Open letter in response to supportive remarks from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development of Canada.
Dear Ms. Amy Mills, and all departmental staff,
I want to express my deep appreciation for your remarks to the press after Chinese state security agents threatened and harassed my family.
Your gesture is both meaningful and powerful. As you know, many other dissident and minority groups such as Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Falun Gong practitioners encounter similar challenges. If they dare speak out in defence of human rights, their family members still in China may face intimidation or detention by security agents. This makes public statements like yours on behalf of the Canadian government hugely important. Such attention is often the only tool to help stop human rights abuses inside China.
Your remarks made me feel safe, at home, and so assured that I have the protection of our government in standing up for Canadian values. Through your words, you’ve shown once again this government is made of brave souls who are willing to defend our principles and values in the face of intimidation. It tells those who are suffering that they are not alone, and offers hope for countless families in China who are still facing these kinds of threats. They see that there are governments like Canada that take the lead in standing up on these issues.
Canada’s strong moral stance reminds me of the immortal words of John Diefenbaker:
I am a Canadian, a free Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship God in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.
That is exactly what our government is doing: Living up to its tradition and aspirations. Thank you, so much. I have never been prouder to be Canadian.
Anastasia Lin
Miss World Canada 2015