NOT FREE TO LEAVE
B.C. court rules against Meng Wanzhou, says extradition case can be heard
They held banners, signs and flags, called for the release of two Canadians and millions of Uyghurs detained in China, and protested the far-reaching powers of the Chinese Communist Party.
But what brought a small group of demonstrators to the steps in front of the Vancouver Law Courts on Wednesday was their desire to see Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou sent to the U.S. to face fraud charges.
“It helps the whole world if
Meng Wanzhou is extradited to the U.S.,” said Turnisa Matsedik-Qira, an Uyghur who held a sign calling for boycotts of China and Huawei.
The group was waiting on a ruling from Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes on whether the charges Meng is facing in the U.S. constitute a crime in Canada. Holmes concluded that the “double-criminality” requirement is capable of being met, and ordered that the extradition process continue.
Meng was arrested at Vancouver International Airport in December 2018 and has been living under house arrest in Vancouver since her release on bail.
Matsedik-Qira was excited and said she was proud that China had not been allowed to bully Canada.
“It’s the best decision ever,” she exclaimed. “I so trust our independent judicial system in Canada, but still I have worries, honestly.”
Louis Huang, with the Vancouver Society of Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights for China, led the group of demonstrators, which numbered 15 at its peak, in chants about freedom for Canadians, China, Hong Kong, Uyghurs, “two Michaels” and, curiously, Quebec.
They were watched, and outnumbered, by a large contingent of reporters filing stories to local and international news outlets, along with curious onlookers who paused to take photos or simply observe the spectacle.
Huang held a sign bearing the photos of imprisoned Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were arrested in China shortly after Meng was taken into custody.
He said Holmes’s decision was not unexpected, because of Canada’s belief in the rule of law.
“I’m very pleased, but it’s only the first step,” Huang said.
“I believe Ms. Meng Wanzhou and her team of lawyers, they’re going to use all means to delay — but they can only delay the process, they can only take more time, but they will never change the outcome of the extradition.”
Isabella Cheung said she believes that when the case is finally resolved — whether it be months or years from now — Meng will be sent to the U.S.
“I believe that our law is fair, independent,” Cheung said.
Although Meng was captured by photographers as she arrived at and departed the courthouse, she and her lawyers avoided questions from reporters.