FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18th, 2001
Statement by Scott Reid, MP
Press Conference in support of Falun Gong, marking Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's
departure for APEC conference in Shanghai, China
It is an honour to join you today to speak in defence of freedom, and in defence of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. These three principles are universally recognized as an ideal foundation for human behaviour and interaction, yet in China, these three principles are considered a threat to the state, and an excuse for persecution, torture, and murder.
We are all gathered here to call attention to the gross abuses of human rights which occur in China, and in particular to the persecution of Falun Gong. I would like to speak particularly about two individuals who are victims of the Falun Gong crackdown by the Chinese government. They are both people with a connection to Canada, and are a wake-up call to Canadians that these things do happen to people we know -- to people who have families here in Canada, and who may be neighbours of ours.
Shenli Lin was arrested in China in January 2000 for practicing Falun Gong, and was sentenced without trial to 18 months in a labour camp. In July of this year, on the day when Shenli Lin was supposed to be released, his wife Jinyu Li was informed that Shenli Lin's sentence had been arbitrarily extended by six months. Jinyu Li is a Canadian citizen, and had been attempting to process her husband's immigration to Canada since before his initial arrest 20 months ago. Shenli Lin continues his plight, and Amnesty International recognizes him as a prisoner of conscience.
Jinyu Li is continuing the SOS Walk, raising awareness of her husband's case and of the persecution of Falun Gong in China, and she is with us here today.
The second person whom I wish to mention is Lizhi He. Lizhe He was arrested on July 21 by the Chinese Public Security Bureau, and sentenced at a show trial. His offence was that he mailed material about Falun Gong in response to official propaganda demonizing the movement. Lizhe He's wife, Li Zhang, is a landed immigrant of Canada.
I also applaud the courage of Li Zhang, who participated in the SOS Walk from Toronto to Ottawa in September of this year. I am honoured that she could join us today.
Many people have asked me if it is realistic for us to hope that we can bring about change in China. Change will not occur overnight, but I feel that in the meantime, if we can help even one victim of state persecution, then it is well worth our while.
Just under a year ago, on a similar occasion, MPs from all parties gathered in support of Professor Kunlun Zhang -- another Canadian who was being held by Chinese authorities. We were successful in securing Professor Zhang's release because then, as now, our Prime Minister was embarking on a trade mission to China. It was easier for the Chinese authorities to relieve themselves of this potential embarrassment while asking for greater Canadian business investment and expanded access to our markets, than it was to make such requests while illegally holding a Canadian citizen whose only crime was to dedicate himself to the values of truth, compassion and forbearance.
This past summer, we also saw the release of Ying Zhu, who returned to Canada after more than a month in detention in Guang Dong Province, simply for practicing Falun Gong. Here again, when we raised awareness, held rallies, and wrote letters to the Chinese ambassador, there was a response. Ying Zhu was released.
Today, as Prime Minister Jean Chrétien leaves for Shanghai to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum, I ask that he raise the matter of Falun Gong persecution, and that he impress upon his Chinese hosts that entry to the International Community does not entail just limited market reforms, but that it also requires social freedom -- freedom of religion, freedom of association, freedom of speech, and freedom of conscience. It is only with such freedoms that we can hope to see an end in China to the persecution of Falun Gong, of Muslims in Chinese Central Asia, and of Chinese Christians, and with this a new age of Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance.
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Category: People in China Awaken to the Truth
