Canada: MP David Kilgour Writes to the President of China Calling for the Immediate Release of Lawyer Guo Guoting
Honorable David Kilgour
(Clearwisdom.net) On March 30, 2005, Honorable David Kilgour, Member of Parliament of Canada, wrote to Hu Jingtao, the President of the People's Republic of China, calling upon the head of state to take action to ensure Mr. Guo Guoting's immediate release and the return of his license to practice law and his possessions. Lawyer Guo Guoting was detained simply due to his involvement in the case of a Falun Gong practitioner.
Hon. David Kilgour said in the letter: "Mr. Guo Guoting, the lawyer in Shanghai, has lost the freedom and right to practice law as a result of his work as a lawyer defending justice and basic human rights. This undoubtedly constitutes a violation of international standards. Lawyers such as Mr. Guo should not be penalized for simply fulfilling their duties and exercising the freedom of expression that is supposed to be protected under the Chinese constitution."
Hon. Kilgour wrote: "I understand that Mr. Guo's involvement in the case of Falun Gong practitioner Qu Yanlai has placed him in his current difficulties. I have personally met a number of Falun Gong practitioners in Canada and have found them to be a very peaceful group. Their principles of truth, compassion and forbearance are beneficial both to themselves and to Canadian society as well."
"The brutality of the persecution of Falun Gong in China indicated and the lack of legal representation and protection of practitioners' rights was deeply troubling."
"In the circumstances, if correct, Mr. Guo's courage is admirable and his case has been widely reported by overseas media."
Hon. Kilgour said at the end of the letter: "I call upon you, as Head of State, to take action to ensure Guo Guoting's immediate release and the return of his license and possessions. I also urge you to act swiftly to redress this miscarriage of justice towards lawyers in China. I look forward to your response with respect to this important matter."
Below is the text of the letter.
OTTAWA, March 30, 2005.
His Excellency the Hon. Hu Jintao
President of the People's Republic of China
Zhongnanhai
Beijing, PRC
100017
Your Excellency,
As former Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific, and a non-practicing lawyer myself, I write to express my concern about Mr. Guo Guoting, the lawyer in Shanghai, who has lost the freedom and right to practice law as a result of his work as a lawyer defending justice and basic human rights. This undoubtedly constitutes a violation of international standards.
The Shanghai Judicial Bureau has evidently revoked Mr. Guo's law license and confiscated his computer, which contains files reflecting over 20 years of legal practice. He is currently under detention and criminal investigation, all having occurred following his involvement in a number of human rights and civil rights cases in the legal defense of journalists, cyber-dissidents, Falun Gong practitioners, a fellow civil rights lawyer and the publication of articles on the internet on related issues.
If your government wishes to establish the rule of law in Chinese society, every citizen must be protected under China's constitution and laws, both in published legislation and in practice. Lawyers such as Mr. Guo should not be penalized for simply fulfilling their duties and exercising the freedom of expression that is supposed to be protected under the Chinese constitution.
I understand that Mr. Guo's involvement in the case of Falun Gong practitioner Qu Yanlai has placed him in his current difficulties. I have personally met a number of Falun Gong practitioners in Canada and have found them to be a very peaceful group. Their principles of truth, compassion and forbearance are beneficial both to themselves and to Canadian society as well.
Falun Gong representatives have made presentations before the House of Commons' Sub-Committee on Human Rights and International Development on two occasions. The brutality of the persecution of Falun Gong in China indicated and the lack of legal representation and protection of practitioners' rights was deeply troubling. Canadians have great difficulty comprehending the desire of any government to suppress legitimate religious or spiritual activities. Last December, I sent one of the subcommittee presentations to your Excellency for your attention and requested action to end the mistreatment of Falun Gong practitioners across China.
As I understand, very few lawyers in China dare to take on the legal defense of Falun Gong practitioners due to fear of persecution. In the circumstances, if correct, Mr. Guo's courage is admirable and his case has been widely reported by overseas media.
It is disheartening as well to learn that Mr. Guo's case is only one among many other instances of human rights lawyers being harassed, threatened and or arrested in China. In most countries, these professionals are considered to be an integral part of society. Please consider the alternative that these professionals can be the champions of upholding the rule of law in China.
I call upon you, as Head of State, to take action to ensure Guo Guoting's immediate release and the return of his license and possessions. I also urge you to act swiftly to redress this miscarriage of justice towards lawyers in China. I look forward to your response with respect to this important matter.
Thank you.
Hon. David Kilgour, M.P.
CC: Mr. Zhang Fusen
Minister of Justice
10 Nandajie,
Beijing, People's Republic of China
Postcode: 100020
CC: Mr. Miao Xiaobao
Director of Shanghai Judicial Bureau
225 Wuxing Road
Shanghai, People's Republic of China
Postcode: 200030
CC: Mr. Guo Guoting
Tian-yee Law Firm
Suite 1025-1027, Dongfang Mansion,
1500 Century Avenue,
Shanghai, People's Republic of China
Postcode: 200122