Kean Wong:
After having banned the Tian Guo Marching band because of its affiliation with Falun Gong, organizers of the Canada's Tulip Festival in Ottawa have reinstated the band and issued a formal apology.
Organizers of Canada's Tulip Festival have formally apologized for pulling abruptly a performance by the Tian Guo marching band just minutes before the band was to take the stage. The band was invited to perform the national anthem at the Festival's opening ceremonies on May 2nd. Statements from festival staff at the time suggested the group was dropped because of its link to Falun Gong. The band was thus dropped to avoid upsetting Chinese embassy officials who had a tent at the festival.
After having banned the Tian Guo Marching band because of its affiliation with Falun Gong, organizers of the Canada's Tulip Festival in Ottawa have reinstated the band and issued a formal apology.
Organizers of Canada's Tulip Festival have formally apologized for pulling abruptly a performance by the Tian Guo marching band just minutes before the band was to take the stage. The band was invited to perform the national anthem at the Festival's opening ceremonies on May 2nd. Statements from festival staff at the time suggested the group was dropped because of its link to Falun Gong. The band was thus dropped to avoid upsetting Chinese embassy officials who had a tent at the festival.
After the incident gained much publicity in Canada, festival organizers issued earlier this week an official apology and invited the band back to perform. The band has accepted the apology and has agreed to perform later this week.
NTD, Canada.
