Friends of Falun Gong is Established in Canada's Province of British Columbia

VANCOUVER - Founded by Province of British Columbia human rights advocates and activists, the Friends of Falun Gong, British Columbia Chapter has officially formed. Right away, it played an active role in the Postcard Campaign for rescuing the family members persecuted in China and calling Prime Minister of Canada to speak out in the coming APEC when he meets with Jiang face to face in the end of October, 2002 in Mexico.

Following is the letter sent out to about 2000 NGOs in British Columbia from Friends of Falun Gong, British Columbia Chapter.

October 10, 2002

Dear Colleague:

We are the "Friends of Falun Gong Association of Canada" BC Chapter. We are human rights advocates and activists who are appalled by the discriminatory treatment of individuals solely because of their beliefs. Falun Gong, also known, as Falun Dafa is a practice of mind and body based on the universal principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance. Many people worldwide are practitioners of Falun Dafa.

The Friends of Falun Gong actively support the efforts of practitioners to bring to the attention of the Canadian government and the Canadian people the persecution of practitioners. We are thankful for the support of Canadians which has resulted in the release and return to Canada of three practitioners from labour camps and police custody and in some changes in China in the treatment of practitioners in prison as well as the premature release of two family members recently.

We are writing to ask you and/or your organization to become a Friend of the Falun Gong. What is required of a Friend? Your help and support.

First, on October 25 & 26, 2002 world leaders will meet in Los Cabos, Mexico for the Asia Pacific Economic Summit (APEC). APEC leaders will discuss issues related to us all. In looking for solutions to problems we face, we cannot fail to address underlying problems of the lack of freedom to practice one's beliefs and other human rights violations. We are asking for your help in calling on our Prime Minister to voice Canadian concerns to Jiang, the leader of China's regime, for his continued escalation of the persecution of Falun Gong. We have launched a postcard campaign to continue efforts to release the family members of Canadians detained in labour camps and prisons in China. We are asking you to support our appeal by signing the enclosed letter from the postcard and mailing or faxing it to the Prime Minister. (fax: 613-941-6900 ) If you and/or your organization wish to obtain more cards to support our campaign, please contact us with your mailing address and e-mail address, phone number and quantity of cards that you wish.

We would also like you and/or your organization to consider joining the "Friends of Falun Gong". The purpose of the Friends or FOFGBC is to:

- Support Falun Gong practitioners' freedom and rights of conscience, belief, religion, association and expression pursuant to international human rights protocols and treaties
- Support Falun Gong practitioners' rights to life, liberty and security of their persons and their rights not to be deprived thereof
- Work and speak out to end the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners around the world
- To be a public voice as friends of Falun Gong to ensure that practitioners have the right to practice it free of any persecution or harassment.
- If you are interested in getting more information about the Friends of Falun Gong BC Chapter, receiving more cards, or joining the group in its work, please contact us at [email protected].

Sincerely,

(names omitted)