MONTREAL, June 21 (Reuters) - A Canadian-based member of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, detained for more than a month in China, returned to Montreal early on Thursday, a Canadian spokeswoman for the movement said.
Zhu Ying, a 35-year-old permanent resident of Canada, was arrested on May 10 after crossing into mainland China from Hong Kong, where she had taken part in a meeting of Falun Gong members, a movement outlawed by China, which brands it as an evil cult trying to overthrow the Communist government.
Friends and relatives did not hear from Zhu following her arrest, and attempts by Ottawa to get information from the Chinese government were unsuccessful, a spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Department said. Because Zhu is not a Canadian citizen, Ottawa could only ask for the co-operation of Chinese authorities.
"We are happily surprised by her return," said Cindy Ju, a Toronto-based spokeswoman for the Falun Gong movement, which blends Taoism and Buddhism with traditional physical exercises.
"The only reason she was arrested is because she was a Falun Gong member and the only reason she was released is because of the Canadian campaign to free her," Ju said.
Zhu is supposed to hold a press conference in Montreal on Friday. She could not be reached on Thursday. "I talked to her and she is very tired, she will be available tomorrow," Ju said.
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