(Clearwisdom.net) Over the past three years, the Falun Dafa Association of Canada has received several hundred letters from Canadian government officials at various levels, calling on China to stop persecuting Falun Gong and expressing their support for the freedom of speech and the freedom of belief. The Falun Dafa Association of Canada is composed of volunteer practitioners who have received many support letters over this time period, so please forgive us for not being able to report all of the important letters and events.
Below are some of the unpublished support letters written by Canadian government officials. We are also happy to report that VIPs from different countries jointly signed a petition to call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong at the Congress of Liberal International held at the end of October 2000 in Ottawa.
1. Over the past three years, Canadian VIPs at all levels showed their concern and called for the end of the persecution of Falun GongOn September 3, 1999, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs at that time, Mr. Lloyd Axworthy, said in his reply letter to Falun Gong: "We are very concerned about this suppression of the basic rights of freedom of expression and spiritual practice and call on the Chinese government to respect these essential human rights." He also said: "The Canadian Embassy in Beijing has raised our concerns about the treatment of Falun Gong members with the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Departmental officials have expressed our views on this matter to the Chinese Ambassador in Canada. We have also registered our concerns at the Plurilateral Symposium on Human Rights, which was held in Qingdao, China on July 26 and 27. This event was co-hosted by Canada, China and Norway."
(Letter 1: Letter from former Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Lloyd Axworthy on September 3, 1999)
On February 4, 2000, the Secretary to the Governor General and Herald Chancellor replied to the Falun Dafa Association of Canada. Canada's concern over the suppression, and treatment under arrest, of the Falun Gong practitioners was raised on numerous occasions with Chinese officials including at the November 8-9, 1999 session of the Joint Committee on Human Rights held in Beijing. On January 5, 2000, the Canadian Embassy in Beijing sent a memorandum to Chinese officials to express concern over the harsh prison sentences received by Falun Gong practitioners. The Governor General expressed her sympathy and support in this and every matter that involves the denial of human rights.
(Letter 2: Letter from the Secretary to the Governor General and Herald Chancellor on February 4, 2000)
On July 21, 2000, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Ms. Anne McClellan replied to the Falun Dafa Association of Canada and assured us that the Department of Justice would continue to provide any support necessary to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade as part of Canada's ongoing bilateral dialogue on human rights issues with China.
(Letter 3: Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Ms. Anne McClellan's letter to Falun Dafa Association of Canada on July 21, 2000)
On November 27, 2000, the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) of Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Mr. Raymond Chan pointed out in his letter to the Falun Dafa Association of Canada: Canada has conveyed its concern over the suppression and treatment under arrest, of Falun Gong practitioners on numerous occasions with Chinese officials including at the October 10-13, 2000 session of the Joint Committee on Human Rights held in Ottawa.
(Letter 4: Letter from the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) of Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Mr. Raymond Chan on November 27, 2000)
On January 25, 2001, Minister for International Trade, Mr. Pierre S. Pettigrew said that they welcome the development that Mr. Zhang Kunlun was released from detention in China and was able to return to Canada. He also assured the Falun Dafa Association of Canada that Canadian human rights concerns would be addressed during the upcoming Team Canada mission to China, including reports of the suppression of freedom of expression and spiritual practice of Falun Gong practitioners and their maltreatment by Chinese authorities.
(Letter 5: Letter from Minister for International Trade, Mr. Pierre S. Pettigrew on January 25, 2001)
On October 16, 2001, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. John Manley said in his letter to the Falun Dafa Association of Canada: Canada has frequently conveyed to Chinese officials its concern about the repression and treatment of detained Falun Gong practitioners. He said that Canada would continue to raise its concern about human rights with the Chinese leadership.
(Letter 6: Letter from Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. John Manley on October 16, 2001)
On February 27 and September 27, 2001, Canadian Prime Minister, Mr. Jean Chretien replied to Professor Zhang Kunlun and expressed that Canada would continue to raise its concerns of the suppression of human rights of Falun Gong practitioners. Below is a letter from Canadian Prime Minister, Mr. Jean Chretien to the Falun Dafa Association of Canada on April 24, 2002.
(Letter 7: Letter from Canadian Prime Minister, Mr. Jean Chretien to Falun Dafa Association of Canada on April 24, 2002)
On February 25, 2002, invited by the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Falun Gong practitioners attended an evening reception with attendees from many major NGOs in Canada, and presented Falun Gong truth-clarifying materials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Bill Graham.
(Photo 1: A practitioner presents Falun Gong truth-clarifying materials to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Bill Graham.)
From October 26 to 28, 2000, the Congress of Liberal International was held at Ottawa. During the meeting, Falun Gong practitioners in Canada attended sessions relating to human rights in China. They introduced to the VIPs from different countries the truth about Falun Gong and the ongoing severe persecution of Falun Gong in China, which aroused much sympathy and concern from the attendees. VIPs from over ten countries, including the Italian Liberal Party Leader, President of Burundi Liberal Party, Secretary-General of Belgium Liberal Party, President of Angola Liberal Party, Parliament member, Secretary-General of Norway Liberal Party, and European Parliament members from Sweden and United Kingdom jointly signed a petition letter, in which they called on China to end the persecution of Falun Gong, to release all detained practitioners, and to abide by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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Below are some of the photos taken at the Congress of Liberal International evening banquet, which Falun Gong practitioners were invited to attend.
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| A practitioner presenting Falun Gong truth-clarifying materials and petition letter to Canadian Prime Minister, Mr. Jean Chretien. (Left: Ms. Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, President of Liberal International and Vice Minister for International Trade of Belgium) | A practitioner introducing Falun Gong to Japanese Ambassador in Canada and Leader of Japanese Liberal Party who has been listed as one of the 50 most influential figures in Asia. |
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| A practitioner and Swedish Parliament member, Ms. Cecilia Malmstrom. | A practitioner interviewed by a reporter at the evening banquet. |
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