadian connections must be an absolute priority for the Canadian government. Once again we call on the government to do more to ensure that the rights of, not only Zhu Ying and Lin Shenli - Li Jinyu's husband, all respected; but also that the repressive crackdown against Falun Gong comes to an end and that China ensures that the basic rights and freedom of all its citizens all consistently upheld.
Now is not the time to be shy,
Now is not the time to think only of trade,
Now is not the time to worry about Olympic bids;
Now is the time for rights!
We know that pressure can make a difference we witnessed that in the release of Canadian citizen and Falun Gong follower Prof. Kunlun Zhang.
But as the thousands, possibly tens of thousands of detained Falun Gong practitioners to mounts; as the systematic torture of Falun Gong practitioner continues; as the number of Falun Gong followers who have died following torture grows.
Now is not the time for silence;
Now is the time for rights!
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Attachment 5: Contact information for Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chinese Officials
Prime Minister of Canada
Langevin Block, 80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A2
Telephone: (613) 992-4211
Fax: (613) 995-0101
Email: pm@pm.gc.ca
Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Manley
Lester B. Pearson Building, A-10 125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0G2
Telephone: (613) 995-1851
Fax: (613) 996-3443
MP addresses :
http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/SenatorsMembers_house.asp?Language=E&Parl=37&Ses=1&Sect=hoccur
House of Commons
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6
Chinese Embassy in Canada
Ambassador Ping Mei
515 St. Patrick Street
Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 5H3
Fax: (613) 789-1414e-mail: cooffice@buildlink.com
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of PRC
webmaster@FMPRC.gov.cn
Guangdong Province: gd_gov@gd.gov.cn
Chinese government: infonavi@mx.cei.gov.cn
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Attachment 6: Introductory information on Falun Dafa.
FALUN DAFA: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
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Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong) is a cultivation practice. It combines five sets of gentle exercises and meditation with mind, body, and spirit cultivating guided by "Truth, Compassion and Forbearance" in our daily lives.
Falun Gong is neither religious nor political, as it does not have any political agenda or religious rituals. There is no membership, in the same way that one can practice Taichi but not actually be a part of any organization. There are no restrictions or obligations imposed on anyone, people can join or leave anytime. For those who want to learn, the teaching is always open to everyone and free of charge. Practitioners understand that the wish to uplift the soul is something deeply personal and can never be imposed upon anyone.
Falun Gong teaches practitioners to always look within themselves for self-improvement and to take responsibility for their own decisions and actions. Practitioners work hard for honest pay and aim to behave as good people in all situations and circumstances. Many people have turned away from drugs, alcohol, violence, and other bad habits since learning Falun Gong. Some families have become harmonious again after taking the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to heart. Practitioners feel peaceful, energized, and refreshed after practicing and almost every practitioner can describe how their health has improved.
Owing much to its effectiveness in improving health as well as its profound principles, Falun Gong has proven to be immensely popular throughout the entire world. Since being introduced to the general public in 1992 by its founder Mr. Li Hongzhi, Falun Gong has attracted 100 million people in over 40 countries.
Should you need any information about Falun Dafa, please visit the websites, www.falundafa.org or www.faluncanada.net, or call toll free 1-866-FALUN-CA. To join Falun Dafa, please find a local practitioner or practice site. Any practitioner would be glad to be of assistance. Hope to see you in our practice site next time.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------Attachment 7: The brutal persecution of Falun Gong in China.
The government of the People's Republic of China banned the practice of Falun Gong on July 22,1999 and began a brutal and relentless crackdown on millions of Falun Gong practitioners, which continues unceasingly up to the present;
Whereas, according to the world media and human rights groups, as of May 31, 2001:
- tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been detained;
- at least 25,000 Falun Gong practitioners have been sent to labor camps without trial;
- some 600 mentally healthy people have been forced into psychiatric facilities where they are administered anti-psychotic or sedative drugs and electric shocks;
- over 450 Falun Gong practitioners have been put on show-trials and given disproportionately long sentences of up to 18 years in prison;
- many practitioners are beaten, tortured, humiliated, or otherwise mistreated while in detention;
- as of May 31, 2001, 219 Falun Gong practitioners have died from maltreatment received while in police custody;
- tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners in China have been deprived of the rights to education, employment, and state housing for refusing to give up their beliefs; and
- millions of Falun Gong books, videotapes, and audiotapes have been confiscated and destroyed;
The Wall Street Journal April 20, 2000 WEIFANG, China "Practicing Falun Gong Was a Right, Ms. Chen Said, up to Her Last Day" By Ian Johnson, April 20, 2000 WEIFANG, China -- ...The day before Chen Zixiu died, her captors again demanded that she renounce her faith in Falun Dafa. Barely conscious after repeated jolts from a cattle prod, the 58-year-old stubbornly shook her head. // Enraged, the local officials ordered Ms. Chen to run barefoot in the snow. Two days of torture had left her legs bruised and her short black hair matted with pus and blood, said cellmates and other prisoners who witnessed the incident. She crawled outside, vomited and collapsed. She never regained consciousness, and died on Feb. 21...
AP (Beijing) -- Su Gang, a 32-year-old computer engineer, was in fine health before he was sent to the hospital on May 23...Su died of heart failure on June 10, less than two weeks after his release, the Hong Kong-based Information Center said. While detained in the hospital, Su was forcibly given daily injections of nerve-damaging medicines, it said.
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Despite the unprecedented suppression by the Chinese government, Falun Gong practitioners still follow the principles of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance. No matter where they are, they endure silently and compassionately, bearing no hatred towards anyone. In some jails, their great endurance and enormous kindness have even moved many hardened criminals to tears. Thus, many of the prisoners have abandoned their bad ways and are now practicing Falun Gong.
As the suppression goes on, more and more good people are in danger of abuse and death. We call for support from all kindhearted people in the world to help us to stop the brutal suppression of the peaceful practitioners in China. Your support can make a difference.
For more information about the situation in China, please visit: www.faluninfo.net
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Attachment 8:
PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED
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Category: People in China Awaken to the Truth
