Varsity [Toronto]: China detains student for thirty days

July 1, 2001

A Concordia student was arrested and detained for more than a month for her affiliations with the Chinese cultivation practice Falun Gong.

Arrested on May 24, the 34-year-old student was held for 33 days. U of T student and Falun Gong practitioner Jason Loftus joined Zhu's friends and supporters in surprised joy when she suddenly was released and returned to Canada on June 21.

"It was a nightmare for me," said Zhu. "I think I must speak out, because my conscience doesn't allow me to be silent. I must speak up for the practitioners in China. Maybe it will cause trouble for my family but I must do it. It is my responsibility."

Zhu remained in an open room lit by a 120-Watt light bulb during her entire detainment where she was monitored by three people from the National Security Department in China.

Zhu is a permanent resident of Canada. She travelled to China to visit her husband, and her mother who is ill. Falun Gong is not political or religious, but rather a meditation practice meant to promote "truth, compassion and forbearance."

In 1999, the government of the China banned the practice and began persecuting millions of practitioners. Reports of persecution include detainment, practitioners sent to labour camps, forced psychiatric 'treatment' including electric shocks and sedative drugs, and maltreatment in police custody.

Zhu said that during her detainment, a psychologist attempted to convince her that all practitioners of Falun Gong were mentally ill. "During the detention they would watch me. They told me if I don't give up Falun Gong practice I would be considered a mental problem and would be sent to a mental hospital.

Also they said that it's easy in China to make fake [suicide] and let people die in prison," said Zhu.

Loftus added that Falun Gong practitioners sent to mental hospitals are given drug overdoses, often resulting in death, and are tortured.

"The fact that she is not a Canadian citizen made it impossible for the Canadian authorities or the Canadian Embassy in Beijing to express our concerns there regarding her particular situation," stated Reynald Doiron, spokesperson for the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

"Their non-compliance with the very basic principles of human rights as it applies to freedom of speech and freedom of religion has been expressed many times in the past with the Chinese authorities," said Doiron in reference to Canada's general position on Falun Gong.

"In this particular situation we could only tell the Chinese authorities that her situation drew the attention of the media and the general public in Canada," stated Doiron.

Libby Davies, one of a group of MP's from five different parties, who have been working to draw attention to China's human rights abuse, was incensed by the government's lack of resolve on the issue.

"She's a permanent resident, is she not? That's terrible. I find that appalling," she stated. "Does this mean that we only do something when it's a citizen vs. a permanent resident?"

She also said there were wider issues at play: "I guess what really drives me crazy is the idea that we place the issue of trade and corporate profit above people's human rights," she said.

"Everyone's talking about globalization and the rights of corporations to move capital around the world, but what about globalization when it comes to people's human rights?"

Ying was confident that she was released because of the pressure that was placed upon the Chinese government through grassroots organization, political MP's and a letter sent by the Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University.

Despite numerous attempts to contact the Chinese Embassy in Canada, there was no response.

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