Issued by Clearwisdom Net

On September 9, 2005, Canada Prime Minster Martin raised the issue of Falun Gong during his meeting with Hu Jintao. On the evening of September 8, Stephen Harper, leader of the Official Opposition, shook hands and talked with practitioners appealing in front of the Governor General's Office. He encouraged the practitioners to "Keep up all the good work."

Appealing in front of Parliament

Appealing in front of Canadian Museum of Civilization

Canadian government and the public pay attention to Falun Gong during Hu Jintao's visit

On the morning of September 9, during the joint press conference of the two leaders, Prime Minster Martin said he had a thorough discussion with Hu on human rights and governance of a country and raised the Falun Gong issue. He believed that better governance of a country needs better understanding of human rights.

At 6 p.m. on September 8, Stephen Harper, leader of the Official Opposition, stopped at the practitioners' appeal site on his way to attend dinner in the Governor General's Office. He shook hands with each practitioner on site and said "Keep up all the good work."

On the morning of September 9, Roger Clavet, the critic of Asia-Pacific of Bloc Québécois and Member of Parliament (MP), showed up at practitioners' appeal site in front of Parliament and had a group photo with practitioners. He said that he would meet Hu Jintao in a while and would raise the issue of Falun Gong. MP David Kilgour went to Parliament to support the practitioners.

Hu Jintao evades the issue of the persecution of Falun Gong, but Canadian media focuses on it

During the press conference on September 9, the first question that reporters asked was China's human rights issue including the persecution of Falun Gong. Hu Jintao replied to other questions but did not address the issue of the persecution of Falun Gong.

The editorial of Ottawa Citizen on September 9 stated that Prime Minister "should speak about the ongoing persecution of the practitioners of Falun Gong."

The editorial stated that "Human rights, not trade and investment, should dominate the agenda when Prime Minister Paul Martin meets Chinese President Hu Jintao today."

The editorial stated that Canadian's attitude towards China's human rights "isn't hard enough or sharp enough to make an impact on the Chinese regime. Mr. Hu's visit gives Mr. Martin an opportunity to speak loudly, firmly and publicly about specific violations."

The editorial stated that the Prime Minister "should speak about China's embrace of 21st-century forms of restriction on freedom of speech, including the monitoring of online dissidents and journalists and the creation of selective Internet search software that serves as anti-democracy censorship."

The editorial stated that the Prime Minister "should, instead, see this visit as a chance to put human rights front and centre. Canada's trade relationship with China should not stop Mr. Martin from frank and public criticism of the Chinese regime."

In addition, Globe and Mail, 24 Hours Vancouver, Vancouver Sun, and CTV also focused on China's human rights issues including the persecution of Falun Gong in covering Hu Jintao's visit of Canada.

In the morning of September 8, Chinese President Hu Jintao and his delegation arrived in Ottawa in a thunderstorm. Practitioners from all over Canada and several U.S. cities held public appeals at the Ottawa Airport, the hotel where Hu is to stay and the Governor General's office (Rideau Hall). Taking this opportunity, practitioners urged Hu to end the persecution. To let their voices be heard and raise awareness of the persecution, they displayed banners such as "Bring Jiang Zemin, Luo Gan, Liu Jing and Zhou Yongkang to Justice," "Bring Policemen and Thugs Responsible for the Persecution of Falun Gong to Justice," "Chinese Communist Party: Stop the Persecution of Falun Gong," "Hu Jintao: The Time Given to You by Heaven's and the People's Mandate is Limited." Bo Xilai, one of the chief culprits responsible for the persecution and thus monitored by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), was seen in Hu's delegation.

Hu landed at Ottawa in a thunderstorm

Hu's car passed by practitioners' banners

Bo Xilai, who is on the List of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, was not found in Hu's Delegation

The morning of September 8 in Ottawa was exceptionally gloomy and cold. When Hu and his delegation landed at Ottawa Airport in heavy rain, people didn't see the face of Bo Xilai, the Minister of Commerce. Bo is on the list of 45 perpetrators of torture and other crimes against humanity against Falun Gong practitioners in China, submitted to the Canadian War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity Program in September 2003 and January, 2004. Reportedly, Bo's name was included in the list of Hu's delegation. However, his name disappeared from that list on September 8 and he was not seen during Hu's activities on the same day.

Bo Xilai was former Vice Secretary of the Liaoning Party Committee, Governor of Liaoning Province, Secretary of the 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 and made Liaoning one of the provinces that persecute Falun Gong the most rampantly. Considering the severity of Bo's crimes, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) added his name to a watch list of 45 Chinese officials guilty of persecution of Falun Gong.

Human rights lawyer David Matas wrote to the relevant Canadian officials on August 25 to ask the Canadian Government to deny Bo Xilai and another Chinese official Xia Deren visas. Mr. Matas pointed out that based on Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program, one would be denied entry to Canada if he were found guilty of crimes against humanity. He said that if such officials were allowed to enter Canada, it's sending a message that Canada condones genocide and human rights persecution. He said that Canada must act according to the international human rights agreement and Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program. Victims of such crimes should not be left to fend for themselves.

Practitioner Xueye Zhu said, Bo's absence tells the world that he can't defend himself against the mounting evidence of his crimes.

Hu Jintao Has to Make a Choice

Practitioners' appeal in front of the Governor General's office (Rideau Hall)

No matter where Hu's motorcade went, it faced practitioners who were holding banners in the rain.

It was reported that Jiang Zemin, Luo Gan, Liu Jing and Zhou Yongkang are also on the RCMP's list, which includes Chinese officials from each level of Party Committees, "610 Offices," local governments and forced labor camps that are responsible for the persecution of Falun Gong. According to Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program - CAHWCP, if anyone on the list attempts to enter Canada, a prompt investigation could take place, potentially resulting in refusal of visas to Canada, deportation, charges and punishment based on Canada's laws governing crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Practitioner Shigong Wang said: "Hu Jintao, who is now the top leader of the Chinese Communist party, is facing a choice. If he chooses to violate people's wishes and the will of heaven to continue the persecution, he will not only face disgrace but also grave punishment and a tragic future. If he can grasp the opportunity to end the persecution and completely break from the evil party, he may become a positive historic figure. However, his time is running out."

USA: Bo Xilai (Criminal)

On September 8, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners filed a criminal complaint with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York against BoXilai, former Governor of Liaoning Province of China for torture of Falun Gong practitioners in Liaoning Province in violation of U.S. criminal law. The complaint calls for a prompt criminal investigation and indictment of Bo Xilai.

The criminal complaint was filed under 18 U.S.C. Section 2340 that requires the prosecution of those who engage in acts of torture in foreign countries, as well as those who incite such acts by others. The legal bases also include UN Convention against Torture.

The complaint was filed by Terri Marsh, Esq., Executive Director of Human Rights Law Project based in Washington D.C. and Lana Han, Esq., Executive Director of International Advocates for Justice based in New York.

http://flgjustice.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=595&Itemid=353

On Sunday August 14, Falun Gong practitioners participated in the San Rocco celebration activity held in Magnano. Every year, the Virgin Mary Ascension Day is held in this medieval city.

One day before the activity, two Chinese Falun Gong practitioners wrote down "Falun Dafa" in Chinese and Italian on top of yellow umbrellas. In front of the banner with the words "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance" were petition signature collection tables and Falun Gong leaflets in various languages.

When practitioners were setting up display boards exposing the persecution and cruel torture happening in China, owners of the stores in the neighborhood could not wait to ask questions. When they saw the photos of how practitioners are cruelly tortured by Chinese Communist Party officials (CCP), they were all shocked and could hardly believe that such things still happen in the world today. A great number of people signed their names on the petition calling for an end to the persecution without hesitation and gave their best wishes to us. The storeowners came to the stand one after another. Almost all of the store owners came to ask questions and get Falun Gong flyers.

Peaceful practice in the face of brutal persecution: Many people stopped to learn more

More and more people came in the afternoon, and practitioners told them about Falun Gong and the human rights abuses against practitioners in China. People expressed their sympathy and sincere sorrow. The cruel torture and the beauty of Falun Gong cast a vivid contrast. Fellow practitioners gave balloons reading, "Falun Gong is Good" in different colors to little children.

When the activity ended, the city's Mayor came to the display stand to personally express thanks to the Falun Gong practitioners.