Canada: Press Conference in Toronto Calling on Canadian Government to Pay Attention to Human Rights Abuses Against Falun Gong in China

On June 22nd, 2010, the Falun Dafa Association of Toronto held a press conference in front of the Chinese Consulate. The Association is calling on the Canadian Government to urge Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Hu Jintao to stop the persecution of Falun Gong. Hu Jintao is on a state visit to Canada for the G8 and G20 conferences this week.They also called for the release of 12 imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners who are relatives of Canadians, and all other practitioners being unlawfully imprisoned in China.

On June 22nd, 2010, Toronto Falun Dafa Association held a rally and press conference in front of Chinese Consulate

Over the past two weeks, 45,000 Canadians signed a petition calling on Canadian Government to urge Hu Jintao to release 12 imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners who are relatives of Canadians.

Practitioner Mr. Zhili He, an engineer, participated in the rally. His two cousins are being imprisoned in China for practising Falun Gong. Police detained them on February 28. No information about them has been available since, and their current whereabouts remain unknown.

Ms. He was imprisoned for three and half years in China in 2000 for mailing some information materials exposing the persecution to a friend. He was tortured with electric shocks and sleep deprivation. He was also not allowed to use the restroom. He was in high fever and agony for several dozen days. His life was in a critical condition.

He said in his speech, "Hu Jintao is visiting Canada and should hear voices from the international community. The persecution of Falun Gong has no support. The persecution must stop."

Mr. Zhaojin Zhang, Director of Toronto Falun Dafa Association, said, "We hope that Prime Minister Harper takes human rights, especially with respect to Falun Gong, as an important part in his talks with Hu Jintao."

On Monday, Friends of Falun Gong in the Canadian Parliament wrote to the Prime Minister. Bill Siksay, Chairman of the Friends of Falun Gong in the Canadian Parliament and Member of Parliament, mentioned the 12 practitioners imprisoned in China who are relatives of Canadians in his letter to the Prime Minister. He asked the Prime Minister bring the issue up with Hu.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office said that the Prime Minister would put forward the human rights issue in a frank and courteous way.