(Clearwisdom.net) The September 23, 2010, edition of the Vancouver Sun carried a story by reporter Andrea Woo that described how Tao Wang, a reporter for New Tang Dynasty TV (NTDTV) has received threats to his family, his livelihood, and even his life for coverage critical of the Chinese government. Wang, who has worked for NTDTV's Canadian branch since 2009, covers all kinds of topics, such as the opening of the Canada Line, the Olympics, and the harmonized sales tax, but some have addressed subjects the Chinese Communist Party apparently does not want discussed.
Wang stated: "Some of the reports I think they don't like are on David Matas, the Nobel Prize nominee and human rights lawyer who spoke at the International Congress of the Transplant Society in Vancouver, talking about his investigation regarding organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners in China." I've also done reports on [Canadian Security Intelligence Service director] Richard Fadden's comments about foreign interference on Canadian governments."
According to Wang, the threatening phone calls began a month ago and have become more and more harsh, culminating in death threats. Police are taking it seriously, and have launched an investigation.
The article continues, describing how Mr. Wang's business in China has also been targeted by the Chinese government, and several of his clients were visited by agents of China's Ministry of State Security (MSS).
Then came the threats. "They said, 'You actually think there is nothing we can do to you because you are in Canada?' They also mentioned, 'If you ever go public on this, you are -- in Chinese words -- seeking death.' I believe it was a very clear message."
The same day, September 17, two MSS agents went to Wang's company in China.
"[They] sealed up all bank accounts and inventory and threatened [all 10 of] my employees. They became jobless," Wang said.
The article states that at this point, Mr. Wang contacted the RCMP, and also talked to his member of Parliament, who told him the public safety and foreign affairs ministers have been asked to look into the matter.
According to reporter Andrea Woo, NTDTV has received threats before. From April to June 2005, the broadcaster's Toronto office received five envelopes containing a white powder, at least one of which was confirmed to be boric acid.
The envelopes were all addressed to "Falun Dafa," also called Falun Gong, a spiritual movement that embraces truthfulness, compassion and forbearance, which has been persecuted in China since 1999.
Mr. Wang stated that while not all NTDTV employees are Falun Gong practitioners he has no doubt the affiliation is a large part of the reason the broadcaster has drawn the government's ire.
In January 2004, the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Toronto sent a memo to sponsors and supporters of NTDTV's annual Chinese New Year gala, urging them not to participate in the event.
The article quotes Joe Wang, the president of NTDTV Canada, who praised Tao Wang's decision to go public. "I'm very proud of him; I know it's not an easy decision," he said. "They don't believe in what's right, the Chinese government. They only believe in power, and I think in this case, the power is the truth.... For a civilized society, this kind of thing cannot be tolerated. If [Tao Wang] has really done something illegal, work with the RCMP in Canada and arrest him. But threatening? Bullying? It's like a gang, especially from a powerful government. This cannot be tolerated."
Mr. Wang has vowed to return to work soon and continue reporting as usual.
"I will keep doing this," he said. "Someone has to stand up and say, 'Yes, you are powerful, and you have all these secret agents and resources, but this is Canada. The job I choose is my personal decision.'
"The more scared they are, it means my work is valuable. It means it's effective; why else would they target me?"