MP Scott Reid's Statement: Falun Gong Practitioner Zhu Ying Freed by China

June 21^st, 2001

OTTAWA Scott Reid, MP for Lanark-Carleton, applauded the cross-party pressure campaign for helping to free Ying Zhu, the Montreal resident and Falun Gong practitioner who had been arrested in China last May.

"I am relieved beyond words that Ms. Zhu has been freed by Chinese authorities. I have reports that Ms. Zhu has been released, and that she arrived in Montreal at 1:00 AM this morning, unharmed."

The Canadian permanent resident was travelling to China in May of this year to visit her family, when she was arrested by the Public Security Bureau in Guang Zhou, Guang Dong province, on May 10. She had committed no crime other than practicing Falun Gong in Canada. Mr. Reid organized a joint news conference on May 31^st with Members of Parliament of all recognized political parties in order to call for her release; the same cross-party coalition has since sent a letter to Chinese Ambassador Mei Ping, requesting a meeting to discuss Ying Zhu's arrest and detention.

"It is reassuring to see that by raising awareness and embarrassing rogue governments, we can have some impact. Ying Zhu has been released, but another Canadian resident, Shenli Lin arrested in Beijing one and a half years ago for practicing Falun Gong still awaits his freedom," added Reid.

"I wish to thank my parliamentary colleagues, in particular Irwin Cotler, Francine Lalonde, Libby Davies, and Bill Casey, for helping to take up Ying Zhu's cause and for their continuing efforts in defense of human rights," concluded Reid.