Professor Zhang Kunlun is Released and Returns to Canada On January 16, 2001

With the great support and the concerted efforts from the Canadian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs, Members of Parliament, Senators, Amnesty International and Human rights organizations, the media and all kindhearted people, Falun Gong practitioner, Professor Kunlun Zhang was released and returned to Canada from China, early in the morning of January 16, 2001. Members of Amnesty International and Falun Gong practitioners warmly greeted Professor Zhang at the Ottawa Airport.

Professor Zhang was sentenced to three years in a Chinese labor camp without trial on Nov. 15, 2000 for peacefully practicing Falun Gong exercises in a public park. In the labor camp, he was tortured by electric shock and other brutal means in the labor camp. Due to international pressure, the Chinese government released Professor Zhang on January 10, 2001 after he served only two months of his sentence.

After his release, he told his daughter Lingdi Zhang over the phone on January 11, 2001, that he would continue practicing Falun Gong. He also expressed his sincere gratitude to the Canadian people for giving their unending support. Ms. Zhang stated that a daughter's appeal for her father's misfortune is just one small voice; however, the combined voices from the entire society carry a stronger power. From her father's experience, it is a clear lesson of the success of moral support.

The Volunteer Team for the "Appeal for Professor Kunlun Zhang's Freedom" sincerely thank the Canadian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs, renowned international human rights lawyer MP Irwin Cotler (international legal counsel to Professor Zhang), Amnesty International and Human rights organizations, Members of Parliament, Senators, and all kind-hearted people who offered support. Also, we would also like to thank the media who have been giving fair and detailed reports on Professor Zhang's case.

Professor Kunlun Zhang is only one of the thousands of Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted. To date, at least 122 Falun Gong practitioners are reported to have died in police custody since the crackdown began. Thousands upon thousands of innocent Falun Gong practitioners are still being tortured, beaten and killed in labor camps, prisons, and detention centers every day.

The imprisonment and torture of Falun Gong practitioners in China is unlawful and the persecution severely violates China's own constitution as well as the international human rights treaties China has signed. Falun Gong is a peaceful meditation practice that focuses on morality and the principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance".

It is our sincerest hope that the kind-hearted Canadian people and the Canadian government who is a major contributor to the worldwide peace and justice will continue their persistent support, urge the Chinese government to end the persecution of Falun Gong and release all Falun Gong practitioners.

One release is not enough. Alex Neve, the Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada said: "... the Chinese often try to deal with individual cases that are "irritants" in advance of trade missions. Canada must not be deflected by the conditional release of one prisoner. It must press the Chinese to stop the continuing crackdown on all Falun Gong practitioners and other dissidents and respect human rights throughout the country."

By The Volunteer Team for the "Appeal for Professor Kunlun Zhang's Freedom"