Falun Dafa Association Seeks U.S. Entry Ban for China's Minister of Commerce

Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai will accompany Chinese President Hu Jintao on his upcoming visit to the United States. Representatives of the Falun Dafa Association have written to the United States government seeking to prevent Bo Xilai from obtaining a U.S. visa. Bo Xilai is the former Dalian City Mayor/CCP Secretary and Governor of Liaoning Province. He is being sued by Falun Dafa practitioners in many countries for torture and other crimes against humanity committed during his term.

The U.S. Falun Dafa Association cites section 212(a)(2)(G) of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalisation Act, which states that foreign government officials who have engaged in particularly severe violations of religious freedom (as defined in Section 3 of the International Religious Freedom Act) are not allowed entry into the country. Hence, based on U.S. law, Bo Xilai is included in this category of not welcome.

According to the reports of the World Organisation to Investigate Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG), it is evident from meeting minutes and reports that Bo Xilai plotted and assigned many aspects of persecuting Falun Gong during his term as Dalian City mayor and as the Governor of Liaoning Province. Liaoning Province is one of the Chinese provinces with a history of severe persecution of Falun Gong

On July 28th, 2004, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia found defendants Bo Xilai and Xia Deren both guilty of torture and genocide.

In 2004, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) obtained a list of names of 45 Chinese officials from different government levels who are responsible for the persecution of Falun Gong. If anyone on the list attempts to enter Canada, a prompt investigation would take place, resulting in potential refusal of visas to Canada, cancellation of their Canadian citizenship, deportation, and charges and punishment based on Canada's laws governing crimes against humanity and war crimes. Bo Xilai's name is on that list for crimes related to persecution of Falun Gong.

On August 26th, 2005, the Canada Falun Dafa Association held a press conference at the Canadian Parliament building, requesting that the Canadian Government refuse to grant Bo Xilai a visa. The Falun Dafa Association also requested that the current Dalian City Mayor Xia Deren, scheduled to visit Canada in late September, be denied a visa. At the press conference thirteen page document was presented with detailed proof of the actions of Bo Xilai and and Xia Deren in persecuting Falun Gong in Liaoning Province and Dalian City.