Wife Starts Two Week Vigil to Free Falun Gong Husband in China
News Release For Immediate Release: July 26, 2001
MONTREAL, OTTAWA, July 26 Jinyu Li, a Montreal artist and Canadian citizen, starts a two-week, round-the-clock vigil today in front of the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa to protest her husband's extended incarceration in a Chinese labor camp for practicing Falun Gong.
Jinyu's husband Shenli Lin has been suffering in a Chinese labor camp for the past 18 months since January 2000. He was due to be released two days ago on July 23rd 2001 and to reunite with his wife in Canada. However, on that day Chinese officials told her family that his sentence would be extended for another 6 months and offered no reason.
In the past 3 weeks, two mass killings of Falun Gong practitioners in Chinese labour camps have been reported which resulted in at least 25 deaths.
She said, "For 18 months now I have been petitioning for my husband's release and I worry about him everyday." During the past 18 months of her husband's incarceration, no one has been allowed to visit him and nobody knows what has happened to him.
"I want to protest the barbarous persecution my husband is going through in China. A friend told me that appeals won't change a government. Then what should I do? What can I do?" she continued.
Human rights group Amnesty International considers Shenli Lin a "prisoner of conscience" and has appealed on his behalf.
Four other family members of Jinyu have been arrested a total of 14 times. Most recently, Shenli's brother was sentenced to a labour camp.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a peaceful meditation practice of mind and body based on Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Since July 1999, Chinese president Jiang Zemin has engaged in a vicious persecution of the practice that has affected the lives of millions of families. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International report that over 50,000 Falun Gong practitioners are currently suffering in Chinese labor camps, prisons and mental institutions. At least 256 Falun Gong practitioners have died in police custody.
Media interview available
What : Round-the-clock vigil
Time : 24-hours a day until at least August 9th
Place : In front of the Ottawa Chinese Embassy (515 St. Patrick St.)
Contacts : (Omitted)