Falun Gong 2000 day-vigil at Vancouver Chinese Consulate

MEDIA ADVISORY

February 9^th marks 2000 days since Falun Gong practitioners started their peaceful vigil on Granville outside the Chinese Consulate

Today (February 9^th) marks 2000 days of probably what constitutes one of the longest vigils in history. Falun Gong practitioners gather in front of the Chinese Consulate on Granville to mark this important day. They have one goal in common: to bring a halt to the inhumane persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), now in its seventh year. Falun Gong teaches meditation through exercise. It begun in 1992 and has grown to include more than 70 million adherents before it was banned by the Chinese government in July 1999.

Around the year 2000, the persecution of Falun Gong entered a new phase and became magnified considerably. A 2006 independent study by David Kilgour, a former MP and cabinet minister, and David Matas, an international human rights lawyer, confirmed the practice of organ snatching from live Falun Gong practitioners in China. According to their most recent study, “Bloody Harvest”, China’s military is harvesting organs from unwilling live prison inmates, mostly Falun Gong practitioners, for transplants on a large scale, including to foreign recipients.

“We have concluded that the government of China and its agencies in numerous parts of the country, in particular hospitals but also detention centers and ‘people’s courts,’ since 1999 have put to death a large but unknown number of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience. Their vital organs, including hearts, kidneys, livers and corneas, were virtually simultaneously seized involuntarily for sale at high prices, sometimes to foreigners, who normally face long waits for voluntary donations of such organs in their home countries.” Mr. Kilgour said that “hospitals in Canada's biggest cities - Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto - confirmed "a substantial number'' of Canadians had traveled to China for dubious organ transplants.”

In light of these findings, the BC Falun Dafa Association urges our government to investigate and stop the atrocities. Canada’s support is vital in the international effort to stop this heinous practice. For this effort to succeed, we need everybody's participation--it will help save many lives.

The newest version of the report, “Bloody Harvest,” is available here.

For more background information, visit:

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL – Falun Gong Fact Sheet

World Transplant Congress and Chinese Protests

New Evidence in Kilgour-Matas Report on Organ Harvesting

Ottawa- David Matas and David Kilgour called on all states to ban transplant tourism to China. The call was made in the context of a revised version of a report which addresses the allegation whether organs are harvested from Falun Gong practitioners who were killed in the process. The initial report was released July 6, 2006. The reports conclude that it is true. The revised report almost doubles the amount of evidence that the practice is continuing.

New evidence in the revised report reinforcing the original conclusions includes:

• the donor recipient experience that transplant operations are done in a secretive way suggesting cover up of a crime;

• heavy military involvement in the organ transplant business;

• additional admissions from the hospitals that they have Falun Gong organs for transplant. The admissions were made to telephone investigators posing as relatives of patients in need of transplants ;

• additional testimony from Falun Gong victim witnesses about both systematic blood testing of only Falun Gong practitioners in Chinese detention and the disappearance of the massive numbers of Falun Gong practitioners in detention who refused to self identity to the authorities;

• death through torture of over three thousand named Falun Gong practitioners;

• the building of dedicated facilities for organ transplants without any identifiable source for transplants other than prisoners;

• corroborating studies from other independent researchers coming to the same conclusion as the Matas/Kilgour report.

• the failure to implement the law in force July 1, 2006 prohibiting the harvesting of organs without consent;

• the failure of foreign laws and ethics to provide an effective barrier to transplant tourism to China;

• the absence of effective foreign warning transplant sources in China through travel advisories and other information programs;

• the absence of any meaningful answer or contradiction from the Government of China to the first version of the report;

• the absence of an organ donation system in China;

The report recommendations include:

• extra-territorial legislation preventing patients from going abroad for transplants where neither the donor nor his family consent;

• end of funding for after care for patients who benefit from commercial organ transplants abroad;

• ceasing contact with Chinese transplant professionals;

• warning through government travel advisories and public information campaigns that the source of organ transplants in China with few exceptions is prisoners.

"Our investigations have found Canadians going to China for transplants from Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto. The numbers are increasing”, said Kilgour.

“The market for organs in China is determined by supply and demand. The supply is local, but the demand is, in large part, foreign. We must do everything we can to end this demand”, said Matas.

For further information, contact David Kilgour at 613-747-7854,

David Matas at 204-944-1831

The revised report can be obtained at: http://www.organharvestinvestigation.net/

Callers crank 'Gong' Show

Believe or not, Beijing is meddling again with NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular. Cynthia R. Fagen has the scoop.

NY Post: February 7, 2007 -- Crank callers from China have been hogging telephone ticket hot lines here in an attempt to sabotage a Chinese variety show at Radio City Music Hall because it puts a positive spin on the outlawed Falun Gong sect, according to the show's backers.

"They are trying to occupy the time so other callers who want to buy tickets can't call in," said Carrie Hung, the troupe's spokeswoman.

Backers claim the festive "Chinese New Year Spectacular" - which celebrates the Year of the Pig - is being targeted by government officials back home.

The show takes the stage at the start of China's lunar calendar this month.

The calls, with the area code 681, emanate from Beijing.

Celebrate the Year of the Pig with NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular

The Divine Beauty of Traditional Chinese Culture Shines at New York's Radio City Music Hall

As we usher in the Year of the Pig, the divine beauty of the ancient East will come to life in NYC with the now legendary NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular! The 30-city world tour Spectacular will play at Radio City from February 14 – 17.

Featuring the best of Chinese culture and world-class performers, this unique show portrays genuine traditional Chinese culture and includes classical Chinese dance as well as various traditional dances. Performers have worked hard to emulate the musical style of the ancients—classical melodies filled with the power of compassion. Showcasing grand stage designs, hand-painted backdrops and authentic costuming from ancient Chinese Dynasties, the theme of Myths and Legends weaves a tale of the proverbial battle between good and evil through theatre, music and dance.

One of NTDTV’s main goal is to revive lost Chinese culture from the ancient past. As you may be aware, in 1949 when the Chinese Communist Party took power in China, its leaders did everything possible to sever the people from their 5,000-year-old culture. Everything moral and spiritual was suddenly uprooted from people's lives--temples and buddhas were destroyed. The arts became a tool for fulfilling political aims, evoking the dark side of human nature. China's folk music was used to serve the communist revolution.

Unfortunately, those born after 1949 have opened their eyes to a spiritual desert. They are no longer familiar with their own heritage, which has been decimated and replaced with the communist-atheist model.

Judging by the growth and success of the Chinese New Year Spectacular, now in its fourth year, I believe that NTDTV has lived up to its word. The Spectacular really does have the effect of removing the communist "wrapping paper" around the essence of traditional Chinese values and beauty. It is not surprising that the show ranked 7th on Billboard Magazine’s top 10 shows in Feb 2006 based on ticket sales for the 2006 shows at Radio City Music Hall.

The Spectacular is a delight to Chinese and Western audiences alike--a truly heartwarming event not to be missed. "The Chinese New Year Spectacular is the best show ever to appear on stage in North America,” said former member of Parliament Simma Holt. “I saw the show in Canada and I would like to say to the Chinese Consulate officials, who made a statement saying that the show is political, the fact that some of the atrocities committed by the Chinese regime were re-enacted in the show is nothing unusual; interpretative dance is a feature of all great symphonies, operas and ballets.”

Look here for more information on the show. Get your tickets here and here.

NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular
Radio City Music Hall

1260 6^thAve., NY, NY10020

Survey finds 300m China believers

The party (CCP) just loves to hate Falun Gong.

BBC: The number of religious believers in China could be three times higher than official estimates, according to a survey reported by state media.

But the party is still ready to deal harshly with any religious group it perceives to be a challenge to its authority - especially the banned spiritual movement Falun Gong, which was not mentioned in the reports. (more)

Jurnalo: The government has promoted Buddhism and supported state-sanctioned temples in recent years, partly to counteract the influence of the Falun Gong spiritual movement and similar sects.

Before it was banned in 1999, Falun Gong claimed to have 70 million members in China. (more)

Vancouverites protest torture-linked show

MEDIA ADVISORY

Falun Gong practitioners will gather at the corner of Gore and Keefer to protest Chinese New Year pop concert, sponsored by CCTV, China's state-run television station, called "The Same Song," slated to take place at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Monday, February 12.

The event billed as a celebration takes as its theme song a Chinese hit called, “The Same Song” (Tong Yi Shou Ge). However, According to torture victims, "The Same Song" was used in Chinese labour camps where Falun Gong practitioners were violently tortured into renouncing their beliefs.

Although the lyrics of the "Same Song" are benign it is sung by guards as a way of celebrating the breaking of the victims human spirit after intense torture, humiliation and brainwash sessions as he or she totally succumbs to the torturers and swears total allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party.

“It is like a demented ‘victory song’ … it haunts me to this day,” says Mr. Li, Xin, Falun Gong practitioner now living in Toronto who faced torture in the communist regime’s labour camp system. Multiple accounts suggest that the song has become a political instrument, used to effect psychological control and elicit trauma. It has also become a potent symbol of the state’s power over spiritual believers -- a veiled threat.

State owned CCTV has been a major force in the campaign to eliminate the Falun Gong in China through the mass dissemination of propaganda. On December 22, the CRTC released its long awaited decision on the application of 9 communist run TV channels, including CCTV4, looking for a permit to broadcast into Canada on a digital basis. The CRTC states that on multiple occasions, CCTV4 had aired hate inciting and/or abusive programming that “could incite violence and threaten the physical security of Falun Gong practitioners.” Unfortunately, the CRTC irresponsibly approved CCTV to broadcast here in Canada.

China’s shifting policies still hindering religion, witnesses say

Communist China is trying very hard to save face before the Olympics, restoring temples, pretending religious tolerance, etc…but we won't get fooled again or will we?

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) heard testimony from Chinese religious leaders and human rights advocates on the situation in China as the city of Beijing prepares for the Olympics.

The changing strategies and tactics of the public security officials ... suggests that the Chinese authorities are becoming concerned about appearing more tolerant of Christians in the eyes of the international community.

However, there seems to be less evidence of a genuine change in their broad Policy, Bob Fu, president of China Aid Association, said.

Sharon Hom, executive director of Human Rights in China, told the commissioners, “The situation is getting worse.... It’s been consistently getting worse.” (more)

Support for call by wife for review of imprisoned cyber-dissident Yang Zili’s trial: Reporters without borders

Yang Zili, a Falun Gong practitioner, was sentenced to eight years in 2003 for posting an article on the web...now we're hoping for a miracle...

Reporters Without Borders today voiced support for a request for a review of cyber-dissident Yang Zili¡'s trial, which his wife, Lu Kun, has made on the grounds of new evidence that shows that he was convicted on trumped-up charges. The Beijing intermediate court turned down her request, but she filed a new request to the supreme court and is still awaiting its decision. Yang has been in prison since 2001.

A computer specialist and founder of the website www.lib.126.com, Yang was arrested on 20 April 2001 after writing articles for his website that advocated political freedoms, criticised the crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement and deplored the economic hardship of China’s peasants. He also posted articles by other members of his group, which used to meet once a week to discuss political reform. He was sentenced by the Beijing intermediate court on 28 May 2003 to eight years in prison for “subverting state authority.” The sentence was confirmed on appeal on 10 November 2003. The three other members of the group who were arrested with him also received long prison sentences. Xu (a journalist) and Jin (a geologist) got ten years, while Zhang (a writer) got eight years. (more)

SF, HK celebrate 18 Million who quit the CCP

From San Francisco to Hong Kong, rights activists celebrate 18 Million brave men and women who have quit the CCP. Watch a video here of the Hong Kong Grande Parade.

Read the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party to discover the uncensored history of the brutal ruling of the CCP.

More than a decade after the fall of the former Soviet Union and Eastern European communist regimes, the international communist movement has been spurned worldwide. The demise of the Chinese Communist Party is only a matter of time.

In the last hundred years, the sudden invasion by the communist specter has created a force against nature and humanity, causing limitless agony and tragedy. It has also pushed civilization to the brink of destruction. It has become an extremely malevolent force against the universe.

Excerpt SF : Gathering host Ma Youzhi said that while this is another day worth celebrating, it is mixed with sadness because the China has been enslaved by the CCP for such a long time. There have been too many Chinese people who perished through the CCP's cruelty and violence, Ma Youzhi continued. Today, mainland China is still under the enslavement of the CCP.

"Today we are very happy that there are 18 million people who have awakened. The days of the CCP's enslavement of the Chinese people are numbered," Ma Youzhi said. (more)

Chinese organ harvesting warning urged

Bloody Harvest, an updated version of a report on organ harvesting by the Kilgour/Matas research team, was released today in Ottawa.

"China's military is harvesting organs from unwilling live prison inmates, mostly Falun Gong practitioners, for transplants on a large scale — including to foreign recipients — according to a study." (more)

Take a look at the report here for more shocking evidence on China's murder for organs.

"The reason it is happening is that we have a totalitarian government combined with what I call 'carnivore capitalism' where anything goes, and it shouldn't surprise people to know that this unimaginable practice is happening," he said. Kilgour believes the International Olympics Committee should "start to make some very stiff demands on China," starting with stopping organ harvesting immediately. He added that if the organ harvesting does not stop, thousands and thousands of people will arrive in Beijing in 2008 with badges saying "stop persecuting Falun Gong" or "stop organ snatching." (more)

CTV /Canada.com CP: OTTAWA -- A former member of Parliament and a high-profile immigration lawyer are calling on the Foreign Affairs Department to issue an advisory warning Canadians off of travelling to China for organ transplants.

Former Liberal MP David Kilgour and David Matas, an immigration lawyer and senior legal counsel to B'nai Brith Canada, say they have overwhelming evidence that Chinese officials are killing Falun Gong practitioners and harvesting their organs for transplant.

The pair have travelled to 30 countries since issuing a report last July on the issue of Chinese organ harvesting and they say they have doubled the evidence they had that unconscionable practices are taking place.

They said one former patient told them he was given eight kidneys over two months before one finally worked, and he claimed he was told by the Chinese military doctor who performed the transplant that the organ came from an executed prisoner.

Xiaohua Wang, an engineer now living in Montreal, says he and other practitioners of Falun Gong -- a discipline banned by China's communist government -- were tortured, brainwashed and subjected to suspicious organ examinations and blood tests while he was imprisoned in a labour camp for two years.

Matas and Kilgour say they have documented cases of Canadians from Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver travelling to China for transplants and they say Foreign Affairs should be telling prospective patients headed to China that the organs they receive are likely to be acquired by unethical means.

Swatch caved in to China: NTDTV

Join us in our letter campaign to NTDTV's sponsor, Swatch, explaining the facts about Communist China’s intention to block the NTDTV Spectacular world-tour by slandering them (NTDTV). See a letter below and contact information for the Swatch Group.

U.S. stage show says China meddling with sponsors by Tom Hals

NEW YORK (Reuters) - China's government is pressuring companies to cancel their sponsorship of a Chinese New Year stage production on global tour because its U.S. promoter follows the Falun Gong spiritual group, the promoter said Monday.

Companies sponsoring the U.S.-produced show have been urged to pull out because the promoter, Samuel Zhou, practices Falun Gong, which is banned in China, according to a letter sent to the show's sponsors by China's Los Angeles consulate. The show combines dancing, music and singing. In one scene a young female practitioner of Falun Gong is murdered by a Chinese official and revenge is taken on the killer.

"They're pressuring our sponsors" to drop their financial support, said Zhou. The "Chinese New Year Spectacular" will be staged next month at New York's Radio City Music Hall as part of an ongoing global tour.

The letter was released to the media by New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV), a New York-based cable broadcaster that is promoting the tour to 29 cities around the world. The tour has already visited many of the cities.

"It is our sincere hope that your business retreat from any support for or involvement with 'Falun Gong' or 'NTDTV' now and in the future for your own interest," the letter said.

The Chinese consulate did not comment on the letter, but said in a statement that the show was "a sheer political tool used by the 'Falun Gong' organization to expand its influence and spread cult and anti-China propaganda."

Zhou, who is also senior vice president of programming with the television station, said watchmaker Swatch canceled its sponsorship for the event.

"We stand by the content," said Zhou, who added the loss of a sponsorship would not threaten the Radio City show.

China banned Falun Gong in 1999 for what it considers illegal activities. Zhou said he follows Falun Gong practices, which combine exercise and meditation, as do many of the staff at the station.

He said Falun Gong does not pose a threat to China and equated Beijing's ban to "the United States banning jogging."

The Chinese-language broadcaster has blamed China for meddling in its shows before. Two Australian Ballet dancers quit an event promoted by the station and a Chinese consular official told an Australian newspaper it advised the dancers not to perform.

Take action now - write to the Swatch Group. Thanks!

Dear Swatch Group:

Just the other day, I received a disturbing email from a friend visiting in the States about the NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular coming up in New York from February 14-17. I had seen the show in Canada and thought it was simply amazing. My friend was pointing at possible interference from the Communist regime to try and block this cultural event. She went on to say how Swatch had pulled out as one of the sponsors. I admit it’s shocking but not surprising as I recalled seeing in the news, how the producer of the show, NTDTV, had their show cancelled in Korea due to pressure from the Communist party. The question is: could this be happening here in America?

As far as I know NTDTV has a fine reputation. It describes itself as an international, independent and non-profit Chinese language television station. The station employs over 60 reporters in more than 50 cities around the world and is currently available in North America, Australia, Asia and Europe, reaching over 200 million viewers worldwide. NTDTV has been banned from broadcasting in China by Beijing because it carries news from the free world. But China also forbids, CNN, BBC, etc from broadcasting on their airwaves as well. NTDTV claims to be the first TV station to have broadcasted about SARS and is concerned about bridging the gap between the East and the West.

Their Spectacular has sold out everywhere it went so far with raving reviews. What a reality check it is though, to think that the Communist regime is capable to not only convince the world that it is glorious and that its crimes against humanity should be forgotten, but it is able through calculated tactics of convincing well established firms, such as Swatch, that NTDTV is political. The fact that some of the atrocities committed by the Chinese regime were re-enacted in the show is nothing unusual; interpretative dance is a feature of all great symphonies, operas and ballets.

At this point, I find it sad that Swatch caved in to the Communist regime. This is certainly not the kind of company I would choose to deal with in the future. Needless to say that this kind of action is undoubtedly damaging to its reputation. However, it is not too late for Swatch to remedy the situation and stick to sound business ethics. BTW Swatch has it wrong--it's not NTDTV that is backed by a political group, but the Communist Party. Either way, the show must go on!

Swatch Group contact information:

"Swatch Group Info" Info@swatchgroup.com

"Swatch Group Press" Press@swatchgroup.com

http://www.swatchgroup.com/contact/contact.php

Carmen.Cao@swatchgroup.com

swatch.cservice.estore@swatch.com

BOYCOTT THE COMMUNIST “SAME SONG" SHOW

The show was introduced in the West for the first time last year in Toronto and New York City and is coming to Vancouver soon. One may wonder why boycott a cultural event? In fact, this is not an ordinary production—it is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The ideology behind the theme song is psychologically disturbing to many Canadians.

So what is CCTV’s Same Song? As stated on its website, CCTV serves as the mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party. One of the more deceptive examples of the CCTV’s role in the persecution of Falun Gong, is a song produced by CCTV, entitled the “Same Song,” that appears to be a benign pop tune, but actually operates as a key element of the torture campaign that is being waged in China. This song, which is scheduled to be performed on February 12, 2007 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre as part of a variety show of the same name, is used in forced labor camps throughout China amidst torture sessions as a way of championing and celebrating the breaking of a person’s spirit through intense brainwashing and brutal violence. As the victim succumbs to the torturers and pledges total allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party, both torturer and victim alike must join in singing The Same Song.

CCTV follows the CCP’s plans and mandates as well as those of the Central Propaganda Department. “Its tactics are virtually identical to those used in Nazi Germany, in Rwanda, during the massacre of the Tutsi by the Hutu, and in Yugoslavia under Slobodan Milosevic,” rights lawyer Terry Marsh explains. “In all of these massacres, not only is the message always the same (‘Destroy them or they will destroy you’), but the name of the mass crime that follows is genocide or ethnic cleansing, and now we’re seeing something similar propagated against Falun Gong in China.”

“CCTV has effectively created a network of lies about Falun Gong,” adds Marsh, “that encourages and incites the public, the police and other security forces in China to subject practitioners of Falun Gong to unlawful arrests and detention, organ harvesting, torture as well as brutal forms of brainwashing, and indoctrination techniques to force practitioners to renounce their belief in the tenets of Falun Gong.”

Therefore, the Falun Dafa Association urges you to write a letter to government officials requesting to keep this damaging Communist propaganda out of our cultural events and to bar entry to this traveling troupe from China on the basis of humanitarian grounds. The Same Song is merely a tool of persecution, a symbol of shame and evil and should not be allowed to spread its message of hate in our society.

Take action now--write a letter to:

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Mackay:
Mackay.P@parl.gc.ca
Fax: (613) 992-2337

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day:
Day.S@parl.gc.ca
Fax: (613) 995-1154

Immigration Minister Diane Finley:
Finley.D@parl.gc.ca
Fax (613) 996-9749

Kilgour/Matas release updated version of "Report into Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China"

MEDIA ADVISORY

10 a.m., January 31, 2007 (Wednesday)
Charles Lynch Conference Room,
130-S Centre Block,
Parliament Buildings, Ottawa

Ottawa – David Matas and David Kilgour are to release their revised report into organ snatching from Falun Gong practitioners in China on January 31, 2007, following travels to approximately thirty national capitals to gather more evidence and raise public awareness about the issue.

The second report presents more evidence, including interviews with organ recipients from various countries. “There is no doubt that Canadians are among those going to China from many parts of the world for transplants and we have asked the Canadian Council For Donation and Transplantation to let us know the extent of it,” said Matas. “Only last week, we learned that such patients needing aftercare are required in some provinces to indicate where their operation occurred,” Kilgour added.

Copies of the revised report will be available at 9 a.m. in 130-S Centre Block. The earlier version can be accessed here in 18 languages.

Contacts: David Matas 613 808 3563 c (as of Jan 30th at 8am)
David Kilgour 613 747 7854 (until Jan 31st at 1.30 pm)

Protest letter to the Chinese Consulates -- NTDTV New Year Spectacular

A letter campaign is in full swing to protest the interference from the Chinese Consulates in the activities of NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular world-tour. If there is a Spectacular playing in your area, please send a letter of protest to the closest Consulate near you. Look here for a list of World Consulates and here for a list of Spectacular cities (click on -select a city- for the complete listing). Many thanks for the much needed support.

Dear Consul-General:

I was shocked to learn that NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular was cancelled in South Korea just days before the show was scheduled to appear due to pressure exerted on Korean officials from the Chinese Communist Party.

So far NTDTV Spectacular world tour has sold out everywhere it went with raving reviews. It is sad that the Communist regime has chosen not only to convince the world that it is glorious and that its crimes against humanity should be forgotten, but through calculated tactics it has gone as far as meddling with the Spectacular with the aim of damaging NTDTV. The fact that some of the atrocities committed by the Chinese regime were re-enacted in the Spectacular is nothing unusual in the free world; interpretative dance is a feature of all great symphonies, operas and ballets.

There have been reports of public and private threats damaging the promotion of the Spectacular and jeopardizing their sponsors in different cities where the show is scheduled to appear. In Canada, for instance, the Consulate issued a strong statement asking people and dignitaries not to support the show in any way, shape or form. The statement is said also "to have warned officials from any country [from] participating in the event." This warning is meant to discourage government officials from attending the Spectacular in Canada (and elsewhere) or from sending New Years greetings to it.

The Multiculturalism Minister said that “this government of Canada isn't going to censor any Canadian citizen from exercising their charter rights of freedom of expression, assembly, and religion, regardless of what any foreigner may say.”

There will soon be a NTDTV Spectacular playing in your area. I hereby urge you not to engage in any tactics to interfere with the NTDTV’s Spectacular in any way. It is not in a foreign Consulate’s mandate to interfere with citizens’ activities in a host country. The consulate should accept and respect the freedom of expression that is part and parcel of life in the free world.

Note: NTDTV is highly respected and has a fine reputation in the West. It describes itself as an international, independent and non-profit Chinese language television station. The station employs over 60 reporters in more than 50 cities around the world and is currently available in North America, Australia, Asia and Europe, reaching over 200 million viewers worldwide. As you are well aware, NTDTV has been banned from broadcasting in China because it carries uncensored news from the free world. It’s not surprising as China also prohibits CNN, BBC, etc from broadcasting on their airwaves. NTDTV claims to be the first TV station that broke the story of the SARS epidemic. It is also dedicated to bridging the gap between the East and the West.

Reference:

CTV Televisions: Another spat between China and Canada Copyright 2007 CTV Televisions, Inc.All Rights Reserved CTV Television, Inc. SHOW: CTV NEWS 23:00:00 ET

January 20, 2007 Saturday LENGTH: 335 words HEADLINE: Another spat between China and Canada ANCHORS: SANDIE RINALDO BODY:

SANDIE RINALDO: There's another spat brewing between China and Canada. The Chinese government is outraged by a stage show that it calls propaganda for the Falun Gong spiritual movement which Beijing has banned. But Ottawa is standing firm, and a show is going on in Toronto this weekend after a controversial debut in the nation's capital. CTV's Roger Smith reports.

ROGER SMITH (Reporter): It's billed as a Chinese new year spectacular, a celebration of traditional culture. But the modern political message has outraged the Chinese government.

HUANG HUIKANG (Diplomat): It is political propaganda.

SMITH: The show is organized by a Chinese language TV network and a newspaper that oppose the communist regime and support Falun Gong, a movement that China has outlawed as an evil cult. This dance portrays a Falun Gong practitioner being murdered by police. Defenders say it's just art reflecting reality.

LUCY ZHOU (Falun Gong Practitioner): In reality there is a large group of Falun Gong and they're persecuted, and I saw the show. It was represented so beautifully.

SMITH: Beijing, though, gives it two thumbs down, demanding that Ottawa lower the curtain.

HUIKANG: Not allow Falun Gong to use Canadian territory to engage in anti-Chinese activities.

SMITH: But the official programme includes a greeting from Stephen Harper, and his government insists the show is none of China's business.

JASON KENNEY (Multiculturalism Minister): This government of Canada isn't going to censor any Canadian citizen from exercising their charter rights of freedom of expression, assembly, and religion, regardless of what any foreigner may say.

SMITH: The controversy is no big surprise. With its depiction of persecution, the show has run on international stages for four years. And for just as long, the Chinese have been protesting. Chinese pressure did force the cancellation in South Korea, but the show goes on elsewhere. Not just in Toronto, but also in several European capitals next month. Roger Smith, CTV News, Ottawa.

LOAD-DATE: January 22, 2007

Religious persecution intensified

Will the Pope change China—there is no harm in trying.

Excerpt: In addition to Christians, Muslim Uighurs and ethnic Tibetans have come under government scrutiny with the most famous case involving the Dalai Lama, a revered figure in Tibetan Buddhism who has been forbidden to return to Tibet. Since 1999, beatings, imprisonments, torture and murders have escalated against the Falun Gong religious movement which Beijing has identified as an “evil cult.”

To address the increased persecution of Chinese Christians, Pope Benedict XVI said this week that the Holy See would continue its efforts to improve diplomatic relations with China. “The Vatican will continue the path of respectful and constructive dialogue with the governmental authorities so as to overcome past misunderstandings,” a Vatican statement said. In a meeting at the Vatican residence with several Chinese Roman Catholic bishops, the Pope said he would send a personal letter to Catholics in the country very soon expressing his support for the free expression of religious beliefs. (more)

Albertans participate in illicit organ harvesting: Kilgour

Edmonton Sun by Cary Castagna - An unknown number of wealthy Albertans have traveled to China to buy vital organs harvested from executed devotees of the outlawed Falun Gong movement, says former Edmonton MP David Kilgour.

And he wants the crimes against humanity to stop.

“There’s no doubt people are going from Edmonton and Calgary to China to get new kidneys or new livers,” Kilgour told the Sun Thursday.

He said many of the organs sell for up to $70,000.

“Only foreigners in places like Alberta can afford to pay for them.”

Kilgour, former secretary of state for the Asia-Pacific region, says he has traveled to more than 30 countries while investigating allegations that an underground network of Chinese surgeons, nurses and hospital administration staff are harvesting organs for sale.

“We call it a form of inhumanity,” he said.

Kilgour co-wrote a report on the alleged atrocities last summer with Winnipeg human rights lawyer David Matas.

The two, who spoke at a U of A forum Thursday night on China’s illicit organ harvesting and transplant tourism industry, are set to release a revised report next week in Ottawa.

The new report reveals ’ lot more proof’‘ that this practice, which began about mid-2001, is still going on, Kilgour said.

The former Liberal cabinet minister said Albertans need to know that if they’re going to China for an organ transplant, the chances are the organ was taken from a Falun Gong practitioner who was jailed for his or her beliefs.

“These are not executed criminals,” Kilgour said.

Meanwhile, local devotees of Falun Gong are awaiting the results of a judicial review.

Thursday, Matas and colleague Shirish Chotalia contested a Crown prosecutor’s decision to not proceed with charges against a group of Chinese diplomats.

The lawyers contend anti-Falun Gong booklets distributed in June 2004 by the Chinese consulate in Calgary constituted hate propaganda.

A written decision is expected within the next few months.

ccastagna@edmsun.com

Respected Surgeon Urges Others to Speak Out Against Organ Harvesting in China

Leading British Physician Condemns Organ Harvesting in China

Australian Surgeons Condemn "Horrific" Organ Trade

Alberta: Public Jucidial Review of Hate Crimes Probe Against Chinese Consular Officials

News Release

Edmonton – Renowned international human rights lawyers Mr. David Matas and Ms. Shirish Chotolia will jointly contest Attorney General of Alberta’s earlier decision of dropping the charge of hate incitement against the Chinese diplomats despite expert investigative report from Edmonton Hate Crime police that the anti-Falun Gong booklets distributed by the Calgary Chinese Consulate in 2004 is hate propaganda.

“Canada should not allow itself to become a platform for global promotion of hatred, said David Matas, what is happening in Edmonton is happening all over the world where China has a Embassy or Consulate, and every police service should react in the way Edmonton police have acted to stop hate against Falun Gong.”

In June 2004, two Chinese Consulate officials were witnessed to have disseminated anti- Falun Gong materials to attendees of a conference held in the University of Alberta. The materials were sent to Edmonton Hate Crime police for investigation.

Constable Stephen Camp of the Hate Crimes Unit of the Edmonton Police concluded after one-year investigation that “these booklet constitute a breach of the hate crime law under Section 319.2 of the Criminal Code of Canada, the law banning the ‘willful promotion of hatred’ against an ‘identifiable group’”, “According to the law, the Alberta government has to decide whether to lay a charge in these cases.”

“The Chinese government is defaming and persecuting members of Falun Gong across the country. Alberta could be the first province to lead the way, to say enough is enough,” said Constable Camp.

Singapore: Stop persecuting Falun Gong

Once again, I encourage you to write to the Singapore Consulates and Embassies of the world and let them know that caving in to China is not good for their citizens. Singapore must endeavour to apply the rule of law! Update: The six practitioners were released from jail 14 hours later--that is a good sign. May justice prevail at the hearing Wednesday. (more) Read the Human Rights Law Foundation statement here.

Consulate General of the Republic of Singapore
1820-999 Hastings Street West
Vancouver, BC V6C 2W2

Dear Consul-General:

On Monday, January 22, 2007 the Singapore court put 6 Falun Gong practitioners on trial because they distributed flyers in October 2005. They were convicted of “assembly without license”. Once more, many irregularities in the proceedings were noticed, namely the fact that Singapore chose, from 35 courts, to use the smallest courtroom that only seats 8. Then the court did not allow the public to access the courtroom because of its size. That being the case, the media, relatives and friends were not allowed in. To avoid this form of ‘secret trial’, the 6 practitioners protested asking for a bigger room by peacefully reading a passage from their teachings. Singapore charged them with “Contempt of Court” and they were sent to jail for 2 days.

Allow me to draw your attention to some unusual details about this proceeding. Before the trial started, Yuyi and the other practitioners asked for a bigger courtroom but the judge rejected the request. They asked again on Monday but the judge said that there was no bigger room. Yuyi asked: “Are you sure?” and the judge did not answer. Then practitioners asked to add a few chairs knowing that the court did this before. The judge denied the request and started the hearing abruptly.

Apparently, forty minutes after the court started, the police asked the supporters to back off. The supporters saw the six practitioners handcuffed and walked by. The police said that they did not cooperate. The court started again at 2:30 pm but no one saw the practitioners getting in--they were brought to the court using another path. When the prosecutor started to question the practitioners, they turned around and started to read “Lunyu” out loud. Then the judge charged them with “Contempt of Court”. Practitioners pleaded not guilty. They were sent to jail without bound and relatives are not allowed to visit them. The next court hearing will be on Wednesday.

This is not the first time that practitioners are treated unfairly in Singapore. We would like to further remind you how the Court treated two Falun Gong practitioners last December. In a rare pronouncement more typically reserved for dangerous offenders, Judge Shanmugam demanded that two Falun Gong practitioners serve their jail sentences prior to initiating their appeal. Moreover, the practitioners had no legal representation in court after their lawyer, Madasamy Ravi, was unexpectedly suspended from the bar in November.

While many countries are supporting appeals to end the internationally condemned persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese regime, Singapore stands alone in continuously interfering with and stopping the peaceful appeal activities by Falun Gong practitioners. It is unfortunate that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) who have been persecuting Falun Gong for their belief for almost eight long years will not hesitate to import their mean evil ways into other countries. Illicit organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners in China confirms the extent of the atrocities.

Freedom of religion is for everyone and the free world should respect those values even more. For the greater good of all humankind, we should not indulge dictatorships in carrying out their brutal repression via the embassies and consulates of the world. Singapore should show some integrity and leave Falun Gong alone. They have suffered enough at the hands of the CCP.

Practitioners from Vancouver and from around the world appeal to the Singapore government, Consulates and Embassies to respect the rule of law and set free the six Falun Gong practitioners detained illegally. This type of injustice in your democratic country is immoral and should be stopped. Practitioners, as all taxpayers, should be entitled to exercise their civil rights. It is high time that Singapore start to uphold justice and integrity instead of kowtowing to China at the peril of its own residents and citizens.

BC Falun Dafa Association

Chinese Embassy Condemned for attacking Canadian values in Canada, says FDA

In its attempt to block the Chinese New Year Spectacular, the Chinese Consulate has spread its venom in the Canadian and American media.

You know the old saying : there is no such thing as bad press--well they're (the Consulate) doing a fine job at promoting the show--using the same old tricks to attack spiritual Falun Gong.

"We strongly oppose the show because Falun Gong is an evil cult," said Jian Huali, acting spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington. "This is not a real Chinese culture show. It's a very politicized show ... so people should not go to show their support."

News Release

Chinese Embassy Condemned for attacking Canadian values in Canada, says the Falun Dafa Association of Canada

Falun Gong represents the best of true Chinese culture. The Canadian government must stop the Chinese regime from attacking Canadian values here in Canada.

The Falun Dafa Association of Canada condemns the Chinese Embassy in Canada for inciting hatred and interfering with Canadian affairs in their attempt to threaten Canadian officials and the public to discriminate against Canadians exercising their rights of freedom of expression.

Falun Gong practitioners’ participation in the NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular showcases our principles of Truth, Compassion, Forbearance that encompass the best of Chinese traditional culture where internal cultivation, and the quest for wisdom and enlightenment were the very foundation of ancient Chinese society. The dance depicting the persecution of a Falun Gong practitioner is a pertinent contemporary metaphor for the principle of "good rewards good, evil begets evil," a principle that often plays a role in old Chinese tales. The show itself is quite profound and goes far beyond a Falun Gong practitioner being killed by communist police. Our message is a voice of courage, hope, and a revival of the moral and spiritual essence in Chinese culture.

Falun Gong itself is not about human rights or politics. Unfortunately, because of the terrible crimes against humanity and hatred waged by the CCP some people automatically equate Falun Gong with human rights or have been deceived by the CCP into believing that Falun Gong has political motivations and then assume that anything said or done by Falun Gong is propaganda.

Most people are unaware that in order to strengthen its power during its 60 year rule, the CCP has carried out one of the most destructive attacks on traditional culture and values in world history including the Cultural Revolution, where almost every traditional Chinese value was eradicated and millions of innocent Chinese citizens were killed to solidify allegiance to the CCP.

It is a great sorrow for the Chinese nation that they have come to believe the CCP’s few decades of brutal communist brainwashing that, “To love the CCP is to love China,” is now more valued than 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture. Today, anyone who watches the Chinese regime’s Chinese New Year programs would see that praising and worshipping the CCP is always their theme.

For many years the Chinese Embassy and consulates here in Canada have been trying to manipulate the Canadian public into attacking Canadian Falun Gong practitioners who are practicing their freedom of belief and freedom of expression here in Canada. This must be put to an end.

We call on the Canadian government to stop the Chinese regime from interfering and attacking Canadian values here in Canada. Also, any principled media body should stop giving voice to the hatred and defamation from the Chinese Embassy and consulates here in Canada including not repeating their defamation that Falun Gong is an “evil cult” in the pursuit of sensationalism.

Contact: Lucy Zhou Ottawa 613-852-7494 (c); Joel Chipkar Toronto 416-731-6000

Falun Gong out of San Francisco New Year's Parade?

Falun Gong’s participation in the the SF Lunar parade is the subject of controversies again this year. It's not hard to figure out why this is--the communist influence in San Francisco is just fierce.

Excerpt: But lawyers for Falun Gong disagree. They say the San Francisco city charter prevents the city from using taxpayer dollars for political means and in essence, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce is excluding Falun Gong because of political pressure from China.

"The Chinese consular general sits on the Chinese chamber of commerce," Zhan said.

"They want to create the image that Falun Gong is not accepted around the world when in fact there are over 100 million followers.

They're basically trying to repress Falun Gong everywhere." (more)

FogCity-Letter published Jan. 20, 2007: Chinese government persecution of Falun Gong well documented by Marie Beaulieu

It sounds like the Chamber of Commerce is fearful of allowing Falun Gong in their parade again because they (the Falun Gong) don't approve of the Communist Regime, or is it the other way around?

Hasn't the regime been responsible for torturing and killing their family members for almost eight years?

The evidence of the persecution is well documented at the UN and everybody knows by now that the Falun Gong will keep on defending their human rights until the atrocities come to a halt.

Would someone tell the Red Barons that standing up for human rights is not the same as being political. This is America not China! Let the Falun Gong enter the parade to share their Chinese heritage.

Letter - China’s censors

SF Examiner: Jan. 22, 2007 - I find it odd that the Chinese Consulate officials shamelessly tell Americans what to see, hear or do in San Francisco [“Chinese officials denounce show,” Jan. 20-21]. Since when do Communist values take precedence over American values? These Beijing propagandists are nothing short of transparent — and would seem silly if not so bloody — in their pretended righteousness against those of us who attended the unique and magnificent Chinese New Year Spectacular.

The fact that some of the atrocities committed by the Chinese regime were re-enacted in the show is nothing unusual; interpretative dance is a feature of all great symphonies, operas and ballets. America is all about celebrating multiculturalism. I give the Chinese New Year Spectacular five stars for their originality in blending ancient and modern China on the same stage.

Marie Beaulieu
Victoria, British Columbia

Letter: Beijing's TV channels don't belong in Canada

Special to the Sun Published: Thursday, January 18, 2007

Re: Now is Harper's chance to defend the rights of the Falun Gong, Jan. 12

Daphne Bramham is right on the mark. The Harper government will have to walk the walk, won't it?

And it should. The nine Communist channels don't belong in a democratic country. This subtle infiltration appears benign on the surface, but in reality it is not so -- the evidence confirms that it's abusive.

Groups like the Falun Gong have all the right to oppose CRTC's decision. The Japanese and Taiwanese people have also been targeted by those Beijing state-controlled channels where hate is spread as if it were a natural thing to do.

Let it be said that Canadians cherish higher values of freedom and democracy.

It's high time Canada put a halt to Communist infiltration and this is a good place to start.

Marie Beaulieu lives in Victoria.

Welcome to the Peoples' Republic of China in your front room

CRTC, Chinese Propaganda, Cable

A brilliant piece by Judie McLeod on the hottest topic on this blog these days. Look here for more.

CFP Excerpt: “2007 was to be the year of welcome propaganda in Canada and most Canadians were to know nothing about it until it was a bureaucratic fait de accompli.


CRTC, our supposed guardian of the airwaves, has always had a hang up about keeping Canadian content sacrosanct against all costs.

Now CCTV, which will mix sports and entertainment programming along with propaganda, will be broadcasting in several Chinese dialects to capitalize on Canada's rapidly growing Chinese-speaking market.

With CCTV, Canadian television will never see exposes lamenting China's appalling record on human rights, programs that detail the harvesting of human organs for sale or get to watch Chinese citizens being led away in handcuffs for the crime of writing essays on the worldwide net.

The nine networks' journalists and producers are monitored in China by the China Radio Film and Television Group, which is self-touted as "an important mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee, an important cultural battlefield for the CCP and our country."

History will be rewritten and upcoming generations will be told a different story about the tragedy of Tiananmen Square. (more)

Chinese Stability: Yin and Yang

Lucky find of the month: Jonathan Ansfield, a long-time writer and resident of Beijing, is Spot-on in his sharing of Chinese culture and politics. Remember to check Spot-on twice a month to read his articles on China.

“Beijing's fever for press briefings, post-SARS and pre-Olympics, diverts attention from the real mess in the provinces.”

“That’s right. Corner of Panjiayuan Lu and East Second Ring. He just flew by on his bicycle and stuck the petition into my door handle,” barked the cabbie, who I’ll call Chen, after the surname on the I.D. clipped above the passenger’s side glove compartment. “It said ‘something-something Nine Criticisms of the Communist Party" (more)

Chinese Spectacular Tour Non-Political, says NTDTV

This interference with our free speech from the Chinese Consulate comes as no surprise. The Ottawa Citizen picked up the story. Look here for Ottawa Citizen's initial story.

Media Advisory

On January 16th, 2007, the Vancouver Sun published an article entitled “ China denounces show depicting killing of a Falun Gong member: Embassy calls performance propaganda and chastises PM for backing event” and the Times Colonist: "China angered by response to visiting Falun Gong Show".

NTDTV Canada would like to respond as follows:

• The NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular is a cultural event with music and dances showcasing traditional Chinese culture and values. The show is now in its fourth year and is touring 28 cities globally including the Canadian cities Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. The show was very well received in previous years, and the New York show was rated as the top 7th internationally according to the Billboard magazine boxscore in Feb. 2006. The 2007 shows were greeted with great enthusiasm by the audience. Many in the audience described the show as “the best show” they have ever seen.

• Some people prefer to ignore the well documented persecution of Falun Gong in China.NTDTV has decided not to shy away from the issue. In a time to celebrate, such as the New Year, it is a Chinese tradition to remember the unfortunate things that have transpired and to celebrate with the victims in mind. The program mentioned in the Citizen’s article is an artistic expression of what is happening in China today. The choreography and the execution of the dance performance are of a high artistic standard, and the content of the program is of high moral standard, depicting the traditional Chinese belief that “doing good will be rewarded, doing bad will be punished.” A program such as this should be celebrated, not criticized. NTDTV believes that Falun Gong’s principles of Truth, Compassion and Tolerance are traditional Chinese values. To avoid Falun Gong in a New Year celebration amounts to self-censorship – something most Chinese-language media groups are all too familiar with. NTDTV will not avoid the Falun Gong values and will continue inviting artists who practice Falun Gong to perform in our shows as long as they meet our artistic standards.

• This is not the first time that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has attempted to interfere with NTDTV’s operations in Canada. Since 2004, CCP officials have been sending letters to NTDTV’s invited artists, supporters and business partners to threaten and discourage them from working with NTDTV (fax copies of the letters are available upon request). The Canadian government, media and general public should be concerned that a foreign government is interfering with Canadian businesses.

"We urge the Chinese Embassies/Consulates to immediately stop interfering with NTDTV activities in Canada and around the world."

Contact: Joe Wang 9647) 206-8388