The Green Party is calling for Canadians to demand accountability from both the government and the business community for human rights abuses in nations that trade with Canada.
In a statement released Friday, the Greens said China in particular needs to be held to account for human rights abuses—noting especially the ongoing persecution of the Falun Gong spiritual group.
“At what cost has China’s economic miracle been achieved, and have we abetted human rights crimes by pretending ignorance?” asked Green Party leader Elizabeth May.
“Questions need to be asked of our trade department and of the Canadian business community. With the well-documented and long-standing abuses in China and Tibet, and the human rights lawsuits against Bo Xilai in at least 13 countries including Canada, how could they be totally ignorant of these horrendous crimes?”
The statement said that while other faith groups, such as House-Christians, are also being persecuted, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) fears the strength and growth of the Falun Gong, which is reputed to number between 70 and 100 million adherents in China.
“This non-violent faith organization was anathema to the communist regime,” the statement said.
Green Human Rights Critic Joe Foster said much of China’s economic growth is the result of cheap labour “augmented by nearly a million slave prisoners, mostly those being persecuted as Falun Gong practitioners. Moreover, these prisoners have been providing not only free labour but a source for the infamous live organ transplants estimated in the tens of thousands.”
