Canada: Press Conference Held to Rescue Falun Gong Practitioner Mr. Ma Jian

On March 24th, 2007, Ms. Yao Lian held a press conference in Montreal and called on the international community to help rescue her husband, Falun Gong practitioner Ma Jian, who was illegally arrested by the CCP. Mr. Sushil Handa from Amnesty International's Montreal Branch attended the meeting and called on the international community to pay attention to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China and the CCP's violation of the international human rights covenant. The CBC French Broadcasting Station participated in the press conference.

Sushil Handa from Amnesty International's Montreal Branch (first from left) and Yao Lian (second from right), wife of Falun Gong practitioner Ma Jian

Ma Jian was arrested for no reason and there is great concern for his safety

Ma Jian is a general manager with the French company PCM in China and Northern Asia. Ms. Yao Lian explained at the press conference, "Ma Jian was taken away on February 28th from his office in Beijing after being beaten by the police. His whereabouts is not known. The PCM company, through the French Embassy in Beijing, contacted the Beijing police department and asked about the reason for Ma Jian's arrest. There was no response."

Ms. Yao said, "The arrest of Ma Jian has gravely affected PCM's Beijing office. The office is allowed to send documents to Dongcheng Police Department, which would transfer them to Ma Jian. But an official in the department said firmly that Ma Jian was not there when I called. Thus, Ma Jian's whereabouts is still not known."

Ms. Yao continued, "My latest news is that my parents were notified by the police department to go to Dongcheng Police Department. After they arrived, they were asked to sign an arrest document for Ma Jian. The arrest date on the document was many days after February 28th. My parents refused to sign."

The host of the press conference said that Falun Gong practitioners in China suffer brutal persecution, including detention, beatings, brainwashing, torture, forced labour, and even having their organs harvested while still alive. He worried about Ma Jian's safety.

Ms. Yao said that Ma Jian was once sentenced to forced labour camp for one and half years for continuing to practise Falun Gong. She herself was arrested many times and sent to a brainwashing session. She could not imagine what torture and persecution Ma Jian would face this time.

Chinese attorneys cannot help Ma Jian

Ms. Yao said, "After Ma Jian was arrested, the PCM Company sought help from local lawyers. but the lawyers said that the Falun Gong issue cannot be touched."

Mr. Handa from Amnesty International said that China signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, but its violations of the covenant and human rights have not been resolved. Lawyer Gao Zhisheng is already being persecuted for helping Falun Gong practitioners to safeguard their basic human rights. His office was shut shown and he was arrested for posting open letters to leaders of the CCP regime.

Mr. Handa indicated that he would write to headquarters in London and ask it to investigate Ma Jian's arrest through Amnesty International Hong Kong and to release a report to the international community to help Ma Jian gain his freedom.

Ms. Yao Lian calls for help to rescue Ma Jian and to say "No" to the CCP's persecution

Ms. Yao said that Falun Gong has been persecuted for more than seven years. Not only are Falun Gong practitioners persecuted, but many others are also implicated. The arrest of Ma Jian affects the PCM company's regular business.

Ms. Yao said that she has gotten care and help from people around the world. She said, "Don't think you can do nothing. Don't think it is just China's business. If we all say 'No' to the CCP, the persecution will stop one day earlier."

Francis, the press conference host, said that Canadian Prime Minister Harber publicly condemned the CCP's violation of human rights. In the past several years, the Canadian government has rescued individuals that were persecuted in China for practising Falun Gong and had relatives in Canada. He hoped that Canada would take a stronger stand on the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong and help rescue those being persecuted for their belief in China.