But one visa student from China, now living in freedom-loving Canada, who fled the CCP’s tyrannical regime in fear of being persecuted for her spiritual belief, Falun Gong, has done more than tuning out of the Olympics.
Digital animation prodigy at world-renowned Sheridan College, 25-year-old Lucy Liu shared her plight in an open letter to the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in collaboration with her student union, who are supporting her.
Miss Liu’s mom, Yan Liu, also a Falun Gong practitioner, was “disappeared” and imprisoned by the CCP for practicing the peaceful meditative practice, which espouses the tenets “truth, compassion, and tolerance.” Under her oppressors, who are above the law, Yan could face torture, forced labor, abuse, death, even harvesting of her vital organs.
Neither the family nor Yan’s lawyer are able to contact her.
“We advocate on behalf of all our students, and we aspire for the fair and just treatment of all these students and their families,” wrote president of Sheridan’s student union Kyle Budge to Trudeau. “We understand this is a complex, international issue, but as representatives of our complex and international student body, it would be negligent of us to not push for the release of Lucy’s mother and provide Lucy with the support she needs.”
The letter added: “We ask for your immediate condemnation of these illegal detentions and call for the release of Ms. Yan Liu.”
Trudeau has not responded at this time of writing.
In addition, Miss Liu wrote a letter to our editors expressing her dismay at the world’s participation in the Beijing Olympics: “When China is rolling out the red carpet for the ceremony, my mom is being held at China’s detention center because of her spiritual belief and her peaceful pursuit of freedom of conscience.”
Miss Liu lamented that at “a time when families sit around the table and enjoy the traditional dumpling dinner” during Chinese New Year, her family was “torn apart” alongside “thousands of other Falun Gong practitioners’ families.”
“Ironically,“ she added, ”when Beijing promises to build a ‘peaceful and better world’ by hosting the Olympics, the Communist regime, on the other hand, was persecuting its own citizens engaging in a peaceful movement.”
Far from achieving the spirit of the Olympics, the games have “cast a dark shadow in my heart,” she said.
She concluded: “Looking outside the small room where I live, big snowflakes are flying in the sky. It is the biggest snowstorm in 10 years. I pray that after the cold winter, spring is not far behind. Life has up and downs, hardships can only make me stronger and more resilient. I must hold faith and bloom. That is true Olympic Spirit.”
