Canada: Falun Gong Practitioners Continue Peaceful Appeal During Hu Jintao's Visit in Toronto

Hu Jintao arrived in Toronto at 10:30 a.m. on September 10th, 2005 continuing his visit in Canada. Outside the Toronto Intercontinental Hotel where Hu stayed, more than 500 Falun Gong practitioners from across Canada and parts of the US continued their peaceful appeal for an end to the persecution.

Falun Gong practitioners continue their peaceful appeal for an end to the persecution

Falun Gong practitioners peacefully appeal outside the Toronto Intercontinental Hotel

Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful appeal

Falun Gong practitioners held up banners reading "Hu Jintao, the time that God and the people gives to you is limited" at all of the routes where Hu Jintao's motorcade would pass by. The same message could be seen on seven highways from the airport to the hotel. Outside the hotel, there were peaceful practitioners and over a hundred banners bearing messages calling for and end to the persecution.

Canadian mainstream media continue focusing on Falun Gong issues

CCP's persecution of Falun Gong has become the focus of Canadian mainstream media these past few days. At 11:20 a.m. on September 9th, 2005, Canadian TV Station veteran reporter Roger Smith, in front of numerous international media, asked Hu Jintao how he would like to respond to Falun Gong practitioners who displayed photos depicting the persecution and torture, pro-democratic activists and intellectuals outside Parliament Hill. Hu Jintao sidestepped the question.

At 11:20 a.m. on September 9th, 2005, in front of many international media, Canadian TV Station veteran reporter Roger Smith asked Hu Jintao how he would like to respond to Falun Gong practitioners displaying photos depicting persecution and torture and abuses, pro-democratic activists and intellectuals outside Parliament Hill.

"Just as I mentioned in my comments, ... I did raise the issue of Falun Gong." Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin said in his reply to Roger Smith's question, "We believe that both economic development and better governance requires not only openness and transparency, but an understanding of the importance of human rights."

During Prime Minister Martin's meeting with Hu Jintao, human rights issues were placed on the very top of the agenda. This is the second time that Canadian Prime Minister publicly raised the issue of Falun Gong with Chinese leaders. The mainstream media extensively covered this in their reports the next day, causing strong reactions in Canada. The mainstream media including CBC, CTV, Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Canadian Press reported in a prominent position that the Canadian Prime Minister publicly raised questions about China's human rights including Falun Gong.

* Hu Jintao enters his hotel via an inconspicuous road

On September 10th, 2005 at 11:20 a.m., Hu Jintao's motorcade entered the Toronto Intercontinental Hotel's parking garage from an inconspicuous road behind the hotel. The Toronto Chinese' "Welcome" group who began beating drums and performing Yangkou dance at the main entrance from 7:00 a.m. did not have a chance to see the person they wanted to meet.

Hu Jintao's motorcade enters the hotel via an inconspicuous road behind the Toronto Intercontinental Hotel, Falun Gong practitioners are welcoming him there.