Canada: Member of Parliament Condemns China's Human Rights Abuses

On August 7th, Irwin Cotler, Canadian Member of Parliament and former Minister of Justice, held a press conference in Parliament Hall, and announced the release of a report he authored on human rights violations in China. The report lists eleven typical human rights violations in China. Cotler said, "What we are witnessing today ... is a persistent and pervasive assault on human rights in China."

Irwin Cotler, Canadian Member of Parliament and former Minister of Justice, at the press conference

Four speakers at the conference, from left to right: Beryl Wajsman, Irwin Cotler, Nazanin Afshin-Jam, and David Kilgour

Nazanin Afshin-Jam, former Miss Canada, Beryl Wajsman, of the Institute for Public Affairs of Montreal, and former PM David Kilgour gave speeches at the conference.

The report listed the persecution of Falun Gong as typical of the human rights abuses in China. However, Irwin Cotler said that the persecution of Falun Gong is more severe than the persecution of other groups. This has also been substantiated by reports from the United Nations.

The report lists evidence which points to the fact that Falun Gong practitioners represent 66% of those who are jailed and persecuted in China for their beliefs. The report also mentioned the CCP's harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. David Kilgour pointed out that the persecution of Falun Gong is listed in the report, because of its brutality.

Later, Cotler said at a rally in front of the Chinese Embassy that he hopes the embassy officials will pass the message of the rally back to the Chinese government. He said, more importantly, that the Chinese government betrayed Chinese people's hope and rights, and betrayed their responsibility in the international community.

Mr. Cotler said that the Chinese government promised to improve the human rights situation in China seven years ago when they sought to obtain the authority to hold the Olympics. He said, seven years later, the facts show that they did not keep their promise and the facts instead show that they have been attacking human rights. Cotler called upon the Chinese government to release its political prisoners and stop the persecution of Falun Gong. He said the government should allow Falun Gong practitioners to practice freely, because the principle they follow - Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance - is a value that the Chinese government should respect.

Irwin Cotler called upon all international leaders who attend the Olympics to make their voice heard for freedom and human rights.

Cotler said that in 2001 he was against awarding the Olympic Games to the Chinese government, and looking back now, he was right. He said that if China hadn't been granted the Olympics in 2001, there would not be so many people being arrested because of the Olympics now.

Nazanin Afshin-Jam, the 2003 Miss Canada, said that many people now regret the 1936 Berlin Olympics and stated that we should not have made the same mistake again. She said we should not ignore the human rights problems in China.

After the press conference, four speakers attended the rally held in front of the Chinese Embassy.

On August 7th, the day before the Olympics, there were eight protests in front of the Chinese Embassies in Paris, Berlin, Washington D.C., Stockholm, Roma, Ottawa, London, and Madrid.