(Clearwisdom.net) At around noon of January 11, 2005, Calgary practitioners rallied in front of the Chinese Consulate to call on Prime Minister Martin, who is to visit China, to urge the Chinese government to end the persecution of Falun Gong and to help rescue Canadians' relatives who are currently detained and tortured in labor camps in China.

According to investigation reports from international human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China includes arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, illegal detention and torture. Since July 1999, according to reports by Clearwisdom.net, 1266 practitioners have been confirmed to have died as a result of the persecution.

On his trip to China in 2001, former Prime Minister Chrétien raised the Falun Gong issue with ex-President Jiang Zemin, who is responsible for launching the illegal crackdown. Shortly afterward, the Chinese government released a Canadian citizen and his relative. There are currently 30 Canadians' relatives who are being persecuted in China for remaining steadfast in the practice of Falun Gong.

Falun Gong practitioners rally in front of the Chinese Consulate in Calgary

Practitioners called on the Prime Minister to urge China to release detained fellow practitioners