Speeches Made by Canadian Officials at the Welcoming Ceremony of the "SOS Global Rescue Walk" in Ottawa in September, 2001 (Part II)

(Clearwisdom.net)

MP Wendy Lill

Thank you very much. I want to welcome the walkers, the Falun Gong practitioners that have come all the way from Toronto. And I have been told that there are walks going on around the world; this is not the only one. And it strengthens us to know that there are thousands of others involved in the same struggle in other parts of the country.

On behalf of my colleagues in the New Democratic Party I join others today in welcoming the SOS Global Rescue Walkers. I think that the words of Warren Alman are appropriate here. He talks about the fact that "Large scale arrests of Falun Gong practitioners in China and the arbitrary detention of its leaders contravene international law including the covenant of civil and political rights which China recently signed. China is not only making a mockery of its international obligations but it's also violating its own constitution which guarantees the right to freedom of belief, assembly and association." We must all, at this point in time as no other, stand up for the freedom of belief of all people on this globe. So on behalf of the New Democrats we call once again for the Canadian government to join the worldwide effort to put an end to the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Thank you.

MP John Godfrey

Thank you very much. I simply want to reiterate the solidarity, which many of us in the House of Commons have with Falun Gong. To thank and congratulate the walkers who have walked through rain and heat to be here to show their conviction, to say how proud we are to be associated with such people of conviction and people of faith and we will stay with you and continue to support your efforts and make our views known to the Chinese government. And I just came here to congratulate you and thank you for what you're doing.

Ms. Karen Hawley, The Ontario Public Interest Research Group

I'd like to welcome you all here. You're using the tried and true method of spreading the word of peace. Which is marching, used all over the world with great success so I wish you the same success. Earlier this summer Jean came to me, she's a Falun Gong practitioner, and she asked if the students in parliament would be interested in helping out with this struggle. And indeed our board of directors was keen to get going on this and I hope this year we that have some great success. I brought some T-shirts for you 'cause you're going to need them in the next little while of marching to keep you extra warm to add to those layers. Once again thanks for making this step towards peace.

Ms. Shirley Brown, Vice President of National Council of Women of Canada

I bring greetings to you all from the National Council of Women of Canada. My heart goes out to you all; to all those who have been oppressed and the ones who have walked all the way from Toronto and Montreal. You've taken a lot of courage to do that. My president has met with a lot of your organizers. Unfortunately she is in Winnipeg today. If she were here today she would have much more to say because she knows you. I am happy to bring the best wishes from the council. We do not support violence. We support the United Nations human rights and we are against all forms of torture and oppression and support wholeheartedly peaceful methods of finding solutions and ways of life. And we wish you every success with your efforts. Thank you.