August 13, 2001

A twelve-year-old boy from Montreal, accompanied by his mother, has taken over the round-the-clock vigil in front of the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa to continue the protest against the crackdown on Falun Gong in China.

Chaochen Guan and his mother, Ningxu Zhao, are taking over from Jingyu Li who has held vigil for her husband. He has been imprisoned in a Chinese Labour Camp for more than a year and a half for practising Falun Gong.

The vigil began July 6 and has been continued by several people. Chaochen is the first child to take it on and says it was his idea.

"I'm here because the persecution in China is too cruel and beyond what people would believe." he says through an interpreter.

"Even though I'm a child I really wanted to contribute. I really wish this persecution would end."

Chaochen and his family immigrated to Canada four years ago and didn't seriously practise Falun Gong, a meditation and exercise movement, until they came to Canada. His father held a vigil for a week in July.

Chaqchen says he's lucky to be in Canada. He says that some children in China are orphans now because their parents have been imprisoned.

His mother says that since starting Falun Gong, Chaochen's grades have greatly improved and he reads more and watches television less.

Chaochen says that in addition to doing Falun Gong exercises during his two-week vigil, he will pass the time by reading and will talk to people who come by to ask questions.

Ms. Li, who is leaving her vigil, says many people have come by to show support and many drivers, honk their car horn when they drive by.

As well, Ottawa vigil holders and other Falun Gong practitioners Across Canada have been collecting names on a petition they hope to bring to Parliament when it resumes sitting in the fall. "In China they cannot have a voice, so we have to be a voice for them," says Ms. Zhao.