Letter From Canadian MP Svend Robinson concerning the Persecution of Falun Gong

January 22, 2003

Dear Grace,

Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding the on-going persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese government. I agree that the Canadian delegation should initiate a resolution at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva this spring condemning the Chinese government's deplorable record on human rights, and specifically mentioning the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. I have therefore written to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bill Graham, to voice my concern.

Please be assured that my New Democrat colleagues and I will continue to urge the Canadian government to pressure the Chinese government to respect the rights of its citizens to freedom of expression and belief, and to end the suffering of Falun Gong practitioners.

Sincerely yours,
Svend J Robinson, MP
Burnaby-Douglas

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January 22, 2003
Honourable Bill Graham, PC MP
Minister of Foreign Affairs

Dear Bill,

I have recently been contacted by a number of concerned Canadians regarding the Chinese government's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

As you know, Falun Gong is a peaceful movement whose followers have been subject to oppression, torture, and execution at the hands of the Chinese government for their beliefs. Far too much suffering has been caused by the refusal of the PRC to uphold international human rights law, which guarantees freedom of expression and belief. Indeed, just since November 2002, 46 Falun Gong practitioners have been killed by authorities in China.

I am grateful that you and other representatives of the Canadian government have addressed this issue with your Chinese counterparts regularly in the past, and have spoken out publicly about human rights in China at the UN General Assembly and Commission on Human Rights. It is imperative that the government of Canada continues to register the outrage of Canadians with the Chinese authorities, so that they realize their persecution of Falun Gong practitioners cannot be carried out with impunity.

For this reason, I urge you to initiate a resolution censuring the Government of China for its systematic denial of basic human rights to its people (including the specific example of state persecution of Falun Gong practitioners) at the 59th Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva this spring.

I look forward to your earliest possible reply on this important matter.

Sincerely yours,
Svend J Robinson, MP
Burnaby-Douglas