Letter from Barrie City Mayor Jim Perri to Canada's Prime Minister Jean Chrétien

(Clearwisdom.net)

September 3, 2002

Office of the Prime Minister
Ottawa

Dear Prime Minister Chrétien:

In the past three years, I have been kept informed about the severe persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Recently, it has been brought to my attention those family members of Falun Gong practitioners here in Canada are currently imprisoned and persecuted in forced labor comps or have "disappeared" in China for maintaining their belief. These Falun Gong practitioners in Canada need urgent intervention form our government to help rescue their loved ones before it is too late.

It has been widely reported that Falun Gong practitioners in China are suffering beatings, rape, electric shock, forced abortion, brainwashing, long-term sleep deprivation, threats and other various forms of torture. The practitioner of Falun Gong have been enduring all this just because they are truing to be good people by practicing exercises for good health and by following the principles of truth, compassion and tolerance in their day-to-day lives.

Our government was the first to speak up against the president of China's persecution and has succeeded in the rescue of three Falun Gong practitioners form China in the last two years. It is important that we continue to send a clear message to the President of China that we do not agree with this persecution of people who have proven themselves peaceful worldwide, and that this persecution that is going into its forth year must end now. It would be appropriate that such a message be clearly and publicly articulated during the APEC meeting October when you meet face with face with the President of China, Jiang Zemin, and other Chinese leaders.

Sincerely,

Jim Perri,
Mayor