Radio Free Asia: Falun Gong Holds Press Conference on Canada's Parliament Hill

(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Gong practitioners recently held a press conference on Canada's Parliament Hill in Ottawa asking the Canadian government to hold Chinese officials who participated in the persecution of Falun Gong accountable for their crimes. The Canadian government responded positively to the request. The following excerpts are compiled from a recording of a Chinese language report by journalist Xi Hong, broadcast on Radio Free Asia (RFA).

"This Tuesday, Falun Gong practitioners and their attorney Mr. David Matas held a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. They requested that the Canadian government hold those Chinese officials that persecuted Falun Gong accountable, in keeping with Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program (CAHWCP). Human rights attorney David Matas announced that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has placed the case on file. Those suspected of persecution crimes against Falun Gong in China will be denied entry into Canada. If they are discovered entering Canada illegally, RCMP will immediately launch an investigation and possibly take legal action."

"Mr. Matas reported that practitioners have submitted incriminating documents to RCMP, the Department of Justice, Canada's Attorney General, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Earlier, Canadian Falun Gong practitioners and representatives of the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong had submitted a list of 15 persons, including former president of China, Jiang Zemin, to the department in charge of Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes in RCMP. More names were submitted to RCMP on Tuesday."

"Mr. Matas suggested that Canada not allow entry into the country for those who persecuted Falun Gong. He noted that practitioners had submitted criminal documentation for 45 participants in the persecution against Falun Gong. He held that the legal evidence and materials prepared were very strong, including those incriminating Jiang Zemin,".

"Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program began in the mid-1980's to bring World War II war criminals to justice. It was later expanded to include other war crimes, and crimes against humanity. According to this program, Canada will not issue visas to war criminals or those who commit crimes against humanity. Those who have entered Canada illegally will be deported or face criminal prosecution."

"Xun Li, spokesperson of the Canadian Falun Dafa Association, said that Falun Gong practitioners would continue to provide relevant Canadian departments with the names of those who have participated in persecuting Falun Gong."

January 22, 2004