Canada: Ontario Human Rights Discrimination Case Exposes CCP Persecution of Falun Gong Outside China and its Infiltration of Western Society

On January 18th, 2006, the Ontario Human Rights Court ruled that Ottawa's Chinese Senior Association had violated the Human Rights Code by revoking a Falun Gong practitioner's membership because of her belief. On January 27th, the Canadian Falun Dafa Association held a press conference at Parliament Hill to commend this ruling. The association stressed that the discrimination case exposed the severe and widespread nature of the Chinese Communist regime's systematic persecution and propaganda infiltration in foreign countries.

Ms. Daiming Huang (left) and the president of Canadian Falun Dafa Association (right) attended the press conference

Canadian Falun Dafa Association spokeswoman Lucy Zhou gave a speech

Discrimination Stems from Severe Background of Persecution

In a statement, the Canadian Falun Dafa Association pointed out: "The Human Rights Tribunal recognised Falun Gong as a belief, realised the seriousness of the case and protected Ms. Daiming Huang's rights. That is, believers of Falun Gong should be treated with equality, not discrimination. In fact, the tribunal confirmed that the "discriminatory acts against Ms. Huang caused huge anguish for her, and also exposed her to exclusion, contempt, mockery, a loss of standing and isolation within her own cultural community and were a particular affront to her dignity."

Lucy Zhou, spokeswoman of the association, stated: "The Discrimination Case Against Ms. Huang is not an isolated case. These discriminatory acts took place against a more severe and widespread persecution background." She said, "In the past 6 years, Chinese consulates and embassies have been executing the orders of the China's 610 Office to 'eliminate Falun Gong.' The regime has repeatedly utilised heads of pro-CCP (Chinese Communist Party) Chinese groups to instigate hatred toward Falun Gong in overseas Chinese communities."

Ms. Zhou gave an example to support her statement. "For example," she said, "An organisation, in the name of the Ottawa Chinese Community, requested the City of Ottawa not to allow Falun Gong practitioners to conduct peaceful protests in front of the Chinese Embassy. The group was actually speaking on behalf of the Embassy. A Dance Troupe in Montreal has several members who practise Falun Gong. Fearing to offend the Chinese Consulate in Montreal, organisers of local community events barred the dance troupe. In another case, a Toronto Falun Gong practitioner was fired because her employer's business was closely tied to the Chinese Communist regime."

In addition, Chinese diplomatic officials also try to isolate Falun Gong by pressuring Canadian politicians, distributing anti-Falun Gong materials to media, government officials, schools, universities, libraries as well as Chinese community and organisations.

In 2003, Xinchun Pan, former deputy consul general of Chinese Consulate in Toronto, wrote a letter to Toronto Star and publicly slandered practitioner Joe Chipkar's belief. The case was submitted to the Supreme Count of Ontario and Chipkar won the lawsuit. These cases are just the tip of the iceberg. The CCP is behind numerous unlawful activities on Canadian soil which violate practitioners' human rights.

CCP Infiltrates Western Society with its Ideology and Promotes Persecution Through Media Control

Ms. Zhou said, "The CCP not only persecutes Chinese practitioners using torture, hate-propaganda and brainwashing in China, but it also export its persecution to the international community, including Canada. The targets of the persecution are Canadian Falun Gong practitioners such as Ms. Huang."

Ms. Zhou said, "If one group was the target of the CCP, any group can become its target of attack in the future. If the persecution against Falun Gong can be extended to Canada, other Canadian groups are not safe, either. In addition, the persecution is damaging to Canadian values and Canadian society."

The statement also pointed out that the CCP's persecution also infringed on the sovereignty of Canada. Testimony by a former "610 Office" official verified that Falun Gong practitioners in Canada are being harassed, blacklisted, and monitored. In addition to exporting the persecution to Canada, the CCP has utilised a more widespread and vicious measure--media control. Through the CCP controlled Chinese media, it has been infiltrating Canada ideologically for a long time. The infiltration has enhanced the Chinese embassy and consulates' control over Canadian Chinese and other Canadians.

Regarding the CCP's control over Chinese language media in the United States, the Jamestown Foundation, a US non-governmental organisation, pointed out: "All the major Chinese-language media in the USA are directly or indirectly controlled by the Chinese government. Four main tactics characterise the Chinese government's effort to influence Chinese media in America. They are: 1) direct control, 2) use of economic ties to influence independent media who have business relations with China, 3) purchasing of broadcast time and advertising space, and 4) deployment of government personnel to work in independent media.

During the press conference, Ms. Daiming Huang, 73, recounted how she was discriminated against and humiliated by the Ottawa Chinese Senior Association. She said: "Falun Dafa gave me a new life. In the past 4 years, with my belief in 'Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance' and my determination to obtain justice, I have overcome many difficulties and eventually won the lawsuit. I firmly believe that justice will prevail over evil."

Ms. Huang also called on overseas Chinese and other groups to learn the truth about the persecution and say no to the CCP's lies.