Speeches Made by Canadian Officials at the Welcoming Ceremony of the "SOS Global Rescue Walk" in Ottawa in September 2001 (Part I)

(Clearwisdom.net)

MP Scott Reid

Well, what an honour and what a pleasure it is to be here. I'm always so impressed by the enthusiasm that is shown by Falun Dafa practitioners here in Canada, for the values that you represent of Truthfulness-Benevolence-Forbearance. And I'm also amazed at the way that those who are here and those who we honour today for having come out from Montreal and Toronto; those who are walking elsewhere in the world as far away as Australia; how they have not forgotten those who are imprisoned right now for believing in a set of beliefs that are so clearly beneficial to the world and to this society, in particular China. How these people could be put in prison for doing something which is clearly of no conceivable harm to the state.

I encourage the Chinese authorities, as I always do on these occasions, to take a look at the people who you're imprisoning and ask yourselves, how could these people possibly be anything other than the model citizens you would want every citizen to be and reconsider what you're doing. Ask yourselves whether you don't want to embrace these people, take them into the very heart of your country and your state and benefit, as we all can benefit, from absorbing these fundamentals, and valuable beliefs.

And in particular I want all of us, if we can, to think of one individual, who is in particular need of our thoughts, and I speak of course of Shenli, who as you all must know is currently serving an indefinite term in prison after having been arrested again for having done nothing that could be of any harm to anybody, who could be in Canada right now and who is of course the husband of a Canadian citizen Jinyu Li and I ask you all to think of him, his plight and ensure that at no point in the future until he arrives here, do we forget him and to I guess ask all of you to look forward to that day when we can embrace him as a permanent resident of this country. Thank you so much.

MP Yvon Charbineau

I must say that I fully support this SOS Global Walk taking place in several countries as well as Canada. I consider that this walk is an expression of support for the Falun Gong practitioners who have been persecuted by China's authorities, and a pressing appeal to our respective governments to rescue Falun Gong practitioners in China. I consider that this form of terrorism practised against the Falun Gong practitioners in China is no more acceptable than any other form of terrorism.

At the time of their imprisonment and then their release of Mrs. Ying Zhu by the China authorities last May and June, the government of Canada has expressed concerns about the suppression of freedom and suppression of spiritual practise in China. Canada has raised human rights concerns with the China government at the level of our respective ministers of foreign affairs and also during the visit of our Prime Minister in China. I want also to be counted among those who as an elected person and Member of Parliament ask the China authorities to stop these brutal acts of persecution against Falun gong practitioners, to stop the cruel and inhuman treatment and to stop also intimidating Falun Gong practitioners outside of China and even in Canada. While China wants to become a member of the World Trade Organization, it is expected that a country abide by the international standards and rules with respect to human rights and freedom of expression. Merci beaucoup.