MP's & Senators Welcome "SOS! Global Rescue Walkers" who Arrive in Ottawa Sept. 27

September 25, 2001

Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal -- On September 27, 2001, M.P. and Vice-Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee Ms. Colleen Beaumier, together with other MP's, Senators and Falun Gong supporters, will have a welcome ceremony for two teams who walked from Toronto and Montreal to Ottawa to call for the intervention of the Canadian government to end the persecution of Falun Gong in China. The walkers will present over 80,000 signatures of support from Canadians. Ms. Beaumier will host a news conference for the walkers inside the Parliament Hill.

During their 20-day walk, 16 more death cases of Falun Gong practitioners in China have been reported. The Falun Gong supporters will rally all day on the Hill September 27^th to bring urgent awareness to this issue.

Prime Minister Jean Chretian will be visiting China next month.

Welcoming Ceremony

Time: 12:30pm -- 2:00pm, Thursday, September 27

Place: On the Parliament Hill, Ottawa

News Conference

Time: 1:00pm --1:30pm, Thursday, September 27

Place: Charles Lynch Conference Room, 130-S Center Block, Parliament Building, Ottawa

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From September 22 to September 27, Montreal artist Jingyu Li has been holding an appeal on the Hill for her husband detained in Chinese labour camp.

Lizhi He, husband of one of the Toronto walkers Li Zhang, is serving 3.5-year prison term for sending Falun Gong materials to colleagues.

Background

Inspired by the courage and heart of Falun Gong practitioners in China, on September 7th and 14th, five women from Toronto and six people from Montreal began a journey on foot to Ottawa to gather support from Canadians. The walkers wish to present a strong and urgent appeal to the Prime Minister who is visiting China next month. They are calling for the intervention of the Canadian government to end the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China who continue to persevere for their belief in the principles of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance."

Yuxue Li, a 54-year old grandmother, and Li Zhang, a landed immigrant whose husband has been sentenced to a 3.5-year jail term in China for practicing Falun Gong, are among these courageous walkers.

This is part of the "SOS! Global RescueWalk" that is taking place in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

Contact: MP Ms. Colleen Beaumier

Lucy Zhou Ottawa;

Cindy Gu Toronto