Letter from Canadian MP to Canadian Prime Minister Urging Him to Speak Out on Falun Gong Issue

April 24,2002

Right Honourable Jean Chretien
Prime Minister of Canada
309-S Centre Block
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1AOA6

Dear Mr. Chretien:

I am writing to add my voice to those Canadians concerned by ongoing human rights violations in China, and most particularly the continuing persecution of practitioners of Falun Gong.

As you are probably aware, organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have confirmed the many terrible violations which have taken place. There are stories of arbitrary arrests and confinements, torture, unlawful process, long term incarceration without conviction or hearing, and penalties laid without due legal process. Frequently, the death penalty is applied.

I am sure that you agree that these types of human rights violations are completely unacceptable in any civilized society. I am writing to ask you to give our shared outrage a more practical expression.

I urge you to communicate Canada's concerns to the Chinese authorities, as well as to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. The government of China must be made to understand that Canadians find their mistreatment of Falun Gong practitioners to be unacceptable.

Some have suggested that Canada's historic commitment to international human rights has waned in recent years. I urge you to speak out on this important matter, and to demonstrate the leadership on human rights that Canadians, and our friends around the world have a right to expect.

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Sincerely,

Lorne Nystrom, MP
Regina- Qu'Appelle