(Clearwisdom.net, September 24, 2003) Ottawa -- On September 18, Falun Gong
practitioners, Mr. Rob Anders, M.P., and the World Organization to Investigate
the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) held a press conference on the hill to
expose wide spread hate crimes and interference in Canada by Chinese diplomats.
Toronto Falun Gong practitioner Joel Chipkar relates
the persecution he and his family members have encountered
Canadian MP, Mr. Rob Anders condemns the Chinese
diplomats for spreading hatred in Canada
For the past 4 years Chinese embassy and consulates in Canada are being used as tools to silence support for Falun Gong overseas by displaying hate pictures in their public visa offices, manipulating Chinese media to slander Falun Gong and pressuring our government officials and communities to not support Canadian Falun Gong practitioners.
MP Rob Anders, who was asked to withdraw his support for Falun Gong, stated, "These activities are inconsistent with a diplomat's function and DFAIT should be looking into whether the diplomats actions could be construed as a serious breach of diplomatic conduct."
Toronto businessman Joel Chipkar, who has recently sued Deputy Consul General Pan Xinchun of the Toronto Chinese Consulate for libel, stated, "I grew up as white Canadian in West Toronto, I never knew what discrimination meant. Now I fear for the safety of my family."
"We have submitted a complaint to the Toronto and Ottawa Police Departments for review by the Hate Crimes Division. These hate crimes by foreign officials are mocking our Canadian values and ridiculing our Charter of rights, said Mr. Chipkar.
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The Ontario Human Rights Commission is currently investigating many cases of discrimination due to pressure from the Chinese consulate, including a woman who was fired from her job because she practiced Falun Gong and a man who was kicked out of a Chinese shopping center because he wore a Falun Gong t-shirt.
Matt Hildebrand, a spokesperson for the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG), an international non profit organization, said, "We support actions to stop hate incitement, propaganda, and harassment in Canada.á We believe them to be harmful to society.á" He continued, "Our organization is gathering information and evidence. It is important to hold those who are responsible to account, and ultimately ending a foreign government's unlawful actions on Canadian soil."
