The Progressive Chinese of Québec reminds the public of the following fundamental human rights of each Canadian and Québecker of Chinese origin :
1. freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, freedom of communication and association;
2. the right to be presumed innocent, to be informed about specific charges, and to know the evidence against the person charged with an offence.
We question why the RCMP, out of thousands of investigations they must be conducting across the country, would publicly name two community centres serving the Chinese communities in Québec, causing serious and potentially irreparable harm to the community.
We are alarmed that since the RCMP confirmed publicly that they are investigating CFSGM and SQ for being ‘Chinese police stations’ this has had devastating effects on the community.
Evidence of a chilling effect has already been seen in the reluctance of people of Chinese origin to speak publicly, as numerous community spokespeople have refused to give any interviews since last week.
The survival of long-standing community organizations that have a record of exemplary service to the Chinese-speaking community in Montreal and the South Shore, integrating new immigrants, organizing activities to fight against the isolation of seniors, providing support and referrals for victims of conjugal violence, offering French language classes and alleviating poverty, is now at risk.
Democracy is also at risk since the voters who elected Ms. Xixi Li to represent them at the municipal council are being deprived of their right to political representation at the insistence of Doreen Assaad, mayor of Brossard, for Ms. Li to suspend her participation in city council meetings, even though Ms. Li has not yet been even accused of any wrong-doing.
Although we encourage victims of any type of bullying or intimidation to come forward, we caution against imputing blame to any specific individual or organizations without evidence or specific allegations.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the infamous racist Chinese Exclusion Act and as Senator Yeun Pau Woo indicated, what is happening now is again another Chinese Exclusion, through a series of actions that are excluding Chinese Canadians from exercising their right to speak, to a presumption of innocence, to benefit from services provided by their own culturally and linguistically accessible institutions, and even from participating in public political activities.
We demand the respect of our rights and civil liberties protected under the Canadian and Québec Charters.
We demand the respect of our rights and civil liberties protected under the Canadian and Québec Charters.
Montreal, March 14, 2023
Walter Tom
(514) 475-3681
walter@tomlex.ca
