News and Events from around the World -- June 20, 2005

Issued by Clearwisdom Net

Content

- Canadian Officials Express Concern over Citizens' Privacy Being Violated by Chinese Spies
- Taiwan: Falun Dafa Association Calls Upon Singapore Government to Not Become Accomplices of the CCP
- German Falun Gong Information Center: Wang Yunkun Sued in Karlsruhe for Genocide
- Finland: Seminar Focuses on the Persecution Against Falun Gong

Canadian Officials Express Concern over Citizens' Privacy Being Violated by Chinese Spies

Recently, former Chinese police officer Hao Fengjun defected to Australia with a large amount of smuggled secret documents. The secret files indicate that Chinese communist regime operates espionage network to spy on Falun Gong practitioners outside China. After media revealed these documents, high-ranking officials of the Canadian government have expressed their concerns. The media in Canada are paying close attention to the situation, and to the persecution encountered by the Falun Gong group.

Officials are shocked: Canadian citizens don't have their privacy?

On June 16, during "question period" in the Canadian Parliament, MP Peter Mackay pointed out, "documents provided by Hao Fengjun, the former Chinese policeman and defector, show Chinese spies in Canada were targeting Jillian Ye, a Falun Gong practitioner and database consultant from Scarborough."

39-year-old Jillian Ye is Canadian citizen and a Falun Gong practitioner. In early 1990s, she studied at the University of Western Ontario and obtained a masters degree in computer science. She is now a database consultant.

A document dated September 1, 2004, entitled "intelligence 274(2003), series nkf03292" that Hao Fengjun provided, detailed Jillian Ye's plans to start a communications company and her budget to buy a house for her parents. Upon learning about this, Ms. Ye said when giving an interview, "My goodness! They (the spies) are so rampant in Canada? I don't know what to say!" She said, "It makes me wonder where they are getting their information and how closely they are watching us!"

According to a report from The Epoch Times, the document was addressed to a vice department head, delivered to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China.

On June 15, after Hon. Stephen Harper (Leader of the Opposition, Conservative Party of Canada) urged a crackdown on Chinese spies, Prime Minister Martin told MPs that he already raised this issue when he visited Beijing in January this year. Prime Minister Martin said, "It is also well known that Canada maintains a vigorous counter-intelligence program to safeguard Canada's security. It is also very clear and Canadians can rest assured that we maintain a very strong law enforcement and security system that will enable Canadians to be assured of their own protection and their own security."

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin

Hon. Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been discussing with the Chinese officials to ensure that they respect Canadian citizens' rights to express their views in Canada. Pettigrew said, "we always take all of these allegations very seriously." He said, "We expect from them respect for our sovereignty. When they are here they are meant to respect our Canadian laws. When things are brought to our attention we refer them to the appropriate authorities in our country."

MPs suggests Canadian government put more effort to expel Chinese spies. Deputy Prime Minister encourages citizens to report on spies.

During "question period" on June 16, MP Stephen Harper pointed out, "For some time there has been growing evidence of a large spy network being operated in Canada by the Chinese government. Today the former head of the CSIS Asia desk confirmed reports from defectors that close to a thousand Chinese government agent spies had infiltrated Canada."

MP Peter MacKay pointed out a day earlier that according to Hao Fengjun, a former police officer and Chinese defector, China has more than 1,000 spies operating in Canada. He said that this indicated that the Chinese communist government is conducting a campaign of intimidation and harassment against Falun Gong practitioners, mainly in Toronto and Vancouver. He said that this action is consistent with a CSIS report that foreign intelligence services manipulate, threaten and exploit expatriates living in Canada.

MacKay said, "Mr. Hao claims that he has given a Chinese intelligence report about a Falun Gong practitioner in Canada to the Australian authorities." He asked, "Will our government request a copy of this report from Australia and will it make a formal request to the Chinese government to cease and desist in the harassment of Canadian citizens?"

MP. Rob Nicholson suggested to the government that they move beyond concern and start putting the time, effort and money into cleaning up this problem.

Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness said, "We are well aware of Falun Gong and some of the allegations and assertions made in relation to their right to peacefully express their points of view and to peacefully associate and demonstrate in this country."

She said, "We are fully aware of the allegations that have been made in relation to the presence of some in this country who may be carrying on certain activities that are unacceptable. CSIS, the RCMP and regular law enforcement in this country are well aware.

When answering questions on June 16, McLellan said, "CSIS is well aware of the allegations that have been made. CSIS is doing everything that is necessary to ensure the collective security of Canadians."

She said, "I would suggest to the honorable member, if in fact he has evidence of harassment of any individual of whatever origin, he has a responsibility to provide that information to regular law enforcement authorities."

Evidence of China's persecution of religious freedom in Canada

During"question period" on June 16, MP Rob Nicholson said, "We have known for many years that China clamps down on the religious freedom and expression of people within in its own borders. Now we have evidence that it is trying to do the same thing here in Canada."

According to Hao Fengjun, those spying on Canadian Falun Gong practitioners are coded as F101. Their tasks in Canada include maintaining a name list of Falun Gong practitioners, harassing them, threatening them to cease their protests against the Chinese government's persecution and tapping their phones. Hao Fenjun revealed when giving an interview to this Minghui correspondent, "The Chinese communist government spent more than three years to set up this global network and it is very comprehensive and perfect. It is not only limited in Australia, it has infiltrated everywhere in the world including the U.S., Canada and Europe. I've even seen reports from Copenhagen, Denmark."

On June 17, the Canadian Falun Dafa Association held a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the nation's capital. Seven Falun Gong practitioners who had been harassed bore witness. Their plights included: passport renewal requests rejected by the Chinese Consulate; requests of visas to visit China turned down; imprisonment when going back to China; discrimination against them in the local Chinese community; practitioners' family members in China receiving harassment and threatening phone calls; as well as evidence showing that the CCP manipulates Chinese media and Chinese organizations to control local Canadian Chinese communities and influence Canadian mainstream society. The president of Canadian Falun Dafa Association and another representative comprehensively answered reporters' questions during the 30-minute period.

More than 10 media outlets including Canwest Global, Canadian Press, the most influential Canadian TV stations CBC and CTV as well as Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star came to attend the press conference. China's espionage network has become a focal point in recent Canadian media coverage.

Taiwan: Falun Dafa Association Calls Upon Singapore Government to Not Become Accomplices of the CCP

On June 13 2005, the Falun Dafa Association of Taiwan held a press conference at the Legislative Yuan to "Call Upon the Singapore Government to Not become Accomplices of the CCP." The practitioners were protesting the Singapore government's unreasonable barring of Taiwanese Falun Gong practitioner Nie Shu-wen from entering its territory. After the press conference, the association went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deliver an appeal letter which urged the Ministry to safeguard Taiwanese citizen's rights and send a grave protest to the Singapore government.

Legislative councilman, Lin Chung-Mo, director of the Graduate Institute of Journalism at National Taiwan University, Chang Ching-Hua, and director of China Human Rights Association, Wu Huilin as well as reporters from many media outlets such as ET Today, Dongsen, CiTV, Chinese Television System, Taiwan TV and FTV Net, attended the press conference.

Taiwan Falun Dafa Association holds press conference at Legislative Yuan

Ms. Nie Shu-wen went to Singapore on June 10 to attend a local Falun Gong practitioners' experience sharing conference. When she prepared to enter the country, an immigration officer said, "We've received a notice from the Immigration Office. As you do not meet the Immigration Office's stipulations, you cannot enter Singapore." The officer was unable to specify the rules under which Ms. Nie was barred entry. After being repeatedly asked for details, the officer said, "I cannot tell you the reason. I only implement the Immigration Office's orders." Ms. Nie was repatriated to Taiwan on the same day.

A friend who traveled with Ms. Nie asked the officer whether it was because Ms. Nie practices Falun Gong that the Singapore authorities banned her entry. The officer did not deny anything at that point.

Legislative councilman Lin Chung-Mo, the chair of Foreign Affairs Committee, said that the unreasonable barring of an innocent Taiwanese was probably because Nie was a Falun Gong practitioner. Lin said that the Singapore government failed to respect basic human rights in this case and his FAC would urge the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to dialogue with a Singapore representative [consul] to Taiwan to get a solution.

Chang Ching-Hua said that Nie had entered Singapore before and had never violated Singapore's laws. The treatment she received was unreasonable and violated her rights of free travel and belief. In addition, the Singapore authorities even confiscated a box of books that expose the CCP's nature. Apparently, the Singapore government was pressured by the CCP to violate her human rights. The whole world should ask if Singapore has become a colony of the Chinese communist regime.

Since the Jiang regime and the CCP started to persecute Falun Gong in China in July 1999, the registered Falun Gong group in Singapore has never received proper legal protection. For example, the authorities have routinely refused to grant the group the use of public facilities, they have rejected practitioners' citizenship or permanent residency applications and arbitrarily confiscated Falun Gong materials--all signs that indicate the Singapore government has been pressured by the CCP to violate Falun Gong practitioners' rights.

Professor Chang urged the Singapore government to not become an accomplice of the CCP by using repressive measures against innocent people. She hoped that the Singapore government wouldn't try to please the CCP by suppressing Falun Gong, because such behavior would damage its own reputation as a democratic state. She also hoped that the Taiwanese government would express its grave concern on this issue and protect Taiwanese citizen's rights.

Falun Dafa Association of Taiwan delivers an appeal letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

After the press conference, Chang Ching-Chi, director of the Falun Dafa Association of Taiwan, went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deliver an appeal letter together with Nie Shu-wen. An officer of the Ministry said that the Taiwan Trade Office to Singapore contacted the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a timely fashion and sent agents to the Singapore Airport to handle the case. Surprisingly, the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that it was not aware of the case.

To express the association's protest against the Singapore Government for violating a law-abiding Taiwanese citizen's rights, the Falun Dafa Association went to the Singapore Trade Office to Taiwan to deliver a protest letter on the morning of June 14. The association also requested the Singapore authorities to offer an open apology to practitioners and promise not to violate practitioners' rights in the future. Officials at the trade office said that the representative wasn't available to receive the protest letter and asked the association to wait for further notice. However, Mr. Chen, the assistant representative of the Office, met with practitioners. Ms. Nie asked Mr. Chen why the Singapore government would repatriate a person who had visited the island state before. In 1998, Ms. Nie attended a Falun Dafa Sharing Conference in Singapore and Mr. Li Hongzhi lectured at that conference. Nie gave two possible reasons: 1) she has recently withdrawn from the CCP; 2) she is a volunteer Falun Gong contact person. In reply, Mr. Chen claimed that the case was not related to Falun Gong, although he could not give any other plausible reason.

Practitioners go to Singapore Trade Office in Taipei to deliver a protest letter | Nie Shu-wen interviewed in front of the Singapore Trade Office

According to a Taiwan practitioner who has returned from Singapore after attending a local sharing conference there, local practitioners phoned them while they were still at the airport. At that time, the Singapore practitioners told them that many police officers have been stationed around the hotel at which they were to stay. Furthermore, claiming a desire to learn about how practitioners "study the Fa," many plainclothes security agents monitored the practitioners' group study and sharing.

This practitioner particular stressed that no hotel had ever required him to provide his address in Taiwan; however, the hotel that he stayed at in Singapore required every practitioner to fill out their addresses in either English or Chinese. In a large group study on the evening of June 11, 4 Singapore security officials (3 male and 1 female) came to the site and asked to join around 8pm. Practitioners told them that Falun Gong activities were open to the public and they were welcome to join. However, the agents repeatedly used video cameras to record practitioners during the meeting.

Security agents (2 standing and one pointed to with green arrow) at a large scale group study | The one wearing a blue shirt with a camera in his hands is a security agent

The practitioner also expressed his gratitude to Taiwan officials in Singapore. One official visited practitioners at their hotel to apologize for the incident, and also left his business card and cell phone number saying that practitioners could him for help.

Professor Chang Ching-Chi asked the assistant representative of the Singapore Trade Office in Taipei if all activities of the sharing conference were monitored because participants were practitioners of Falun Gong. Chang also told him that Falun Gong had no interest in politics and had never used violent measures to resist the persecution.

The Falun Dafa Association said that it would determine future actions depending on the response from the Singapore government.

German Falun Gong Information Center: Wang Yunkun Sued in Karlsruhe for Genocide

A high-level Chinese trade delegation from multinational firms visited Germany between May 31 and June 4. The head of the delegation was the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Secretary Wang Yunkun from China's northeastern Jilin Province. While visiting Germany, Wang was charged with human rights violations in a German court.

On Thursday, June 2, the delegation visited the Volkswagen plant and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Lueneburg-Wolfsburg, and on Friday they went to Degussa in Duesseldorf, Germany's third largest chemical company. Degussa is a company known to have been engaged in unethical business practices.

Wang Yunkun is one of the defendants in a complex lawsuit that charges the defendants with committing genocide, crimes against humanity and torture. The lawsuit was filed November 21st 2003 in the Karlsruhe Federal Court and is still under litigation.

Wang Yunkun, as the CCP Secretary, holds direct responsibility for the persecution of Falun Gong in Jilin Province, because the CCP Provincial Committees are in charge of the coordination and organization of this persecution.

On July 23, 1999, Wang Yunkun enthusiastically declared his support for the persecution campaign in an article published by the Chinese newspaper People's Daily just one day after the official order for the persecution of Falun Gong was publicized.

On November 14, 2001, Party Secretary Wang gave a speech during a seminar in Baishan, Jilin Province, during which he stressed the importance of the persecution against Falun Gong. He continued to affirm his support of the persecution at other public events.

Wang Yunkun personally participated in a number of brainwashing sessions and interrogation of Falun Gong practitioners, during which, inhuman measures and tortures were perpetrated. Such actions were meant to "re-educate" Falun Gong practitioners and force them to renounce the practice in writing. Since the beginning of the persecution, such torture has led to over 2,500 verified deaths of Falun Gong practitioners. However, those researching such activities believe the number of practitioners killed during the persecution to be much higher.

Further information about brainwashing is available from World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong, "The Destruction of Mind and Body Through Brainwashing" (http://www.zhuichaguoji.org/en/index2.php? option=content&task=view&id=60&pop=1&page=0).

Finland: Seminar Focuses on the Persecution Against Falun Gong

On June 14, 2005, a seminar entitled, "Communism and Human Rights in China" was held in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. China experts from different countries expressed their views on both the current state and the future of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Their message to the Finnish Government and the public was that the human rights situation in China is getting worse. They especially mentioned the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, which represents the most serious human rights crime in Chinese history. Major media outlets, including the Finnish News Agency and the newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat attended the seminar and a press conference on the same subject.

Well-known Chinese human rights activist Mr. Wei Jingsheng told the newspaper Uutislehti 100 that many European politicians think that the human rights situation in China is getting better. "Actually it is not getting better. Quite the opposite, it's getting worse," he stated.

According to Huvudstadsbladet, a Swedish newspaper in Finland, the CCP seems to be losing its power, since more than 2.2 million people have withdrawn from the Party. Since the Epoch Times published the series of articles, the "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party," a major wave of withdrawals from the CCP has begun worldwide. An editor for The Epoch Times, Ms. Annette Guo, who also spoke in the seminar, said that 90 percent of those resigning from the party are from Mainland China.

Professor Nieh Sen, from the Catholic University of America, said in the seminar that he has been very sad about the terrible human rights situation in China, which seems to just get worse. But now when people have started to openly condemn the atrocities of the CCP and resign from the Party, he feels some optimism. "People have started to wake up from the nightmare of Communism," Professor Nieh Sen said.

In the past six years, the CCP has used the most brutal and evil methods to persecute Falun Gong practitioners. One hundred million people have been the direct target of this brutal oppression, as well as their family members, friends, co-workers, schoolmates etc. Because of the nature of the persecution, the number of people being affected by it extends far more than the one hundred million mentioned, said Professor Nieh Sen.