We Condemn President Ma's Traitorous Speech

On Thursday, representatives of the Association of Taiwanese Organizations in Toronto (ATOT) presented the attached statement - We Condemn Ma's Traitorous Speech - to TECO Toronto, and issued it to the media. THRAC is a member of ATOT.  Michael Stainton helped edit the statement and translated it into English, shown below:

 Also:

THRAC received a request from FAPA USA to help file a complaint against air Canada for refusing two Taiwanese people, with ROC (Taiwan) passports  boarding on a flight from Washington to Toronto - because they were citizens of "China" and so needed a visa to visit Canada. Austin Yan is working on this case. 

This past weekend, the Federation for a Democratic China held a major international conference in Markham, on democratizing China. THRAC members Albert Lin and Michael Stainton spoke at the conference.

THRAC Statement on Constitutional Crisis in Taiwan 對台灣憲政危機的聲明

Alex Neve's Talk at THRAC 2013 AGM

Report on THRAC Annual General Meeting

Report on THRAC AGM.docx

Register for the THRAC Annual Meeting 2013 now!

Annual Meeting Registration (CLICK HERE!)

THRAC Executive asks members to send cards to prisoners Chen Shui-bian and Huseyin Celil

Once again we are making our annual appeal to THRAC members and supporters to send  cards to two political prisoners. Many small acts do help make a difference. Please take 15 minutes to do a small bit of human rights work! 

THRAC Executive asks members

Send cards to prisoners Chen Shui-bian and Huseyin Celil

A simple note on a card or plain paper expressing your concern as a Canadian can make a difference. It can be in English or Chinese. Though Huseyin Celil may not see your card himself, his Chinese jailers will. Let THRAC know you have sent one and we will share the information with Huseyin Celil’s family.

Huseyin Celil is a Uyghur Canadian from Xinjiang. In the 1990’s, Celil joined protests against the treatment of the Uyghur people in China.  Arrested and tortured, he eventually fled China and came to Canada in 2001 as a refugee. He became a Canadian citizen and moved to Burlington with his wife and four children. However, in 2006, he visited his wife’s family in Uzbekistan. The Chinese government asked for him to be “extradited” to China, in violation of international law and despite protest from Canada. He was sent to China, which refused to recognize his Canadian citizenship or even to allow Canadian embassy staff to attend his show trial.  He was convicted of ‘terrorism.’  and sentenced to life in prison in April, 2007. His family live in Burlington, and he is the Oakville Amnesty Canada group’s adopted prisoner of conscience.

 

Huseyin Celil 　Hu-sa-yin  Ji-li-li

Di 6 qu, Di 5 Fenqu 第6区, 第 5分区
Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu Diyi Jianyu 
新疆維吾爾自治区第ㄧ監獄
No. 5 Siping Lu 四平路 5號
Wulumuqishi 830013 烏魯木齊市
Xingiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu新疆維吾爾自治区
People’s Republic of China 中國

Chen Shui-bian’s health continues to deteriorate rapidly, even while he is being cared for in Taipei Veterans Hospital. See the video showing his condition :

 http://video.n.yam.com/view/mkvideopage.php?news_id=20130130186472

 Chen Shui-bian 陳水扁
Taipei Veterans General Hospital 台北榮民總醫院

台北市11217,石牌路2段 201號
No.201, Sec. 2, Shipai Rd., Beitou District, Taipei City, Taiwan 11217

THRAC writes Taiwan Fair Trade Commission on Media Monopoly case

THRAC calls on FTC to reject the takeover of Apple Daily media by pro-China investor group.

Fair Trade Media Letter on Letterhead

Alex Neve to speak at THRAC Annual Meeting March 24th

THRAC ANNUAL MEETING AND BANQUET

Sunday March 24  5PM – 9PM  (doors open at 4:30)

Taiwanese United Church (Newtonbrook United)

53 Cummer Ave., North York, Toronto

Canada, Taiwan and Beyond: Playing Our Part in the Human Rights Struggle

Speaker – Alex Neve,  Secretary-General of Amnesty Canada

Program:

5PM – Annual Meeting – Reports, Discussion of THRAC Work, Amendment of Bylaws,

             Election of 2013-14 executive

5PM – 7PM – Human Rights Fair –

           Tables with displays, information and sales from several human rights organizations

6PM – Banquet – cost TBA, members will receive $5 discount on banquet

7PM – Speaker – Alex Neve, followed by Q&A

We are greatly honoured to have Alex Neve as our speaker, after three years of trying to find a day that fitted his incredibly busy schedule. The leading voice for human rights in Canada, and a member of the Order of Canada, Alex Neve travels the world for Amnesty International, and is regularly in the news as a critic of both international and Canadian government policies which fail to live up to human rights standards. Alex will discuss global human rights work from several perspectives, as well as address questions about Shui-bian’s case.

Important changes this year

Concerned that rushed meetings for the last two years did not allow for a careful discussion in the annual meeting, or more questions after the speaker, we are scheduling more time for both the annual meeting and the program. Cost of membership and banquet are separate items.  Members will vote and take part in annual meeting, and get a discount on banquet. Non-members may choose to only attend banquet and talk. General membership remains $40, $25 for students.