Meng pens letter on her year in detention

Huawei executive spends Vancouver house arrest painting, reading books

VANCOUVER— It’s been a year of “fear” and “pain” for Meng Wanzhou, wrote the CFO of tech giant Huawei from the Vancouver home where she is under house arrest, on the oneyear anniversary of her detention in Canada.

Meng was arrested Dec. 1, 2018, on a request from the United States, while she was passing through Vancouver International Airport on her way to Mexico.

“The past year has witnessed moments of fear, pain, disappointment, helplessness, torment, and struggle,” said a letter attributed to Meng titled “Your warmth is a beacon that lights my way forward,” which was posted on the Huawei website.

The letter talks about accepting the situation she is in and saying she is “no longer afraid of the unknown.”

Meng writes that she has transitioned from her busy executive lifestyle to filling her days with oil painting and reading books.

“Right now, time seems to pass slowly,” the letter says. “It is so slow that I have enough time to read a book from cover to cover. I can take the time to discuss minutiae with my colleagues or to carefully complete an oil painting.”

The statement also praises Canadian officials for their “kindness” after her arrest, specifically thanking the correctional staff where she spent her initial hours. She also thanked the staff of her security detail — a condition of her bail while awaiting extradition proceedings — for shovelling her walk after a snowstorm so her mother could visit, as well as courthouse staff.

But Meng said she has also been heartened by the support she’s received from Huawei staff and others. “My dear friends, your warmth is a beacon that lights my way forward, and I appreciate it more than words can say,” finishes the statement.

Shortly after Meng’s arrest, two Canadians, businessman Michael Spavor and consultant Michael Kovrig, were arrested in China in a move largely believed to be retaliation for Meng’s arrest. The pair are being held in unknown locations on accusations of espionage.

Shortly after their arrest, Swedish human-rights activist Peter Dahlin told the Star about his own experience in a similar detention facility.

Dahlin said he was deprived of sleep, watched constantly and could often hear other prisoners being beaten during his weeks-long ordeal.

Meng’s statement did not mention Spavor or Kovrig.