On January 18, 2002, Canadian Citizen and Falun Gong practitioner Li Jinyu held a Press Conference in Montreal demanding China to release her husband Lin Shenli immediately.
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| Li Jinyu speaks at the press conference | Carole, Director of AI Montreal, speaks at the press conference |
At the press conference Li Jinyu read her appeal letter. In the letter she said, "My husband Lin Shenli has been detained in forced labor camp for two years because he went to peacefully appeal for Falun Gong. I do not know how he has been able to endure the long days and nights. January 23, 2002 is the day that his forced labor camp term [which has already been unlawfully extended for 6 months past his original release date] expires. At this time, as the Chinese New Year approaches, I hereby appeal today:
- I urge the Chinese government to release my husband Lin Shenli immediately
- I appeal to all kind Canadian citizens to write with your kind hearts to the Chinese government, police departments, labor camps, factories and companies telling them that Canadian people support justice and peace and are against persecuting Falun Gong."
Carole, Director of Amnesty International Montreal, also spoke at the press conference. She reiterated the goal of Amnesty International: stop the torture and persecution of Falun Gong.
Mr. Irwin Cotler, who has been acting pro bono as Legal Counsel to Montrealer Li Jinyu, was in Ottawa and could not attend the press conference. He asked an associate to read his statement. Cotler, an international human rights lawyer who has defended political prisoners around the world, said that the on-going "criminalization of innocence" of Lin Shenli has included the following major human rights violations:
- Violation of the right to freedom of conscience and belief, as in the prohibition and suppression of Lin Shenli's right to believe in, profess, and practice the Falun Gong values of "truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance";
- Violation of the rights to freedom of assembly and association, as in the prohibition of any participation by Lin Shenli in any exercise or meditation gathering of the Falun Gong;
- Violation of the rights to freedom of expression and information, as in the banning and burning of Falun Gong books and materials;
- Violation of the protection against arbitrary arrest and detention, as in the arrest and detention of Lin Shenli for exercising rights guaranteed under Chinese law and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of which China is a signatory;
- Violation of the right to protection against torture and other cruel and degrading punishment or treatment, compulsory "re-education" endured by Lin Shenli during his detention;
- Violation of the right to a fair trial, as in the conviction and sentence of Lin Shenli to a forced labor camp in the absence of any hearing, respect for the presumption of innocence, or representation by counsel;
- Violation of the basic right to life, liberty, and security of the person, as in the denial to Lin Shenli of basic rights to integrity of the person, human dignity, and due process; and,
- Violation of the right to be left alone--which has been characterized as the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by civilized people.
He said, "The arrest, detention, torture, and sentencing of Lin Shenli for nothing other than being a member of a peaceful, spiritual movement known as the Falun Gong is a case study of the persistent and pervasive assault on human rights in China today in general, and a case study of the attempt to suppress the fundamental freedoms of the Falun Gong in particular. Indeed, the suppression of the Falun Gong has worsened since September 11 under the false pretext of national security." Cotler characterized the statement by the head of the Chinese National Police that "no Falun Gong practitioners will be released" as "abhorrent."
Cotler, in his capacity as Legal Counsel and co-chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group, called upon the Chinese authorities to:
- Release Lin Shenli from forced labor camp and permit him to leave the country and return to Canada to be reunited with his wife Li Jinyu.
- Cease and desist from any policy or practice of torture or other degrading punishment or treatment of prisoners in detention.
- Release all Falun Gong members now detained in prison, forced labor camps, or psychiatric detention.
- Repeal the illegal ban on the Falun Gong.
- Rescind any laws or regulations specifically criminalizing the Falun Gong as an "illegal association," and prohibiting thereby the exercise of the fundamental freedoms of their members.
At the end of the press conference, Li Jinyu told the audience the story how Lin Shenli went to Beijing to appeal and was detained and sentenced to forced labor camp.
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Lin Shenli, a Falun Gong practitioner, went to Beijing with his wife Li Jinyu on December 22, 1999 to appeal to the government for Falun Gong. They just wanted to tell the government the truth and hoped that they would stop mistreating Falun Gong. However, because of that, Jinyu was deported within 48 hours back to Canada because she is Canadian citizen, and Shenli was immediately jailed. One month later, he was transferred to Dafeng Labor Camp in Jiangsu. It has been two years. During these two years, no relatives or friends were allowed to visit him and he was completely cut off from outside world. Since he was jailed his wife never received any noticed nor any words from Shenli. The reason given on the detaining warrant was "appeal for Falun Gong."
His labor camp term was due on July 2001. However he was not released and without giving any reason his term was extended another 6 months.
Two years have passed. Looking back the appeal in 1999, Li Jinyu clearly expressed that appealing to the government was a very necessary thing to do and it is was the responsibility of good citizens to the society. For a practitioner who has upgraded his moral standard, it is his historical responsibility of bearing the China's future and human being's common interest. As cultivators they are not concerned with personal loss and gain. She reviewed her painful experience of staying in sick bed from the serious illness she had and not being able to go on with her study before she started practicing Falun Gong and the happiness from the changes in body and mind Dafa has brought her after starting practice. She also told the audience the story that after Falun Gong was persecuted in July, 1999 she and her husband went to Beijing to appeal to government and tell the government the benefits they have gained through practicing Falun Gong. She said that when a government persecutes people who want to be good person and throws good people in jails and forces people to believe in lies, the society is in a very dangerous situation if it goes on like this. For the future of the Chinese people and to enable the next generation to not have to live in an environment of lies and cheating, we have to stand up and tell the truth at any cost.
Reporters from Canada national broadcasting radio, CBC French TV station, the largest French newspaper in Canada Le Press attended the press conference.
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Category: April 25 Events
