By Dong Na
At noon on May 12, 2005, the Canadian Parliament's Committee on Immigration
held a hearing to listen to testimonies, suggestions and comments from nongovernmental
organizations and individuals, so as to adjust Canadian policy on immigration.
Ms. Dai Gongyu represented the Canadian Falun Dafa Association in a detailed testimony.
She hoped that the Canadian government would help Canadian citizens' or residents'
family members who are persecuted in China, as well as orphans of Falun Gong practitioners
who have died from the persecution and Falun Gong practitioners who are living
outside of China but whose human rights are not ensured, to come to Canada.
Ms. Dai Gongyu from the Canadian Falun Dafa Association presenting evidence
at the hearing 
Listening to witnesses
The persecution
prevents Falun Gong practitioners from reuniting with their family members in
Canada
Ms. Dai Gongyu introduced Falun Gong and the persecution in China.
She said that 120 victims of persecution are now in Canada, among whom, 44 practitioners'
family members are still illegally imprisoned in China. Some of them have been
sentenced to as much as 10 years in prison. Ms. Dai said that a Toronto resident's
daughter and son-in-law, both Falun Gong practitioners, were trying to come to
Canada. During the process of applying for a visa to Canada, the son-in-law, Mr.
Zhang Yiming, was unlawfully sentenced to 10 years in prison for upholding his
belief in Falun Dafa. He is currently imprisoned in Beijiang Prison, Guangdong
Province.
Ms. Dai Gongyu called upon the humanity and kindness of the Canadian
Immigration Bureau, to consider allowing these victims of persecution to come
to Canada and be reunited with their family members.
The persecution has
severely harmed innocent children who have no ability to protect themselves
In discussing children in China who are affected by the persecution of Falun
Gong, Ms. Dai continued, “Lin Huixuan, five years old, is the niece of a Canadian
resident. Her parents and grandparents are subjected to persecution for not giving
up their belief in Falun Gong. They have been repeatedly imprisoned. Her parents
lost their jobs and the opportunity to continue their University studies. Her
father, Mr. Lin Yanqing (postdoctoral fellow at Harbin Architectural University)
has been imprisoned for years. At present, the whole family was forced to leave
home because of the persecution, and they currently have no fixed place to stay.
Her mother, Ms. Xu Lei has been released from detention, but because of the persecution,
no one dares to hire her, because she could be re-arrested at any time. Lin Huixuan
and her mother wish to be able to come to Canada.
Ms. Dai said that this persecution
of Falun Gong has caused severe harm to innocent children who have no ability
to protect themselves. Thousands of children whose parents have died from the
persecution have no one to take care of them, or else they live with their single
parent. Countless children have been driven out of their schools or imprisoned
in jails or labor camps. The youngest child tortured to death was only 8 months
old. Some of the child victims are practitioners themselves, while more children
become victims of persecution simply because their parents practice Falun Gong.
Another case presented by Ms. Dai was a five-year-old girl, Zou Rongfa, who
is a niece of a Canadian citizen. Her father, Mr. Zou Songtao, was tortured to
death when she was only 11 months old. Her mother, Ms. Zhang Yunhe, was abducted
by police officers and no one knows her whereabouts. Little Rongfa's grandmother
died from grief at the plight of her family. Right now, Rongfa is living with
her parents' friends. Rongfa is one of the thousands of persecuted children
whose stories were collected in a report compiled by a nongovernmental organization.
Dai Gongyu hopes that the Canadian government will help rescue these children
and allow them to come to Canada.
Finally, Ms. Dai said that Canada is a world
leader in the protection of human rights, a country that upholds the dignity of
humanity. Over the past several years, the government and Prime Minister have
allowed many persecuted Falun Gong practitioners to enter Canada. Ms. Dai hopes
that the Canadian government can hold a formal hearing for those persecuted children
who are family members of Canadian people. She hoped that the Committee will pass
a motion based on kindness and humanity, to issue visas to the persecuted children
in China.
MPs admire Falun Gong practitioners for presenting the evidence
Chairman of the Immigration Committee, MP Andrew Telegdi, mentioned the
Falun Gong practitioners' petition when accepting an interview with this
reporter. He said that he once lived in a country ruled by a communist dictatorship
and he therefore understands the Falun Gong practitioners' requests. “These
requests are reasonable and Canada should secure these requests.”
Ms. Hedy
Fry, MP and Secretary of the Parliament, admired the Falun Gong practitioners'
points when she gave an interview with this reporter. She said that the persecution
of Falun Gong is an important issue, one which Canada needs to address.
Ms.
Fry said that Canada works with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR). For urgent incidents, Canada is able to issue special (refugee) articles,
for instance, the special (refugee) articles pertaining to the War in Kosovo,
Vietnam, as well as the recent special articles pertaining to the Philippines.
Based on humanity and kindness, with sufficient supporting evidence, Canada can
take specific action. Therefore, Ms. Fry believes it is really important to provide
solid evidence at these kinds of hearings.
Minister of Immigration: “If
Canadian family members are willing to be sponsors, the Ministry of Immigration
will help the child victims to immigrate to Canada”
When giving an interview
with this reporter, MP Bill Siksay stated that the persecution of Falun Gong is
real, and is a serious issue. They fully understand this. The persecution, documented
by large amounts of evidence, is shocking. The Canadian government must persistently
raise this issue to China, and this human rights issue must be resolved between
governments. MP Siksay said that Canada cannot sacrifice human rights for economic
trade. We should try our best to urge the Chinese government to improve its human
rights record.
On February 18, Mr. Siksay wrote a letter to the Minister of
Immigration regarding the issue of rescuing Falun Gong practitioners and orphans
of practitioners. The Minister of Immigration, Joe Volpe, clearly pointed out
in his response that if the child victim's close family members can be verified
to be in Canada, and the family member is willing to take care of the child, the
Canadian Immigration Bureau will help the child to immigrate to Canada.
Posting
date: 23/May/2005
Original article date: 20/May/2005
Category: World
News
