Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Aug 24/01) - Connie Chipkar wants the Chinese government to stop cracking down on the Falun Gong meditation movement.

Chipkar, of Mississauga, Ont., visited Inuvik last week as part of the Canada-wide Falun Gong "SOS! Urgent rescue tour," which runs this month and next.

Included in the campaign is a petition calling upon the Canadian government to help rescue practitioners persecuted in China and press for the release Shenli Lin. The husband of a Canadian citizen, Lin has been in a Chinese labour camp for 18 months.

The petition also asks Ottawa to help co-ordinate an international investigation into the crackdown, which began in 1999.

Similar campaigns are taking place in the United States, Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, France and Sweden.

Chipkar added about 35 signatures to her petition during her Inuvik visit. About 12 people attended her Falun Gong demonstration Aug. 15 at the Inuvik Centennial Library.

Falun Gong is a spiritual practice that focuses on the principles of truthfulness and tolerance, incorporating meditation and exercises. Chipkar emphasized Falun Gong is not a religion, and that there are about 100 million practitioners worldwide.

The Chinese government, however, calls Falun Gong an "evil cult" and considers practitioners to be counter-revolutionaries bent on undermining socialism.

Chipkar scoffed at such a description. "This is a self-improvement system," she said. "It helps to clear your mind and your body, so that you can function the very, very best that you can."

Chipkar, who took up the practice four years ago, said that Falun Gong stems from an ancient culture. Its popularity soared following the 1992 release of a comprehensive guidebook.

Chipkar said the persecution in China must stop, and she said it has spread to Canada. She said she was pushed several times when walking beside a parade while wearing clothing identifying her as a Falun Gong practitioner.

"You almost feel as though there's nothing you can do," Chipkar said. "The (federal) government is doing what it can, but the killings keep going on, and we hear more torture is going on."

Chipkar left Inuvik Aug. 16 for Yellowknife, where she was to meet the mayor and pay a visit to the office of Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew. From Yellowknife Chipkar was scheduled to fly to Rankin Inlet, Arviat and Iqaluit, before heading for Ottawa.

More information can be obtained on the Web at: www.falundafa.ca and www.faluninfo.net