[Xun Li, President, Falun Dafa Association of Canada]
"We've received information about 77 named Falun Gong practitioners persecuted by CNOOC. What we raised today is only the tip of the iceberg of this persecution. We want to tell the Canadian government and its public that this persecution through CNOOC is severe, and Canada should say no to this campaign."
(http://youtu.be/fbJrtGp0zI0)
Canada should be paying more attention to human rights in China, as it pursues trade ties with the country. That was the message from a forum on Monday evening in Ottawa, organized by NGO, One Free World International.
Canadian-China trade ties came under close scrutiny when Nexen oil company was acquired by Chinese state-run CNOOC. Critics of the deal raised security concerns, as well as CNOOC’s involvement in religious persecution under the Chinese regime.
[Wayne Marston, Member of Parliament, New Democratic Party]
“A state-owned entity like CNOOC coming in is problematic because they have a history around the world that’s very questionable in human rights.”
“A state-owned entity like CNOOC coming in is problematic because they have a history around the world that’s very questionable in human rights.”
One of the main groups that CNOOC helped the Chinese regime target was practitioners of the Falun Gong spiritual practice. The Communist Party has carried out a systematic campaign against the practice since 1999. CNOOC’s complicity with the persecution includes sending security officials to search Falun Gong employees homes, helping police to detain them, and withholding pay or firing those who would not give up the practice.
[Xun Li, President, Falun Dafa Association of Canada]
“We’ve received information about 77 named Falun Gong practitioners persecuted by CNOOC. What we raised today is only the tip of the iceberg of this persecution. We want to tell the Canadian government and its public that this persecution through CNOOC is severe, and Canada should say no to this campaign.”
“We’ve received information about 77 named Falun Gong practitioners persecuted by CNOOC. What we raised today is only the tip of the iceberg of this persecution. We want to tell the Canadian government and its public that this persecution through CNOOC is severe, and Canada should say no to this campaign.”
CNOOC’s has also been accused of forcing the resettlement of Tibetan nomadic herders during its operations in China.
[Elizabeth May, Leader of Greens Party]
“We have to stand for human rights. We can’t turn a blind eye to what’s happening to Falun Gong or Falun Dafa practitioners, we can’t turn a blind eye to the self-immolations of Tibetan Buddhist monks in this desperation.”
“We have to stand for human rights. We can’t turn a blind eye to what’s happening to Falun Gong or Falun Dafa practitioners, we can’t turn a blind eye to the self-immolations of Tibetan Buddhist monks in this desperation.”
The Canadian government approved CNOOC’s $15.1 billion purchase of Nexen last December and the deal concluded late February. Prime Minister Steven Harper said the takeover was a “net benefit” for the Canadian economy. Critics say the government only took in economic considerations into account when approving the deal.
