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On September 28, 2005, Ottawa practitioners held an urgent appeal to call on the Canadian government to bar Xia Deren, Dalian Mayor and Deputy Governor of Liaoning Province, from entering Canada. Xia is scheduled to hold a business visit to Canada on September 30. Practitioners also held an anti-torture exhibition with live models to expose the persecution. The event coincided with the "Hands Across the Border" charity barbecue on Parliament Hill organized by the four major Canadian parties. The practitioners' appeal and anti-torture exhibition attracted the attention of thousands.
Practitioners appeal at Canada's Parliament Hill
Renowned human rights lawyer David Matas wrote to the relevant Canadian officials, including the Ministers of Public Safety, Immigration and Foreign Affairs on August 25 to ask the Canadian government to deny visas to perpetrators of the persecution. Mr. Matas pointed out that based on Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program, one would be denied entry to Canada if he were found guilty of crimes against humanity. He said that if such officials were allowed to enter Canada, it's sending a message that Canada condones genocide and human rights violations. He said that Canada must act according to international human rights agreements and Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program. Victims of such crimes should not be left to fend for themselves.
MP Kilgour said in his speech, "There can be no doubt in anyone's mind that the Chinese government persecutes Falun Gong practitioners mercilessly across China for what is perfectly legal in virtually every other country on earth. Despite its claims that there is freedom of religious conscience in China, Falun Gong practitioners continue to be victimized across the country. I urge the government to follow the letter of its own law and respect the rights of its citizens." The MP also said: "[I]...agree fully that these individuals should not be permitted to enter Canada on the basis of their complicity in the violation of the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners."
Liaoning Province and Dalian City are two of the worst offenders in the persecution. In June 2003, the Federal District Court of the Northern California found Xia responsible for torture, cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment, arbitrary detention, crimes against humanity, and interference with freedom of religion and belief.
By the end of January 2004, Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program (CCAHWCP) established a list of 45 Chinese officials from each level of Party Committees, "610 Offices," local governments and forced labor camps that are responsible for the persecution of Falun Gong for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Xia Deren was included in the list. According to Canadian laws, if anyone on the list attempts to enter Canada, a prompt investigation could take place, potentially resulting in refusal of visas to Canada, deportation, charges and punishment based on Canada's laws governing crimes against humanity and war crimes.
In the beginning of this September, Bo Xilai, former Governor of Liaoning Province, was scheduled to visit Canada with Chinese President Hu. Bo is also in the CCAHWCP's watch list. By the time of Hu's visit, Bo's name disappeared from the delegation's list. Analysts believed that that incident was related to the strong voice of the Canadian public, lawyers, MPs and supporters of Falun Gong.
Reportedly, on July 10, a Dalian official website announced that Xia and his delegation would hold a Dalian City Job Fair in either Vancouver or Toronto on September 30. However, that web page was recently removed.
According to 2003 data from the CCAHWCP, 581 people were denied entry to Canada from 1999 to 2000 for suspected involvement in crimes against humanity and war crimes. This figure varied to 644 for 2000-2001 and 445 for 2001-2002. An official of the CCAHWCP said that Canada doesn't need to give any explanation to such individuals for denial of entry.
At noon on September 28, Toronto practitioners gathered in front of the district office of the Canadian Federal Immigration Minister to call on the government to bar Xia Deren from entering Canada. The deputy governor of Liaoning Province and Mayor of Dalian city is scheduled to visit Canada on September 30.
 Practitioner speaks out at the rally |
 Practitioners peacefully demonstrate in front of the Minister's district office |
Practitioners' spokesman Joel Chipkar said that Xia is notorious for implementing and overseeing the policy of torture and killing, and was found responsible for torture and genocide by a Northern California Court.
"The death toll of practitioners in China is increasing everyday. If such an official is allowed to enter Canada, it signals that Canada has forgiven the atrocities. The Canadian Government must bar criminals of this kind from entering its borders," Chipkar stressed.
Mr. Yang of the Falun Dafa Association said that as of September 27, it has been verified that 53 practitioners have been persecuted to death in Dalian and 10 of these deaths took place in 2005. Dalian is one of the cities in which practitioners have been persecuted most rampantly, and as Mayor of the city, Xia must be held accountable.
According to Chipkar, Xia is in a CAHWACP's watch list of 45 Chinese officials who have committed crimes against humanity. They are subjected to denial of entry or visa and could be deported or sued. Bo Xilai, former Governor of Liaoning Province, was also on the list. Bo was scheduled to visit Canada with Chinese President Hu; however, he disappeared from the delegation list before the trip.
At around 1 p.m., several practitioners entered the district office of the Minister of Immigration to deliver an appeal letter to the staff members.
At 1 o'clock on September 28, 2005, practitioners held a press conference in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery to call on the federal government to bar entry to Dalian Mayor Xia Deren, who is known to be a key perpetrator of the persecution against Falun Gong. Xia was found in default of crimes against humanity by a U.S. court. Xia was scheduled to visit Canada on September 30.
During the press conference, practitioner Zhang Chunyu gave a speech. He said his mother, Yang Huizhen, was illegally arrested for the third time on May 24, 2004, by police in Dandong City, Liaoning Province. His mother was subsequently detained in the Baifang Detention Center of Dandong City. Almost at the same time of his mother's arrest, police officers broke into his sister Zhang Chungang's home and illegally arrested her. Chungang is now being detained in the notorious Masanjia Forced Labor Camp. Mr. Zhang Chunyu strongly called for help to stop the persecution, and specifically called on the federal government to bar Xia Deren from entering Canada.
Practitioners read a letter written by David Matas, renowned human rights lawyer, to the Minister of Public Safety and Immigration. Mr. Matas said that based on Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program, one should be denied entry to Canada if he is suspected of crimes against humanity. Mr. Matas said that he believed Xia Deren has committed crimes against humanity.
Senior MP David Kilgour once said that there was no doubt that the Chinese government persecutes Falun Gong practitioners mercilessly across China, and that he believes the perpetrators of the persecution should not be permitted to enter Canada.
On September 27, Canadian officials confirmed that they had received evidence of crimes against humanity committed by Xia Deren from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the related materials from the U.S. Court verdict on Xia's Crimes Against Humanity. Since the nature of his crimes is so severe, Xia was added to a watch list kept by the RCMP. Xia is one of 45 Chinese officials on the list. Evidence of each official's direct responsibility for the persecution of Falun Gong is also in the RCMP's possession. These officials come from different levels of the Party Committees, "610 Offices," local governments and forced labor camps This list was established by Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program (CCAHWCP) prior to Xia's visit. According to Canadian laws, if anyone on the list attempts to enter Canada, a prompt investigation could take place, potentially resulting in refusal of visas to Canada, deportation, charges and punishment based on Canada's laws governing crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Xia is from Liaoning Province, notorious for relentlessly persecuting Falun Gong. As deputy governor of Liaoning Province and Mayor of Dalian city, Xia has been supervising and directing persecution against practitioners. To date, 340 practitioners have been persecuted to death in Liaoning province. This represents the third highest death toll among the provinces in China. Moreover, in Liaoning Province, Dalian City is one of the cities which persecutes Falun Gong the most severely. As of September 27, 2005, 53 practitioners have been persecuted to death in Dalian.
The sixth Hsinzhu Rice Noodle Festival was held on September 24 and 25, and attracted many local residents. Local practitioners were invited to the festival. They set up a booth to introduce the "Rescue Falun Gong Orphans" project to tell the local people what Falun Gong is, to expose the brutal persecution taking place in China, and to call for support to rescue orphaned children of practitioners in Mainland China.
 A child signing a petition board calling for the end of the persecution |
 A citizen signing the petition |
As soon as the festival started, a lot of people came to the practitioners' booth for more information. Through the practitioners' introduction, they learned about the persecution, which has claimed the lives of at least 2,732 practitioners and that has orphaned many children of those practitioners. Many of these orphaned children have been forced to leave their homes, discriminated against and expelled from school.
One gentleman firmly expressed his support to the practitioners and said that the practitioners' signature campaign was a necessary activity. He also said that all practitioners looked very kind and that the charges by the Chinese Communist Party against practitioners were obviously fabricated. He also acquired information about local practice sites and expressed interest in learning Falun Gong. .
There were also several people who wished to offer financial help to the Falun Gong orphans. In addition, they all asked for information about practice sites near their homes and expressed the wish to learn the five sets of exercises.
A parent with a child passed by the booth. When he was told that practitioners were collecting signatures to rescue orphans persecuted in China, his expression became very serious and said: "Please look after my child for a moment, I will sign." The practitioner was very touched, she knelt down and gave a Falun Gong bookmark to the little one. At the same time, the father signed a postcard to U.S. President George Bush calling for action to rescue Falun Gong orphans.
A couple who had learned the truth asked: "Are you always telling passersby about Falun Gong like you are now?" A practitioner nodded his head. They were very surprised and impressed. The practitioner thanked them for signing the postcard to President Bush.
During the festival, there were also some children who had never heard about Falun Gong. After listening to the practitioners' explanation, they learned that Falun Gong teaches people to be good individuals by always telling the truth, doing good deeds, putting others first and being more tolerant. They could not understand why the Chinese Communist Party would persecute Falun Gong, as they know that good people should not be persecuted and wicked people are doomed to be punished. Many children, after learning the truth, signed their names to support the orphan rescue effort.
On September 17, Falun Gong practitioners participated in the annual Mersin Festival hosted by the Mersin city government. The practitioners' on-stage demonstration and information booth attracted a lot attention from the audience and media outlets.
Falun Gong exercise demonstration
On the stage, practitioners gave an introduction of Falun Gong and demonstrated the five sets of exercises to the peaceful and elegant Falun Gong music. The demonstration attracted the attention of numerous spectators. The whole site was immersed in an atmosphere of peace and serenity, and people were delighted by the demonstration and music. When the practitioners finished, they received a warm round of applause and much praise.
 Practitioners demonstrating the sitting meditation |
 Some spectators learning the exercises at the site |
A number of Turkish TV stations and newspaper reporters were present at the festival, and they all showed great interest in Falun Gong. Sun TV broadcast the festival, including the practitioners' demonstration, twice during the following week as major local news.
The practitioners' participation in this festival received full support from the local government. For example, the Mersin government printed color brochures and large banners that read "Falun Dafa" and "Truthfulness Compassion Forbearance" for practitioners. In addition, to facilitate the practitioners' activities such as onsite teaching, the government designated an area in the festival venue for the practitioners' use. In fact, the practitioners have received a lot of help and support from the government over the past year.
When the curtain of night dropped, the celebration had already concluded hours before. However, there were still many people lingering around the practitioners' booth. People came in succession to learn the practice or learn about the truth of Falun Gong. The megaphones played Falun Gong music continuously, bringing boundless compassion to the peaceful night. During this one-day event, practitioners once again demonstrated the beauty of Falun Gong to the local people.