‘Be ruthless’: needed to free two Canadians detained in China

“He inspires us to stay strong and relentless in our efforts to free him,” she told CNN in an interview this week. “That’s the word he used for us: ‘Stay relentless,’ and that’s what we need to do.”

Although the two were separated before the arrest of Kovrig, Nadjibulla was still married to Kovrig and was a strong supporter of his release.

Political arrest

Beijing claims Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat working for the International Crisis Group, has been stealing sensitive information and intelligence from contacts in China since 2017, while Spavor, a North Korean-focused businessman, is accused of provided information to Kovrig.

But most outside observers see the matter as politically motivated, and even China has linked the fate of the “two Michaels” – as they are known in Canada – to that of Meng, Huawei’s CEO, who is much more comfortable was detained, allowed to live in her mansion in Vancouver and travel within the city of Vancouver with security and a tracking device on her ankle.

Ottawa and Washington have denounced the use of the two men as ‘bargaining chips’. What becomes of them could possibly predict what China’s reflex will be in the coming years when confronted with Western rules and laws that it will not comply with.

After months of trying to reach a solution through diplomatic channels, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has become increasingly blunt, accusing China of ‘forced diplomacy’. But while he has been criticized by some Canadians for not doing more, his options for forcing a release may be limited, with the solution that China clearly wants – to release Meng – more dependent on Washington than Ottawa.

“We know from day one that … Michael’s fate and that of Michael Spavor are linked to a bigger geopolitical dispute, and we need to find a solution to that, and that’s the only way to bring Michael home, said Nadjibulla.

She remains careful about every word she utters about the case and in no way wants to jeopardize Kovrig’s pursuit of freedom. Months after the arrest of the two men, their families remained silent, believing that diplomatic negotiations would be successful in arranging their release.

But as their affairs got longer, with the two men being held in Chinese prisons under difficult and worse circumstances, this strategy was unsuccessful. In addition to being denied access to both men’s trials this month, Canadian officials were denied access to their citizens for ten months last year, after China imposed new restrictions on prison visits due to the coronavirus pandemic.

By contrast, Meng has already opened dozens of hearings for the public, the media and Chinese consular officials, as required by Canadian law. She also has a handful of attorneys working on the case in both the U.S. and Canada, while both Canadians have an attorney provided by the Chinese government, and could not consult the legal advisers of their choice.

And although the ‘two Michaels’ were largely cut off from the outside world, Meng, according to her own admission, led a relatively normal life in her Vancouver home for a million dollars. Canada also recently confirmed that it had granted her family visas to visit her there, and even allowed special exemptions from pandemic restrictions.

Nadjibulla said she last heard from her husband in a letter in January. He is offered few privileges, even things that are taken for granted in Canadian prisons, such as exercise and fresh air.

“Michael describes the circumstances as difficult, it’s almost a convent,” she said. “He can read books, which was his consolation, it’s something we advocated very hard for, because he can access books and reading books keeps him going.”

Despite not being allowed outside, Nadjibulla added that Kovrig is committed to walking around his cell 7,000 feet a day.

Dig in

Canada’s ambassador to China has returned to Ottawa in recent days to consult with government ministers on China’s policies, as Beijing has been hit by a new round of international sanctions – including by Canada – over its repression in Xinjiang.

These sanctions were announced in collaboration with Washington, which intensified its advocacy for the ‘two Michaels’, who many Canadians say are being held as a result of US action.

Canadian officials said U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken raised the issue during a meeting with Chinese diplomats in Alaska last week, adding that the United States had agreed to “treat these two individuals as if they were their own.” American citizens are ‘.

Trudeau said earlier this month: ‘China needs to understand that it is not just about two Canadians, but that respect for the rule of law and relations with a wide range of Western countries play with arbitrary detention and coercion. diplomacy they were engaged in. ‘

China, however, does not appear to have been shaken, and if anything is going to dig. The country’s embassy in Ottawa recently criticized the Canadian government for arresting Meng, demanding that the ‘two Michaels’ be arrested for undermining national security.

“On the one hand, the Canadian side claims to uphold the rule of law, but on the other hand it makes irresponsible remarks regarding China’s handling of relevant matters in accordance with the law,” the embassy said in a statement. said.

“How hypocritical and arrogant! When it comes to arbitrary detention, Ms. Meng Wanzhou has been detained arbitrarily for more than two years despite the fact that she has not violated any Canadian law. It is arbitrary detention in all respects of the term.”

Such rhetoric has increased the importance for the male families. What could have been a troublesome bilateral dispute resolved within months has escalated into a major confrontation that could play a role in reforming China’s relations with the West for years to come.

Nadjibulla believes the support of Biden’s government could give efforts to free the two Canadians new momentum. But she is also realistic about the Chinese position, and what it will take to reach a compromise that will satisfy both parties, especially with Beijing expressing the matter explicitly to Meng.

“There are people I know who are working on this and my sincere hope is that they see this moment and this development. [of a trial] as a strong reminder that real lives are at stake and we must do everything in our power to bring them home, ‘she said.

And as ruthless as the past two years have been for her, Nadjibulla said she always notes that Kovrig is completely alone.

“It was difficult for all of us here, but nothing compared to what Michael endured and he did it with so much dignity and strength of character, his courage, his resilience, his ability to stay positive is what inspires me, she said. “He fights for his life, for his freedom and it is my honor to be in his corner and to continue the struggle until the day he is liberated.”