Israel Has to Act to Stop Atrocities in China, Says Leading Rabbi

Calls for possible boycott of Olympic Games

Epoch Times: Rabbi Dr. Reuven Bulka, a leader of the Canadian Jewish community, visited Israel in the middle of May to participate in the International Forum of Rabbis. In an interview with The Epoch Times, he called on the government of Israel to do their best in order to stop organ harvesting in China from living Falun Gong practitioners.

He said that the issue of organ harvesting in China from live Falun Gong practitioners is "the most important problem today."

Among Rabbi Bulka's friends is David Kilgour, a member of Canada's parliament, former Canadian secretary of state for the Asian-Pacific region, and co-author, with the international human rights lawyer David Matas, of a report into allegations of organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners in China (originally released in July 2006, with a revised and expanded report released in January 2007). That report confirms that the allegations of organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners are true.

According to Rabbi Bulka, exactly because of the close relationship between Israel and China, Israel can urge China to stop the horrifying practice of harvesting organs from the living. The Rabbi said, "If close connections are based on telling the Chinese only what they want to hear, then such connections can be called not close cooperation but deceit."

Rabbi Bulka is sure that a close cooperation between Israel and China makes it possible for Israel "to state delicately, but resolutely, that it [organ harvesting] may not be continued ".

Asked whether there might be fear of confronting the Chinese regime regarding human rights, the Rabbi answered: "It is much more terrible to find out that because of pursuing good relations and economic contacts, you assisted in the murder of innocent people. This is what we should really be concerned about, rather than losses of any economic profit. Israel should contribute to the immediate end of the catastrophe."

Rabbi Bulka emphasized that exactly because Israel itself had lived through the genocide, it should actively oppose crimes against humanity in China. "If Israel will not speak out, it will be very hard to answer the question, why, when people were being killed by Nazis, the world did not speak about it," he explained.

Bulka added: "And we know, that if at that time the world had started talking about it, the catastrophe would have been prevented from happening ".

"Today," the Rabbi said, "we know, without any doubt, that organ harvesting in China from live Falun Gong practitioners is still going on." He suggested taking action immediately in order to stop this horror.

The Rabbi admitted, however, that talking to the Chinese authorities probably would not change things. "But, at least, we will be able to look at ourselves in a mirror and tell that we have raised our voices to defend those that were persecuted, that we have done what we were supposed to do."

The possibility of material losses for Israel, for example, in trading weapons with China, does not bother the rabbi more than the current holocaust going on in China..

Bulka asked, "Which governmental employee of Israel would want to rise up and say that yes, we knew that people were being killed in China for the sake of selling their organs, yes, this is an unprecedented disgrace, but for the sake of our monetary interests, we will keep silent and will continue to sell weapon to China?"

The Rabbi predicts that in the future the Israeli governmental employees would be bound to say this if they won't step forward now.

Asked how the Israeli government should act, the Rabbi said, "First of all, it is necessary to prepare an instruction forbidding Israelis to go to China for transplantation. In addition to this, Israel should use diplomatic relations and address the ambassador of China: 'Do not argue with us whether this is taking place or not since we know for sure that organ harvesting is real, even if you deny it. You have to make a correct decision before the world will take actions against you.'"

Bulka also suggested that if in the near future nothing should change that Israel should cancel its participation in the Olympic Games, as one way to influence the Chinese authorities.

The Rabbi is sure that by quitting the Olympic Games, Israel will openly accuse China, and having done so, will influence other leading democratic countries, such as the United States, Canada, England, and France. If these countries will act the same way, the rabbi explains, then, he hopes, the "domino" effect will be initiated and other countries will join in the protest.

He hopes that at that point, Chinese authorities will have nothing else to do but to give in to the world's demands and open the doors of China for investigations to make sure that organ harvesting in China has stopped.

Rabbi Bulka is using different ways to put an end to the genocide going on in China. He has been addressing the Canadian government, taking part in protests and writing letters. Since his visit to Israel is not long enough, upon returning to Canada, he is planning to address the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel through the embassy in Ottawa.

Since 1967, Rabbi Bulka has served as the rabbi of the Congregation Machzikei Hadas in Ottawa. He is also a head of the international Forum of rabbis "The Primary Fund." He has started television and radio shows and written 30 books.

The Rabbi is a chair of a commission dealing with organ donations at the Kidney Foundation of Eastern Ontario. He was a recipient of Canadian Kidney Foundation award for "the significant contribution to the formation of understanding of organ donations."

The Rabbi actively participated in the different associations protecting the rights of Jews in the former USSR right up to its disintegration. .

Rabbi Bulka is the current head of the Canadian branch of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Read the original article in Russian,

Chinese TV airs Elyashiv's opposition to organ harvesting

Jun. 3, 2007 22:07 | Updated Jun. 4, 2007 20:31
By MATTHEW WAGNER

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Jerusalem Post: A Chinese-language international TV station called New Tang Dynasty TV (NTDTV) recently broadcast a news item on Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv's adamant prohibition of Jews deriving any benefit from Chinese organ harvesting, even in life-threatening situations.

Elyashiv, the most respected halachic authority among haredi Lithuanian Jewry, ruled over a month ago that it was forbidden to use organs harvested from members of the Falun Gong, a spiritual movement that is being persecuted by the Chinese Communist regime.

Although Elyashiv did not mention the Falun Gong by name, he said it was a desecration of God's name for Jews to exploit the moral corruption of the Chinese regime, which kills political prisoners with the aim of turning a profit by selling their heart, kidney, lungs and other organs.

NTDTV, which calls itself "one of the few sources of uncensored news for the Chinese people," thought its hundreds of millions of viewers would be interested in learning what Judaism has to say about organ trafficking.

Elyashiv's halachic opinion was voiced in response to a question posed by a Jewish doctor. The doctor asked him if he could accompany his Jewish patient to China for the organ transplant. The doctor explained to the nonagenarian rabbi that the Chinese authorities had set up detention camps for thousands of members of the Falun Gong, who are considered enemies of the state. The lives of these detainees were valueless in the eyes of the Chinese authorities, he said. However, the Chinese quickly realized that they could turn a quick profit from trafficking in the organs of the Falan Gong prisoners.

During a conference of Lev Le'achim, an organization that encourages secular Jews to embrace Orthodoxy, Rabbi Yitzhak Zilverstein, the son-in-law of Elyashiv and an expert in Jewish medical ethics, related his father-in-law's answer to the doctor's question.

"It is a desecration of God's name to use organs taken from political prisoners," said Zilverstein in the name of Elyashiv.

"Even in life-threatening cases it is forbidden to receive treatment, especially the chosen people, the Jewish people, who are commanded 'do not murder.' They must not travel to China to get an organ transplant."

Other rabbis who have come out against using Chinese organs include Menahem Porush, former Agudat Yisrael MK; Shlomo Aviner, head of the Ateret Yerushalayim Yeshiva; and Yuval Cherlow, one of the heads of the Petah Tikva Hesder Yeshiva and rabbis of the Sanhedrin, a revival of the ancient Jewish governing body.

According to Ro'i Bar-Ilan, an Israeli representative of the Falun Gong, all Israeli health funds suspended their funding of organ transplants in China. Some private insurance companies still fund Chinese organ transplants.

Dr. Jacob Levee, director of the heart transplant unit at Sheba Medical Center, put the figure since 2004 at 200-300 kidney transplants performed on Israelis in China, 20 heart transplants and 10 liver transplants.

In Israel there is no legislation prohibiting organ transplants. NTDTV in Israel commented that the TV station, which is broadcast from New York via satellite to China, has used its media to arouse public outrage against the organ harvesting and persecution of Falun Gong.

Falun Gong is a spiritual movement that advocates adhering to three principle traits: truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. Adherents try to constantly scrutinize their behavior in an attempt to act in accordance with these three traits. In addition, five meditations are used.

The movement began in China in 1992 with the initial encouragement of the Chinese authorities. But in 1999 Falun Gong was outlawed after the Chinese authorities discovered that the movement was amazingly successful, with between 70 million and 100 million adherents. Apparently the Chinese authorities saw it as a threat to the state.

Falun Gong group to launch relay to rally against China

International community urged not to allow '08 Games to turn into 'Bloody Harvest Games'

By Hermia Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Reporter Page 3 - 2007-06-15 12:53 AM

Taiwan News: The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China Asia announced yesterday that it will launch a global human rights torch relay campaign to protest against what it called China's harvesting of live organs from Falun Gong practitioners, and urged the international community not to let the 2008 Olympic Games turn into the "Bloody Harvest Games." The CIPFG is composed of more than 300 renowned international figures, with four delegations from Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. Through investigation of allegations against China's Communist Party of live organ removal for profit, CIPFG said, it intends to expose the facts of this type of persecution, stop it, and bring the criminals to justice. The organization said it will not make public the details or route of the torch relay unless it obtains a response from the Chinese authorities before August 8 this year. But it disclosed that people from the five continents have registered to join the campaign. "The Olympics and crimes against humanity cannot coexist in China," said chairman of the CIPFG Asia and Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lai Ching-te (賴清德) at a press conference in Taipei yesterday. "The purpose of the CIPFG in launching the human rights torch relay campaign is to raise awareness in the international community of China's suppression on human rights, and to boycott the 2008 Olympic Games held by the authoritative regime." Lai said that in 2001 China promised the International Olympic Committee that it would improve its human rights record, but recent reports from the United Nations and Amnesty International have clearly indicated that conditions have not improved. Rather, the situation has actually been deteriorating in China, Lai said, citing examples of the crackdown on Falun Gong practitioners and Tibetans. Vice Chairman of the organization Chiu Huang-chuan argued that if the international community does not take action to protest against what he called China's atrocities against Falun Gong practitioners, China will keep playing deaf to its crimes and will continue to suppress its people. Kuo Cheng-tien, a doctor from Taipei Veterans General Hospital, echoed Chiu's view, saying that the CCP's harvesting and sale of human organs is the most shameful medical practice ever in history. He called on to the people in medical and religious circles, as well as athletes to stand up and condemn the CCP. "To resist the Olympics held by the CCP is to save your life because the rise of the CCP is likely to bring catastrophe or incite a third world war," said Kuo. Tien Chiu-chin, a DPP legislator who is also a member of the CIPFG, quoted the words of Czech-born writer Milan Kundera "the struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting," and called on the public not to easily forget what the CCP regime has done to its people, especially to Falun Gong practitioners. The CIPFG Asia said in a statement that it has put forward three requests to CCP authorities, including a request to stop the persecution of Falun Gong members immediately and release all practitioners incarcerated for their faith, stop the persecution of friends, supporters and defense lawyers of Falun Gong practitioners, and hold discussions with the CIPFG to arrange details for the opening of labor camps, prisons, hospitals and related secretive facilities for inspection by CIPFG independent investigators. "If a response to our requests is not received before August 8, 2007, we will join forces with supporters from around the world to call for a boycott of the Olympic Games 2008," the statement read.

Worldwide human-rights torch relay plan announced

Taipei Times: By Loa Iok-sin - Friday, Jun 15, 2007, Page 4 The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG) announced plans yesterday to send a "human-rights torch" around the world and called for a boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympics to condemn human-rights abuses in China. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator William Lai (賴清德), president of CIPFG's Asian chapter, said individuals or organizations that support the protest will be able to sign up online to welcome the torch. The torch relay plan was simultaneously announced in Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong yesterday, Lai said. "So far, organizations or individuals in dozens of cities across five continents have signed up to welcome the torch," he said. "We assure you that, at the very minimum, the torch will pass through as many cities across the five continents." A detailed route and itinerary will be announced later, he said. A Chinese Falun Gong practitioner told reporters at the press conference that her children are still being harassed in China because of her beliefs. Nie Shuwen (聶淑文), who was a cardiologist at a Shanghai hospital, said she has been barred from returning to China because she practices Falun Gong. "Although I escaped the persecution of the Chinese Communist Party, they often harass my children in Shanghai," Nie said. Organ harvesting in China was another topic discussed at the news conference. "The purpose of organ donation technology is to help people, but now, because it's killing people through misuse, I have to stand up against it as a doctor," said Kuo Cheng-tien (郭正典), a physician at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. "Every individual in the world ... should stand up and speak against it [live organ harvesting]."

Open Letter to HU and WEN: CIPFG

Open Letter to President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao from the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG)

June 8, 2007

Dear President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao:

(Clearwisdom.net) We are representatives from the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG), which consists of over three hundred legislators, government officials, religious leaders, lawyers, medical doctors and human rights advocates from Europe, Asia, North America and Oceania.

We respectfully request that your government cease the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and its supporters, and allow an independent international investigation of the allegations of state-sanctioned organ harvesting.

As individuals and as an organization, we in CIPFG are concerned with social justice and basic human rights. The persecution endured by Falun Gong practitioners in China over the past eight years is so much to bear that we feel like we are going through almost the same experience.

Based on reports from the United Nations and other renowned human rights organizations, as well as extensive coverage from media around the world, we are aware that thousands of innocent Falun Gong practitioners have died as a result of this persecution. We are shocked to learn about the methods of torture practitioners are subjected to and the damage done to their lives. In addition, we are particularly disturbed by the reports on state-sanctioned harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners’ organs.

Knowing that tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners are still jailed in China, facing both torture and organ harvesting, we cannot keep silent any longer.

We understand that this crime against humanity was not instigated by either of you. We are aware that both of you have also attempted to put an end to this campaign of genocide that has involved almost all the people of China. We see humane qualities in you and a sense of responsibility as leaders of the state. This is one of the reasons we decided to write to you.

We are not hostile to China. In fact, we love the Chinese people, and we hold China’s 5000 years of civilization in high regard. Please remember that one day history will write its verdict on what you choose to do, just as it has done with all China’s previous rulers.

Fortunately, you still have an opportunity to choose kindness rather than hate.

The 2008 Olympics is an opportunity for the Chinese people. When the international community awarded the Games to China, they expected that the Chinese people would benefit in many different ways, including in the matter of their basic human rights.

Nevertheless, we regret to note that since 2001, human rights overall in China have deteriorated to the extent that hideous crimes, such as organ seizures, are still occurring.

We believe that it would be a blur on the history of the Olympics and a shame to humanity as a whole if the Games and crimes against humanity were to take place simultaneously in China. Therefore, we request that you stop the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and prisoners of conscience such as human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng.

Whether more calls for an international boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympics will occur depends on your decision on these important issues within the next two months.

Yours sincerely,

The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG)

Rabbi Dr. Reuven Bulka , Religious leader and scholar, Chairman of the OrganDonation Committee of the Kidney Foundation for Eastern Ontario, Canada
President of CIPFG US-Canada Chapter

Andrew Bartlett, Australian Democrats Senator,
Co-Chair of CIPFG Australia Chapter

Lai Ching-Te, Taiwan Legislator,
President of CIPFG Asia Chapter

Baroness Caroline Cox, Member of the House of Lords (UK),
President of CIPFG Europe Chapter

Hon. David Kilgour
Former Canadian Secretary of State, Asia-Pacific
Co-Author of BLOODY HARVEST - An Investigation Report

CIPFG Unveils Human Rights Torch Relay Plan to Oppose Bloody Olympics

Press Release

(MWC) Directors of Asia CIPFG, representing the member countries of Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan, simultaneously unveiled today their plan to hold a global “Human Rights Torch Relay.” The torch relay is set to cover major cities in dozens of countries on five continents

CIPFG members, as the main organizers of this relay, welcome all individuals and organizations who are concerned with Falun Gong's human rights to participate, thus acknowledging that the Olympics and crimes against humanity cannot co-exist. Sign our petition here.

The Human Rights Torch Relay, which aims to appeal to the international community, will start in Europe and end in Asia. Details of the specific route will be announced at a later date. Olympic athletes will be among the people carrying the torch from country to country.

This action was prompted after the May 30th North America CIPFG press conference held in Ottawa, where the Honorable David Kilgour along with “Doctors against Organ Harvesting” formally requested the Chinese regime to stop the persecution of Falun Gong and allow an unfettered independent investigation in China.

In an open letter to Hu Jintao, CIPFG has made it clear that it will join the chorus of a number of other Olympic boycotts if the Chinese regime fails to address this pertinent question before August 8, 2007.

While the drive to boycott the Games is gaining momentum from several human rights groups, former Australian Olympic swimming champion Jan Becker expressed concern that most athletes and international sporting organizations are unaware of the extent to which Beijing is attempting to fool the world. The Olympic Games is the pinnacle of any athlete's career, but not if it tramples on human lives. "Human rights abuses are rampant throughout the country in the most horrific manner,” she said. "I don't think that is in the Olympic spirit, as what an Olympian would want. And if [the athletes] were to know this, they would feel quite sickened by it."

The CIPFG is calling on the Chinese regime to end the persecution of Falun Gong immediately. The Olympic spirit of peace and justice should not be compromised by ‘Bloody Olympics.’

Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG)

CIPFG was formed in 2006 to enable persons around the world to help investigate the persecution of Falun Gong in China by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). One of its main objectives is to conduct a thorough and independent investigation in order to uncover the truth about the harvesting of organs from Falun Gong practitioners in camps, military and civilian hospitals, and any other facilities across China. The evidence collected both inside and outside China will serve the purpose of ending this brutal persecution of millions of innocent people that has now continued unabated for eight years. Reference: Bloody Harvest Report

Canadian human rights activist David Kilgour

[11-06-2007] By Dita Asiedu

Radio Prague: Listen 16kb/s ~ 32kb/s

"Where do the organs come from for all the transplants in China? The allegation of organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners provides an answer." - a quote from a report from Canadian human rights activist David Kilgour. Mr Kilgour, a former Member of Parliament who also served as Canada's Secretary of State for the Asia Pacific region, was recently in Prague lobbying for support in the fight against illegal organ harvesting in China.

David Kilgour

Andrea Fajkusova, our colleague from Radio Prague's Spanish section, met up with him during his visit. She first asked him what he thought of the Olympic Watch group, established in Prague in 2001, with the aim of monitoring the human rights situation in China in the run-up to the 2008 Olympic Games:

"I can congratulate you on having an Olympic Watch. I refer to it a lot and there is a sort of an informal network now in that we're trying to get together and build bridges with groups like the Darfur community and community or the number of groups that are concerned about what's going on. There was an article in the paper that I saw in Google saying that human rights are getting worse in China as we get closer to the Olympics. It asks that the government of China said that it would improve human rights if it got the Games but instead they are getting worse. They are locking up more people and they are doing this to Falun Gong... what kind of an Olympic movement would sanction this kind of behaviour?"

"Frankly, we have almost given up on the international Olympic committee. We think they are completely spineless about this matter, but we are pushing the national Olympic committees in the 70 countries where they exist to push this issue. I urge the government of this democratic country to continue to encourage other governments of perhaps countries that have not been through the totalitarian system that you went through to take a stronger stand on this."

A new law came into force in China on May 1, concerning organ transplants. What will this law change?

"I hope it changes everything but the trouble is that the doctors, the military, the hospitals are making hundreds of millions of dollars by selling organs. So, does anyone think that this new law is going to be enforced? So many laws in China are not enforced and they're simply passed for public relations reasons. There is no doubt that the army brags about getting a lot of financing from profits of organ harvesting on one of the websites. So I would be very surprised if the law means anything. This is a quote from the website of the organ transplant centre of the Armed Forces' general hospital in Beijing and the website says: 'the organ transplant centre is our main department for making money'. Its gross income for 2003 was 16 million yuan, which I guess is about 3 million dollars. So they brag about how they are making money.

"So, the short answer to your question is that I think this was announced because of the Olympic Games and I would be very surprised if the practice stopped. We will know if it stops because we have good information and I doubt very much that this law is going to make much difference."

And who are the clients of this organ market?

"That is a really tough question. My co-author David Matas went to a country in Asia. I better not name it but they told him that about 5,000 people a year go to China for organs, from one country. These are obviously wealthy people who can pay the prices. In Canada, for example, we have made inquiries with our medical people and we discovered that from three hospitals alone in Canada, one in Vancouver, in Calgary and one in Toronto about one hundred people from Canada had gone for organs over the last few years. It is rising too. They tend to come from countries like Japan, Korea and Taiwan, but there is no doubt that there are people coming from the USA and Canada...I've never heard anybody say that someone from the Czech Republic was there."

And how can we find out whether a product was made in a labour camp in China?

"That is a question we have been asked in the Czech Republic and Ming and I are going to attempt to come up with a list of products. What happens is that a company asks a sub-contractor in China to get them promotional products for Christmas. The sub-contractor goes to the work camp and they get the products. The company in the West doesn't know, it says, where these products come from. But that's why we have got to get a list of these products so that hopefully this will stop happening. But China has been producing these products for a long time in these forced labour camps.

"I can give you an anecdote of a company called Dynasty Wine. A couple of years ago I was at a friend's place for dinner and somebody from the Chinese Embassy brought a bottle of Dynasty Wine. Well, allegedly this is a product that is made with forced labour in these labour camps. So, in the West when are we going to wake up to realise that these kinds of things that you heard from Ming are going on in these camps?"

Athlete Questions Games' Spirit

Epoch Times: The Olympic Games is the pinnacle of any athlete's career, but not if it tramples on human lives, says a former Australian Olympic swimming champion.

Jan Becker, who represented Australia at the 1964 Tokyo Games, highlights that the Olympic spirit of "friendship, solidarity, dignity and fair play", as detailed in the Olympic charter, is precisely what the Chinese communist authorities must respect, if they are to be taken seriously by the international community.

With the Beijing 2008 Games fast approaching, international concern is building over the increasing human rights abuses in the People's Republic – starting from the state-run religious suppression to choked media freedom, and more recently the mass evictions of people from their homes to make way for Olympic-related developments.

"I don't think that is in the Olympic spirit, as what an Olympian would want. And if [the athletes] were to know this, they would feel quite sickened by it," Ms Becker told The Epoch Times.

Last week a leaked document from the Chinese authorities detailing an extensive list of "dangerous groups" considered a "threat".

The document listed 43 groups that are to be excluded from the Games, which include the Dalai Lama's supporters, Falun Gong practitioners, staff of any foreign media hostile to China and those who show "strong discontent" with the Chinese Communist Party.

Ms Becker hopes that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will make more effort to live up to the Olympic ideals and showcase a truly non-political sporting event.

"The Olympic charter says the Olympic Games should be held in a country where they treat people with dignity. They should say to China: you have not improved in these areas, you are not worthy of the Olympics."

While the drive to boycott the Games is gaining momentum from several human rights groups, Ms Becker expressed concern that most athletes and international sporting organizations are unaware of the extent to which Beijing is attempting to "fool the world".

"Human rights abuses are rampant throughout the country in the most horrific manner. As an Olympian, I am ashamed to say, the world regrettably looks on," she wrote in an open letter, addressing all sports-minded people of the world.

CFP: UN Reports the Chilling Facts on Organ Harvesting from Live Falun Gong Practitioners

Persecution and Torture in China

Canada Free Press : Monday, June 11, 1007 - By Falun Gong Human Rights Working Group, Monday, June 11, 2007

On March 20, 2007, Manfred Nowak, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture issued a report that corroborates previous findings in 2006 about persecution, abuse and torture of Chinese citizens.

His report states, "Organ harvesting has been inflicted on a large number of unwilling Falun Gong practitioners at a wide variety of locations for the purpose of making available organs for transplant operations." Mr. Nowak issued his report to the Human Rights Council's Fourth session, as part of their Agenda item 2, the Implementation of General Assembly Resolution 60/251.

On August 11, 2006, three UN Special Rapporteurs had sent an urgent appeal on organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners. This was a joint action by the Special Rapporteur on Torture, Mr. Manfred Nowak, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ms. Asma Jahangir and the Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Ms. Sigma Huda.

Mr. Nowak further states in his report, "Vital organs including hearts, kidneys, livers and corneas were systematically harvested from Falun Gong practitioners at Sujiatan Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, beginning in 2001. The practitioners were given injections to induce heart failure, and therefore were killed in the course of the organ harvesting operations or immediately thereafter."

The report adds, "It is reported that employees of several transplant centres have indicated that they have used organs from live Falun Gong practitioners for transplants. After the organs were removed, the bodies were cremated, and no corpse is left to examine for identification as the source of an organ transplant. Once the organs were removed they were shipped to transplant centres to be used for transplants for both domestic and foreign patients."

Although the Chinese government denied the allegations, the Report states that China's passage of a law on July 1, 2006, prohibiting the sale of organs and requiring the donor to give written permission, indicates that China allowed organ harvesting before that time.

"Moreover, evidence exists, for example, that at least up until April 2006, price lists for organ transplants in China were published on the Internet," states the report.

The Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ms. Asma Jahangir, also addressed the harvesting of organs from Falun Gong practitioners in her annual report on 250 countries. Regarding freedom of religion or belief, her report states, "The Special Rapporteur continues to be very concerned by the continued violations of freedom of religion or belief suffered by members of the Falun Gong. In her previous reports to the Commission on Human Rights, she explicitly mentioned members of the Falun Gong as targets of various human rights violations because of their beliefs and she strongly condemns the continued lack of freedom of belief of members of Falun Gong."

The Silence about Organ Harvesting

The Falun Gong Human Rights Working Group initially described the organ harvesting issue in its newsletter, Sujiatun Death Camp: Putting Conscience On Trial". The news was met with silence.

On July 7, 2006, former Canadian Secretary of State (Asia Pacific) and MP David Kilgour and human rights attorney David Matas released their "Report into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China." Presenting 17 points of evidence on the harvesting of organs from live Falun Gong practitioners, they stated, "The allegations, if true, would represent a grotesque form of evil which, despite all the depravations humanity has seen, would be new to this planet. The very horror makes us reel back in disbelief. But that disbelief does not mean that the allegations are untrue." Kilgour and Matas have traveled the world discussing their findings with organizations and nations, but, as yet, no country and no major media have condemned this heinous practice.

Dr. Shizhong Chen, founder of The Falun Gong Human Rights Working Group (www.falunhr.org), when asked about the importance of the UN Report, observed, "David Matas condemned the organ harvesting as a new kind of evil that humanity has yet to see. Sadly, we have also seen a new kind of silence to this evil, silence from world governments and from the media.

"This report by the Special Rapporteur removes any excuse of silence, of not knowing, not trusting and not believing the appeals of Falun Gong practitioners whose lives are supplying China's burgeoning transplant market. It also belies the US State Department report that they found 'no evidence' of organ harvesting after Chinese officials organized two guided tours for their benefit."

Many Cases of Persecution and Torture in China

The Falun Gong Human Rights Working Group has submitted many appeals to the United Nations Special Rapporteurs and has often spoken to the UN Human Rights Council. In his 2005 Report on his mission to China, Nowak observed, in Table 1, that 66% of all alleged victims of torture were Falun Gong practitioners. In 2006, Mr. Nowak sent many urgent appeals to the government of China concerning Falun Gong practitioners and other Chinese citizens who were abused and tortured.

Mr. Nowak cited the persecution of many Chinese citizens in his report, among others, human rights lawyer, Mr. Gao Zhisheng.

The Persecution of Chinese Lawyer Gao Zhisheng

Mr. Gao Zhisheng has represented dissidents, religious believers, entire villages with disputes against officials, and Falun Gong practitioners. When he did his own personal investigation and found evidence of ongoing torture of Falun Gong practitioners, he wrote an open letter asking CCP leaders Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao to stop the persecution of Falun Gong. As a result, the CCP started persecuting him. In November 2005, Mr. Gao met with Mr. Manfred Nowak, who at that time was in China investigating the use of "torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."

On December 2, 2005, 12 days after Mr. Nowak met with him, the Justice Bureau closed Mr. Gao's Shenghzhi Law Firm. Mr. Nowak "strongly protested to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs against the intimidation and surveillance by the security services that Mr. Gao was subjected to during their meeting in Beijing on November 20, 2005," and detailed the persecution suffered by Mr. Gao's wife, Ms. Geng He, their children of 13 and 2 years of age and his 70 year old mother-in-law. One time, two police officers beat Ms. Geng, ripped her clothing and tore off one of her fingernails. They followed Gao's daughter Gege at all times, including when she was in school and when she went to the bathroom. They even attempted to kidnap Gao's two-year-old son.

Other victims mentioned in the report include Ms. Mao Hengfeng whom Nowak interviewed on November 24, 2005, during his mission to China; Sun Xicheng, He Guoguang, Zhou Xiudi, Chen Zonglai, Wu Yuping, Jin Huijun, Mao Hengfeng, Chen Guancheng, Xu Zhiyong, lawyers Li Fangping and Li Subinhad, Ismail Semed, an ethnic Uighur from Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR),), Mr. Chen Xiaoming, Ms. Fu Yuxia, and Mr. Han Zhongming, Ms. Ma Yalian, Yusuf Kadir Tohti and Abdukadir Sidik, Mr. Xu Shuangfu (also known as Xu Wenku) and Mr. Li Maoxing, Bu Dongwei (also known as David Bu), He Depu, whom the Special Rapporteur on Torture interviewed on November 22 and 24, 2005, at the Beijing No. 2 Prison, and Zhang Hongwei, a Falun Gong practitioner residing in Tonghua District, Jilin Province, currently detained at Jilin Prison.

The list of victims goes on and on...

The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Suggests Mechanisms to Hold States Accountable

In an effort to help stop the use of torture, Mr. Nowak proposes that consideration be given to methods for holding accountable those States in which torture is systematic or widespread.

As an example, he suggests, "Such States might be required to contribute adequate funds to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. In addition, the respective costs for treatment should ideally be borne by the individual perpetrators, their superiors and the authorities directly responsible."

Mr. Manfred Nowak's report is at:
http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/torture/rapporteur/

Click on the second report: A/HRC/4/33/Add.1

The information about China begins on page 45 and continues to page 70; the organ harvesting begins on page 60.

Mr. Nowak is the first UN Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture to visit China for a UN investigation on torture. The findings from his 2005 visit triggered worldwide attention to the communist government's use of torture on its own citizens. His China mission report can be found here

Ms. Asma Jahangir's report is at:
http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?m=86

Click on "E" in the first report. The information on China begins on page 28.

UN Report on Organ Harvesting in China

Boycotting the Olympic Games 2008 for Human Rights Is Not Politics

(Clearwisdom.net) At a press conference held at the Canadian Parliament on May 30, 2007, acclaimed Jewish scholar and chairman of the Organ Donation Committee of the Kidney Foundation for Eastern Ontario, and the chair of the "Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China" (CIPFG), Rabbi Reuven Bulka, declared that boycotting the Olympic Games 2008 is not politics, but a human rights issue.

Canadian Parliament Member Borys Wrzesnewskyj, said on May 30, "I am a supporter of this particular initiative (boycotting the Olympic Games) and I encourage all MPs and in fact parliamentarians around the world to take part in this alternative torch run."

Canadian Parliament Member Borys Wrzesnewskyj

Acclaimed Jewish scholar and the chair of the "Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG)", Rabbi Reuven Bulka

Former Parliament Member, Simma Holt

Support for Boycotting Olympic Games to Stop Genocide in China

Dr. Bulka said, "The Chinese government shouldn't be afraid of an investigation, and that's all that we are asking. And what is very clear is even that has not been forthcoming, and we are here today to give a warning in advance to the Chinese government, which includes our urging to them to stop the persecution of the Falun Gong immediately, to release all incarcerated practitioners, to stop the persecution of the friends and supporters and defense lawyers of Falun Gong Practitioners, and to hold negotiations with the coalition to allow for the investigation of what is going on, and obviously with the purpose of stopping completely this horrific practice of taking live organs from Falun Gong practitioners and making a multi-million dollar industry of this worldwide."

MP Wrzesnewskyj stated, "It is horrific when you read the reports to realize that in the very country that wants to showcase itself during the Olympics, these sorts of atrocities could be taking place today. I am a supporter of this particular initiative and I encourage all MPs and in fact parliamentarians around the world to take part in this alternative torch run."

Mr. Kilgour, the Former Secretary of State for Asian Pacific, said, "All of us hoped when China was given the games that human rights would improve in China. What I think is not well-known is the fact that human rights have significantly deteriorated in the country."

He continued, "Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Human Rights in China--virtually every independent NGO--has said the same thing: that human rights are getting worse, not better in anticipation of the games which are a little more than year away.

"The process of killing Falun Gong practitioners for their organs and then selling their organs very often to foreigners for huge amounts of money continues, and it's simply impossible in my view to have torture and killing going on in one part of Beijing and the games going on in another part of Beijing. The two are simply incompatible. It's totally incompatible with the Olympic spirit and it must not and cannot go on."

Simma Holt, the former Member of Parliament for Vancouver-Kingsway, said, "Genocide just sounds like a word, but the Chinese communist regime is taking body parts, taking body parts and selling them like they were McDonald's--you can get them cheaper if you buy two, and every time they take an organ from a living person, that person dies." Simma Holt received much support by the Chinese community in Vancouver-Kingsway.

Boycotting the Olympic Games Is a Human Rights Issue, Not Politics

On May 18, the Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister, Yang Jiehu, claimed, "A handful of people are trying to politicize the Olympic Games." In response to this, Dr. Bulka declared: "I think the point we need to emphasize, is that this is not politics. This is a human rights issue. This has nothing to do with politics. We are all foursquare and lovers of the Chinese people. As a rabbi I can tell you that many in our community have always enjoyed Chinese food. That's the thing that has sustained many of them for many, many years. We want to stop, not because of any politics but because there are innocent individuals who are being killed and we can't stand back and do nothing in the face of that. Anybody who says to you that this is politics, that's an absurdity."

Mr. David Kilgour said, "The games have been politicized by the government of China. I think some of you are aware of the bulletin that went out saying who would be allowed to go to China to see the games, how they'd be treated, and who would not be allowed. That bulletin is now a public document which is on a number of websites. It is so much contrary to the Olympic spirit that its hard to think of anything worse."

Regarding the above comment of Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Yang Jiehu, MP Wrzesnewskyj said: "Its an absolutely ridiculous comment and even if we set aside the fact that tens of thousands of people in countries around the world have taken interest, even if we set aside the fact that Mr. Kilgour and Mr. Matas have traveled and met with parliamentarians, politicians, leaders of organizations and of countries in over 20 countries--even if we set aside those particular numbers, a handful of people? Oh my goodness, how many thousands are imprisoned in China and how many thousands have lost their lives due to this policy of organ harvesting of Falun Gong members? Its an absolutely a ridiculous comment which tries to diminish what in fact is taking place. And it's time for the propaganda to stop, and instead what they should be looking at is stopping this practice."

Dr. Torsten Trey, the spokesman of Doctors Against Organ Harvesting, said: "Just imagine if the Olympics would take place next year in Sudan or in another dictatorship like in the Nazi regime, would the whole world agree to have the Olympic Games in such a dictatorship? So the case with China is not a single case; it would apply in each country. And, as far as I know, when they invited the Olympic Games to China they said 'Give us a chance, so that we can improve human rights.' So they said it actually themselves. They set the rule, they set the standard to improve human rights, but what happened since 2001? For the past 6 years organs have been harvested from living people, so it's the opposite."

Dr. Trey said: "We are not setting up a new rule, we are just following what they said. They want to improve human rights, but they didn't and it's a basic right that we are talking about."

Canadian MP Joins CIPFG

(Clearwisdom.net) On May 30, 2007, the "Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong" (CIPFG) held a press conference at the Canadian Parliament and issued a statement that the "Olympics and crimes against humanity cannot coexist in China." The group also said, "If a response to our requests is not received before August 8, 2007, we will join forces with supporters from around the world to call for a boycott of the Olympic Games 2008." On May 31, MP Andrew Telegdi, a Member of Parliament from the Liberal Party in the Canadian House of Commons wrote to CIPFG Canada, expressing his wish to join the investigation team.

MP Andrew Telegdi joins CIPFG

MP Andrew Telegdi from Waterloo is chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. He indicated in his letter that he would like to be a member of CIPFG and help investigate the CCP's brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.

MP Telegdi was born in 1946 in Budapest, Hungary and lived under the control of a Communist regime in his early years. In 1957, he immigrated with his family to Canada.

He said that he understood Falun Gong practitioners' requests for an investigation of the persecution. These requests are reasonable and Canada should help.

In 2002, Mr. Telegdi wrote to the Foreign Minister and urged him to support the family members of twelve Canadians who were imprisoned in China's prisons and labor camps for practicing Falun Gong.

He mentioned in his letter that Canada had lodged protests many times with Chinese officials regarding the CCP's infringement of human rights and religious freedom. But Canada must continuously deal with China on all known cases and protest such human rights violations with the strongest terms.

CIPFG Canada stated that this is the fourth MP of Canada to join the CIPFG. Among the three hundred members of the organization around the world, there are renowned figures in political, medical, judicial and religious circles. More people will join this righteous endeavor.