Toronto Association for Democracy in China 多倫倫多⽀支持中國⺠民運會

Update August, 2017

Dear Supporters of human rights, freedoms and democracy,

Since our march commemorating the 28th Anniversary of June 4th Massacre, many more blatant violations of human rights in China have happened. One-month after Liu Xiaobo’s passing, we would like to give you an update to what TADC have done so far.

We have adopted the approach of ‘Think Global, Act Local’ - In order to act effectively, TADC paid close attention to the actions taken by the international community to free Liu Xiaobo and Liu Xia, and acted locally to contribute to this global effort by liasing with other NGOs to put pressure on the Canadian government.

Our local Actions to Release Liu Xiaobo and Free Liu Xia：

(1) Letter to Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau

We initiated, drafted and co-signed a letter with Canada Hong Kong Link, Movement for Democracy in China (Calgary) and Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement to urged Prime Minister Trudeau to speak with Chinese government for unconditional release of Liu Xiaobo during the G20 Summit.

Commemorating the 27th (left) and 28th (right) Anniversaries of June 4th Massacre

https://www.facebook.com/natalie.hui.562/videos/10154535074692231/https://www.facebook.com/natalie.hui.562/videos/10154535174067231/https://www.facebook.com/TADCToronto/photos/a.950345241676486.1073741831.817314671646211/1596065410437796/?type=3&theaterhttps://www.facebook.com/TADCToronto/posts/1553618408015830:0

The letter was issued on Jun 4, 2017. Our spokesperson Cheuk Kwan was interviewed by OMNI Focus Cantonese.

(2) Candlelight Vigil for Liu Xiaobo in front of the Chinese Consulate in Toronto

On July 14, TADC co-hosted a memorial for Liu Xiaobo with Canada Hong Kong Link and Federation for a Democratic China. Board Member Dora Nipp delivered a speech, and our spokesperson Cheuk Kwan was interviewed by both English and Chinese media, including CBC Radio As It Happens, CBC Radio Metro Morning and OMNI Focus Cantonese.

The event was reported by CBC News, Toronto Star, OMNI Focus Mandarin, Sing Tao Daily Toronto, Apple Daily in Hong Kong.

(3) Letter to Canada Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland

On August 2, led by Amnesty International Canada, the Canadian Coalition on Human Rights in China, which TADC is a member of, issued an open letter to Minister Freeland, urging her to:

• go further and work closely with Canadian allies to lead a concerted global campaign to win Liu Xia freedom;

• demonstrate strong global human rights leadership by continuing to press for Liu Xia’s unconditional freedom; and

• offer Liu Xia safe haven through an invitation to come and live in Canada.

https://www.facebook.com/OMNIFocusCantonese/videos/1895143247472142/https://www.facebook.com/OMNIFocusCantonese/videos/1895143247472142/https://www.facebook.com/notes/toronto-association-for-democracy-in-china-%E5%A4%9A%E5%80%AB%E5%A4%9A%E6%94%AF%E6%8C%81%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E6%B0%91%E9%81%8B%E6%9C%83/tadcs-speech-at-the-candlelight-vigil-for-liu-xiabo-in-toronto-on-july-14th-2017/1601386536572350/http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-thursday-edition-1.4202969/fiercely-independent-friend-remembers-chinese-nobel-laureate-liu-xiaobo-1.4202973http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-thursday-edition-1.4202969/fiercely-independent-friend-remembers-chinese-nobel-laureate-liu-xiaobo-1.4202973http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/local-reaction-to-death-of-liu-xiaobo-1.4204838https://www.facebook.com/OMNIFocusCantonese/videos/1901721133481020/https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/07/14/china-democracy-activist-nobel-peace-prize-winner-liu-xiaobo-honoured-at-toronto-candlelight-vigil.htmlhttps://www.facebook.com/OMNIFocusMandarin/videos/1091609547637567/http://toronto.singtao.ca/1899292/2017-07-15/post-200%25E4%25BA%25BA%25E7%2587%2583%25E4%25BA%25AE%25E7%2587%25AD%25E5%2585%2589-%25E5%25A4%259A%25E5%25B8%2582%25E6%2582%25BC%25E5%25BF%25B5%25E5%258A%2589%25E6%259B%2589%25E6%25B3%25A2/?variant=zh-hkhttp://toronto.singtao.ca/1899292/2017-07-15/post-200%25E4%25BA%25BA%25E7%2587%2583%25E4%25BA%25AE%25E7%2587%25AD%25E5%2585%2589-%25E5%25A4%259A%25E5%25B8%2582%25E6%2582%25BC%25E5%25BF%25B5%25E5%258A%2589%25E6%259B%2589%25E6%25B3%25A2/?variant=zh-hkhttp://hkm.appledaily.com/detail.php?issue=20170715&guid=56958583&category_guid=10829391&category=instanthttps://www.facebook.com/TADCToronto/posts/1585196491524688

(4) Joint Statement of Free Liu Xia and the Mourners of Liu Xiaobo

TADC co-signed the Joint Statement of Free LIU Xia and the Mourners of LIU Xiaobo. The statement was initiated by the Free Liu Xiaobo Action Group, signed by 42 international organizations and was issued on August 13.

Next Steps

The fight for democracy and human rights in China is not just a Chinese issue. With China’s increasingly strong presence on the international stage, a China that will respect civil liberties and human rights will contribute greatly to world peace. Unfortunately with the new string of political persecution and imprisonment targeting the younger generation in Hong Kong, China is expanding its authoritarian might boldly and our government remains largely silent. To protect our democarcy and human rights, we citizens need to take charge now.

Please share this report as widely as possible. Together we can achieve the seemingly impossible. Thank you for all of your support and we will report to you again of what we togeter have done in the near future.

With hope and in solidarity,

Winnie Ng, Chair Liane Lee, Vice Chair Toronto Association for Democracy in China (TADC)

TADC is aiming at raising awareness and engaging more Canadians and Canadian community organizations and groups to join our actions and the global force. If you have any ideas and suggestions to how TADC could engage Canadians, or want to volunteer, please contact us at info@tadc.ca.

mailto:info@tadc.cahttps://www.facebook.com/liuxiaobo2017/posts/464426260580583mailto:info@tadc.ca