Falun Gong Practitioners Ask Canada to Bar Future Entry of Chinese Officials Responsible for Persecution

At a Toronto news conference on August 10, the Falun Dafa Association of Canada, representing Falun Gong practitioners in Canada, requested and insisted the Canadian government in the future refuse entry to Chinese officials involved in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. This includes Chinese President Jiang Zemin, the head officials of national and local branches of the "610 Office," the Public Security Department, the State Security Department, the Police Bureau, and the Appeal Bureau.

The "610 Offices" were set up centrally, in all provinces as well as in each city and town on June 10, 1999 ("610" stands for the tenth day of the sixth month), for the sole purpose of the systematic and brutal crackdown of Falun Gong.

The Falun Dafa Association of Canada, along with Canadian citizens Ms. Jinyu Li and Mr. Xueye Zhu, also urged the Canadian government to remove and/or charge Chinese official Dong Yiming, currently visiting Canada.

Mr. Dong Yiming, as the Department Chief of the Appeal Processing Office of China's National Appeal Bureau, is directly responsible, instrumental and complicit for the systematic murder, torture, persecution, and illegal labour camp internment of thousands of Falun Dafa practitioners in China. It is both his duty and responsibility, to ensure that the National Appeal Bureau manage, direct, and oversee citizen appeals in accordance with the Constitution, related to laws, and regulations.

Mr. Dong Yiming, and such other officials' entry into Canada is a clear breach of s.19 of the

Immigration Act, and his actions are a criminal offence under s.7(3.1) of the Criminal Code of Canada, constituting crimes against humanity.

When Jinyu Li and husband Shenli Lin went to the Beijing Appeals Office in December 1999 to appeal for Falun Gong, the two were arrested. Jinyu was quickly deported. Shenli was detained and later sentenced without trial to 18 months in a labour camp. He was due to be released last month, but had his term arbitrarily extended for six months the day before his scheduled release.

Mr. Xueye Zhu went to the Appeal Office in Beijing at end of 1999 to appeal for Falun Gong. He was detained for 12 days. His parents were given a choice between losing their jobs or persuading Xueye to denounce Falun Gong. He was expelled from China only after his parents wrote promises. Xueye remained firm with his belief.

The appeals offices are set up as the official channel for Chinese citizens to file complaints. But they have become a gate to torture and prison for Falun Gong practitioners. Thousands and possibly tens of thousands of innocent Falun Gong practitioners have been illegally arrested, beaten and even killed after going to the appeal offices.