Updated June 20, 2001

[Editor's note: This campaign was very successful in the case Ying Zhu -- she was released and returned to Canada at 1am, June 21st]

  • The Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University, Mr. Frederick H. Lowy, sent a letter to Mr. Mei Ping, the Chinese Ambassador to Canada on May 31, to demand the release of Ying and express that he is "greatly disturbed" by her detention.
  • Concordia University Student Union (CSU) has unanimously voted in favour of participating in the campaign to free Ying Zhu and has called on other members of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) to join the campaign and to take action. (Contact: Genevieve Page 514-848-7474)
  • A coalition of MPs from all five major political parties has been actively working on obtaining the immediate release of Ying and Shengli. (Contacts: Mr. Irwin Cotler 613-995-0121, Mr. Scott Reid 613-947-2277, Ms. Francine Lalonde 613-995-6327, Ms. LibbyDavies 613-992-6030, Mr. Bill Casey 613-992-3366)
  • Amnesty International has repeatedly made public statements condemning the brutal persecution of Falun Gong and has called on the Canadian government to do more to assist Ying and Shengli to regain freedom and to help bring an end to the repressive crackdown against Falun Gong in China. Amnesty International of Canada launched a letter writing campaign four months ago to free Shengli Lin.
  • More than 10 NGOs have cosigned a letter to Mei Ping, the Chinese Ambassador in Ottawa, urging the release of Ying Zhu and Shengli Lin. More NGOs are joining the campaign on a daily basis.
  • Falun Gong practitioners in Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver continue to demonstrate in front of the Chinese Embassy and Chinese Consulates every working day until Ying and Shengli are released.
  • Canada's Foreign Affairs office has responded that "She [Ying] has close ties to Canada and we will do whatever we can, on behalf of her family in Canada."
  • A Web Page dedicated to the campaign to Free Ying and Shengli has been set up: http://falundafa.ca/appeal
  • The people of Canada have shown tremendous support to Falun Gong. In the past year, some 80,000 people in Canada have signed petitions calling for an end to the persecution and the immediate release of all Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Category: April 25 Events