Letter to the Japanese Olympic Committee

CIPFG Submits Petition Letter to the Japanese Olympic Committee and Calls for an End to the Chinese Communist Party's Persecution (Photo)

(Clearwisdom.net) On the morning of July 9, 2007, the vice director and other members of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) Asian Delegation submitted a petition letter to the Japanese Olympic Committee and called on the Chinese Communist Regime to stop the persecution of Falun Gong before August 8th of this year.

Ando Kan, vice director of CIPFG submits petition letter to the Japanese Olympic Committee

At 11:00 a.m., Ando Kan, vice director of CIPFG and well-known human rights activist, and Yamagawa visited the Japanese Olympic Committee near Meiji Jingu and met with staff in the Department of General Affairs. After introducing the purpose of the visit and reading the petition letter, the two people handed over the letter. Staff member Mr. Nai promised to transfer the letter to Tsunekazu Takeda, president of the Japanese Olympic Committee. The petition letter stated that if the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) did not respond to CIPFG's request before August 8, CIPFG would unite with righteous forces across the world, boycott the Olympic Games, and conduct a human rights torch relay. Enclosed with the letter was an open letter by Mr. David Kilgour and Mr. David Matas, and their joint statement with the CIPFG to the president of the International Olympic Committee. Mr. Kilgour and Mr. Matas are authors of the "Report into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China."

Ando Kan told Mr. Nai that they sincerely hope the Olympic Games will be a successful and peaceful event, "But we know that though the CCP promised to the world to improve its poor human rights record, China's human rights record is getting worse. For example, Falun Gong practitioners, Catholics, Tibetans and Xinjiang people are imprisoned without any legal procedure. Countless death cases occurred. Doctors hired by the CCP even harvest organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. 'The peaceful Olympic Games cannot coexist alongside such bloody crimes.'"

After handing over the petition letter, Ando Kan told the reporter that a signature collection will be conducted, "...to have more Japanese people know the issue and oppose a blood-tainted Olympic Games. Otherwise, it would be pitiful if our athletes participate in the Games without knowing about the CCP's atrocities." He called on more outstanding social figures to join the CIPFG, saying, "We must not repeat the tragedy of the Nazi Olympic Games held before World War II."

The CIPFG mailed the petition letter to the CCP's Embassy in Tokyo before this visit.

The CIPFG is composed of more than three hundred internationally renowned figures and four delegations of Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. The organization aims to investigate the allegations of the CCP's killing Falun Gong practitioners for their organs to sell for profit, expose and stop the persecution, and bring the perpetrators to justice for their crimes against humanity.

Chinese People Support The Human Rights Torch

Epoch Times: July 17, 2007 - Human rights torch to be lit in Greece

On June 14, CIPFG Asia Branch held press conferences at five countries and areas at the same time. The press conference organized by Situ Hua in Hongkong is the only one held on land under the CCP's rule. (The Epoch Times)

Even though July 12 is still one month away from the day when the international organization, the "Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong" (CIPFG), will light the Human Rights Torch, this movement has gained tremendous support from Chinese people. The National Alliance of Defending Human Rights and Resisting Violence expressed that they will participate in passing the torch.

Pan Qing, representative for the National Alliance of Defending Human Rights and Resisting Violence and also the Chairmen of the Chinese Freedom and Democratic Party said in an interview with The Epoch Times that these organizations will participate in the passing of the Human Rights Torch. Within this period, they will tell the international community that Chinese people want human rights, not the Olympic Games.

On July 3, the European CIPFG held a press conference in London, formally announcing that on August 8, the global Human Rights Torch will be lit in Athens, Greece. The CIPFG also disclosed that this plan has gained support from the international community, including increasing numbers of Chinese people.

Pan Qing: International Community Should Pay Attention to Crimes of CCP

Pan said, "We will be there the whole way through. Wherever the torch goes, we will spread the news to local governments, congresses, human rights associations and media channels. Also, we will send the related information to people in mainland China, disclosing the various atrocities that CCP has committed against its own people, specially the extremely savage crime of organ harvesting from live Falun Gong practitioners."

Pan continued that the cruel persecution of Falun Gong and the organ harvesting crime have not been completely disclosed to the world. While passing on the Human Rights Torch, these crimes should be made known to our civilization in the 21st century.

Pan thinks that the international community has turned a blind eye to this atrocity, mainly because of the tremendous economic influence China has over them. The international media channels and people with good conscience, along with those pursuing justice, should speak out together to urge the international community to face up to the CCP's crimes.

'Letter to all Fellow Chinese Citizens' and CIPFG's Statement Released on Same Day

On May 30, on Capitol Hill in Canada, CIPFG released the statement that "Olympic Games and Human Rights Crimes Cannot Occur in China Simultaneously." The Chinese Freedom and Democratic Party published its statement on the same day—"Beijing Olympic Games: Crimes under National Spirit—Letter to All Fellow Chinese Citizens."

The letter pointed out that the majority of the Chinese people are still struggling in poverty, and their fundamental education and medical insurance can't be guaranteed. People who tell the truth are sentenced to prison. People can't think freely, nor can they choose their own leaders. "Where are happiness, dignity, and national pride? Right now, holding the Olympic Games is not what our nation needs as far as glory or pride are concerned, instead it is a shame on all of us."

People from Heilongjiang Province: 'We Don't Want Olympic Games, We Want Human Rights'

On June 2, 2007, at least 40,000 farmers in Fujin City, Heilongjiang Province, who have been losing their lands to the government for at least the last 12 years stated, "We don't want the Olympic Games, we want human rights." Within a month, over 11,000 people including miners who lost jobs and farmers who lost their land in Jixi City, Heilongjiang Province as well as people from Shanghai signed their names to support this petition.

The CCP arrested a few farmer representatives in Heilongjiang Province. But at the same time, the local farmers continued to sign the petition using their real names, and the names have been sent overseas without interruption.

The National Alliance of Defending Human Rights and Resisting Violence under the Chinese Freedom and Democratic Party was formed on June 28, 2007. On the same day, they released a public announcement urging people from all walks of lives to build the association of anti-violence to dissolve the CCP's tyranny. Pan said that within a very short period of time, they have received many responses from various areas in China.

Pan Qing said, "We do not need the Olympic Games, we need human rights." Pan thinks it would shatter the image of the Olympic spirit to hold and promote the Olympic Games in China where the current human rights situation has deteriorated to such a horrible extent and the people are miserable.

He said while passing the Human Rights Torch, the voices and the aspirations of the Chinese people would be heard all over the world and responses from the international world would support the Chinese People. "So, we are in support of the Human Right Torch very much," Pan said. He also hopes all people around the world will be touched by the wishes and desires of the farmers from the Fujin region who are being deprived of their lands.

Chinese People Support the Human Rights Torch Initiative

Kelvin Yang, a gentleman from Canada, said that he was very happy that the National Alliance of Defending Human Rights and Resisting Violence decided to join in the Human Rights Torch initiative. He also disclosed that the plan has also been supported from a lot of people from mainland China since the beginning.

According to a report by Radio Free Asia, Zhou, a woman from Shanghai, said that it would do nothing nor facilitate any pride for the Chinese people to hold the Olympic Games if the human rights of the Chinese people were not guaranteed. She wishes she may get the chance to pass the Human Right Torch and let more people see it.

Mrs. Li, a farmer from Fujin County, Hei Longjiang Province, who has signed in support of the Human Rights Torch, said, "We are not interested in the Olympic Games at all. What's the point of the games if we have no human rights?"

Many people have expressed their views about the Human Rights Torch through posting articles on the Internet. Siqin Li, a doctor in Liaoning Province, said, "Boycott the 2008 Olympic Games. Do not allow the CCP to hold the Olympic Games and kill its own people at the same time." Qiming, an Internet user said, "Boycott the Bloody Olympic Games in Beijing. Return my human rights and freedoms."

Xiao Wang, an engineer in Mainland China said, "I love my home country, but I dislike the CCP. China, under the rule of the CCP, is not eligible for holding the Olympic Games."

Baiqiao Tang, a responsible member of the China Peace Organization, whose general headquarter is located in New York, said that it was absolutely acceptable for the Chinese people whose human rights were deprived to exert pressure on the Chinese regime.

Background of the Human Rights Torch Initiative

On May 30, 2007, Rabbi Dr. Reuven P. Bulka, chairman of the CIPFG in Canada, announced that if a satisfactory response to CIPFG's requests is not received from the CCP before August 8, 2007, the organization will join forces with supporters from around the world to call for a boycott of the 2008 Olympic Games. This is the "Human Rights Torch" initiative.

Three requests were made to the CCP authorities: 1) release all detained and imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners; 2) stop the persecution of friends, supporters and defense lawyers of Falun Gong practitioners (Gao Zhisheng, Li Hong, etc.); 3) allow the international society to freely investigate the issues of organ harvesting of live Falun Gong practitioners.

The director of the CIPFG in Asia, Lai Ching-te, said that the Human Rights torch will be lit up in Europe. The torch then will be passed through dozens of cities in five continents, and arrive at a destination in Asia. It will take several months.

Click here to read the original article in Chinese

Alternative Torch Relay Exposes 'Bloody Olympics'

By John Smithies; Epoch Times UK Staff

Jul 08, 2007

Baroness Caroline Cox announces the Global Human Rights Torch Relay to Expose the 2008 "Bloody Olympics" at a press conference in London (Epoch Times)

An alternative Olympic torch is to make its way around the world to expose human rights abuses in China in the run-up to the Olympic Games in Beijing next year.

The Global Human Rights Torch Relay to Expose the 2008 "Bloody Olympics" will start on August 9th in Athens and take in more than 10 countries in Europe, before finishing in Asia.

Mr John Dee, one of the organisers of the Relay, said: "If China is allowed to host the next Olympics without first ending its morally corrupt human rights abuses, especially the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, it will be a sad indictment on the moral standards of the world as a whole."

The Relay, which is supported by a number of past Olympic winners, aims to force the International Olympic Committee to take a serious look at its own charter, and to cancel the Games under the present circumstances.

"The Olympic Games have always been a symbol of high moral standards founded on the natural striving for the harmony of physical strength and spiritual force of human beings," said Mārtiņš Rubenis, Latvian Winter Olympics Bronze medal winner.

"As an athlete I could not feel the deep fulfilment and satisfaction of a job well done while standing on the podium, built over the lives of thousands and thousands of people," he said.

The Relay joins other initiatives being taken to draw attention to the CCP's continued human rights abuses.

In March, actress Mia Farrow announced a campaign to halt China's support of the Sudanese regime, which has so far killed more than 400,000 people in Darfur. Ms Farrow said that Beijing is uniquely positioned to put an end to the slaughter, but had so far refused to do so.

Olympics as Leverage on China's Human Rights, Urges Lawyer

Epoch Times: May 31- 2007 - Finding ways to change the behavior of those responsible for the harvesting of organs from living Falun Gong practitioners in China was a common theme in discussions at two recent forums held this last Thursday at the University of Chicago and last Friday at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

"We should be doing everything we can to use the Olympic Games event as leverage to get China to clean up its human rights record," said David Matas, an international human rights lawyer and a co-author (with David Kilgour) of "Bloody Harvest: Revised Report into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China."

Matas added, "Obviously if China can get away with this now without anybody outside China noticing, or caring, or doing anything about it while it is hosting the Olympic Games, then after the Olympic Games are over then things will go back to where they were and far worse."

Citing the 1936 Nazi Olympics as example, Matas said the Nazis "cleaned up their act a little bit before Germany hosted the Games, but things got far worse afterwards."

Matas urged that in pressuring China on the issue, the focus should be getting China to set up long-lasting mechanisms "that would not dismantle" when the Games are over.

Also speaking at the same two events were Dr. Kirk Allison, Director of Program in Human Rights and Health at the University of Minnesota, and Mr. Erping Zhang, Executive Director of the Association for Asian Research.

Sanctions

Allison pointed out that since 95–99 percent of the organs in China's transplants are taken from persons executed for a variety of reasons, including practicing Falun Gong, Chinese transplant physicians who return to China after studying abroad will have a very slim chance to avoid participating in that system.

To show how a transplant physician would take part in the system, Allison cited from the Kilgour/Matas report the story of a transplant tourist who received a kidney transplant in China in May 2004.

The man's wife "saw around 20-sheets of papers with relevant info of organ suppliers and their HLA info. The doctor picked a few from the list and put them in order. Once the organ arrived, a cross-match would be performed. If the test result was positive, the transplant operation had to be canceled, and if it is negative, the operation would proceed."

The doctor in the story, Allison said, is like someone who enters a seafood restaurant and points toward the lobster tank saying, "I want this one." When the physician determines the blood type or HLA type of the transplant, he said, "He is determining the order of execution."

In response to this situation, Allison says universities outside China should cease training Chinese transplant surgeons, cancel collaborations with them, and redirect funding streams; journals should reject the organ transplant data from China; and physicians should dissuade patients from seeking organ transplants in China.

Allison noted that the Transplantation Society has already called to stop accepting transplant data from China that are based on organs procured from executed prisoners; a number of journals have followed its lead; and the main hospitals in Queensland, Australia, already have had a moratorium on the training of Chinese transplant physicians.

Erping Zhang looked toward the political realm for means of changing China's behavior. He noted that because "China is an export-based economy, the U.S. and Western countries have a lot of leverage to pressure China to perform better on human rights issues. It is high-time for all of us to pressure this [U.S.] administration to not look the other way."

Former MP David Kilgour (back), and respected human rights lawyer David Matas (front). (Chun Zhu/The Epoch Times)

Evidence in Mass Crimes

Matas emphasized that mass crimes often meet mass denials, and that they do not yield the kinds of evidence sought in most investigations about human rights violations.

That is why, he explained, investigations into mass crimes, such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, have to step outside of the strict rules of evidence.

Referring to the organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners in China as mass crimes, Matas said, "This allegation is not going to produce that sort of evidence."

"The allegation is people are being killed for their organs; there is no surviving organ donor. The allegation is their bodies are cremated; there is no corpse for autopsy. The allegation is this happens in the operating room; there are no witnesses from the public. This happens in China, so there is no access … there won't be government records. Since it takes place in the operating room, if there is such a crime, it will be cleaned up afterward," said Matas.

The Kilgour/Matas reports use the terminology "Evidence of proof and disproof" instead of evidence.

Matas said that he and Kilgour began the investigation simply by gathering in all the relevant evidence "without necessarily each evidence on its own proving anything." Then they looked at it altogether and made assessment based on all the evidence rather than any one piece in isolation.

The revised Kilgour/Matas report Kilgour/Matas report, released in January this year, reinforces the conclusion in the first report of July 2006 that large-scale organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners in China has been taking place, expanding the "elements of proof and disproof" from 18 to 33.

One of the added elements in the revised edition is the responses from the Chinese regime.

The Chinese regime has failed to respond to the first report in a persuasive way, according to Matas, who finds the Chinese regime's responses to the Kilgour/Matas reports "feeble" and "evasive."

"They had evidence at their disposal that we didn't have," he said.

"If the allegation is untrue, they could personally refute it. Their very evasion, unwillingness, and inability in itself help to confirm the conclusion," said Matas, also citing examples of how Chinese embassies and consulates in various areas have tried to prevent people from hearing him and Kilgour speak or from reading their reports.

Matas pointed out that since the story of organ harvesting has reached the public the Chinese regime has passed two laws about organ transplant, which in essence are the same; the first took effect July 1 last year, the second May 1 this year.

The reason, he thinks, is that the Chinese regime is "feeling a certain amount of embarrassment from the publicity that has been generated on this issue." So he urges that people outside China to continue pressure the Chinese regime.

Commenting on the fact that there are efforts to improve the Chinese transplant system in order to eliminate abuses, Matas said, "It's fine to get everything to shift, but I don't think that's an excuse for allowing the present system to continue until the shift has taken place.

"The practice that is going on now should stop now."

Comparing Slavery and Organ Harvesting

Epoch Times: June 20, 2007 - After reading the shocking news of Shanxi Province's underground brick factory —which uncovered children and the handicapped sold into slavery to work 16 to 20 hours a day—I couldn't help but think of the organ harvesting program targeting living Falun Gong practitioners.

How was the factory uncovered? Who thought of this scheme? And who would dare believe it? Consider the ideas put forth in the article "China No Longer Needs Novels," by Chinese writer Yang Hengjun. Yang said that, when compared to the tumultuous atmosphere of China's current social climate, many criticize his novels as being unimaginative or boring. The comment stopped Yang from writing novels all together. The reality of the underground brick factory appears to be more horrific than any story one could imagine. "I have written novels for so many years, so why do I lack such imagination?" asked Yang. "Why could I not imagine such shockingly ruthless plots that would make even ghosts cry?"

One need only observe those who live in, or who have come out of, the "New China." These people have been raised on thoughts of a flowering nation, a prosperous time, a grand nation rising, or a society of harmony? How can such people imagine or believe news of child slavery or an organ harvesting program ? They can only become angry when this truth is revealed. As renowned human rights attorney, Gao Zhisheng, once said, "There is only what they [the Chinese communist regime] can't think of, there is nothing they can't do."

Although the Chinese communist regime wishes to paint a different picture, the "New China" is very much defined by stories like the brick factory operation and the organ harvesting program. Aside being heinous crimes, what traits do these incidents share?

Shocking and Audacious

Both involve underground systems existing outside the realm of normal society. The slaves in the factory were jailed in brick caves; while Falun Gong practitioners are also jailed underground or in other places unknown to the public. The factory kept human beings for free labor, whereas the organ harvesting program keeps Falun Gong practitioners as a living organ reserve. In both cases the imprisoned were denied the dignity and personal freedom that is the right of every individual. Instead their bodies became the property of others.

Falun Gong practitioners re-enact a scene of organ harvesting in China. (Xiaoyan Sun/The Epoch Times)

Victims

Brick factory victims included farmer workers, children, and mentally retarded people—society's neglected, weak and forgotten. Organ harvesting victims on the other hand are made up of Falun Gong practitioners —the No. 1 enemies to be eliminated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Far from forgotten, the CCP instead focuses much of their attention on this group as they attempt to eliminate them from the society. In terms of their societal standing, Falun Gong adherents suffer an even harsher fate than weak social groups.

Driven by Profit

Both the brick factory and the organ harvesting program are driven by profit. Many argue that in a corrupt environment such as China, which has bred a society bent solely on pursuing wealth, inhumane moneymaking schemes are bound to surface. The underground brick factory combined a tireless labor force—slaves were made to work 16 -20 hours per day—and little overhead—workers, receiving only cold water and a bun for sustenance, were tossed aside when they later died from exhaustion—resulting in a business model of almost pure profit.

What about the profit from organ harvesting? China's organ transplant website clearly labels the price for its wares: one liver costs between $98,000 to $130,000; while one kidney is sold at $62,000; $130,000 to $150,000 for a heart and $30,000 for a cornea. In comparison, when selling the organs from a single body, the profit is far greater than what value a slave can create in an underground factory.

Criminals by Any Name

The criminals that ran the underground brick factory consist of human traffickers, labor contractors, participating local police officers and other local officials. When the case broke, Li Fulin, deputy-director general of Shanxi Provincial Public Security Bureau, claimed that the underground brick factory represents a dark corner of society that would be cracked down on firmly. High-ranking officials have played a "positive" role and some of these slaves were rescued.

What about the criminals that conduct the organ harvesting program? They include medical doctors, committing crimes in labor camps, detention centers, prisons, and hospitals, and the military. Who is the highest-ranking criminal in this case? This still hasn't been determined, though some suggest that it remains a top secret within the Chinese communist regime. However, we do know that the suppression of Falun Gong comes from the very top of the Chinese regime. The highest-ranking officials of the CCP orchestrate this persecution, so who can we rely on to rescue these victims?

Family Members of the Missing

Some of the child slaves in Shanxi's underground brick factories were rescued because their parents worked tirelessly for their release—a natural impulse when a loved one is in danger. Yet for this very reason, after the heinous crimes of the organ harvesting program were exposed, many people refused to believe that such an evil act could occur. They concluded: if so many people were missing, why didn't their family members look for them?

In fact, it is not that their families hadn't looked for them. Like all information concerning the Falun Gong persecution, the regime thwarted any attempts to dig deeper into the matter.

It is a situation with which I am intimately familiar. In 2000, I was arrested for practicing Falun Gong. My husband was informed of my arrest and imprisonment, but wasn't told in which labor camp I was kept. He spent four months struggling to locate me, but his efforts were in vain; everyone he approached refused to give him any information. Even if he intended to stake it all in his fight to find me, there was no one to fight with. Governmental agencies and law enforcement agents firmly believe that part of their job is to convince these desperately searching individuals that they are in fact to blame for the disappearance of their family members because they failed to convince them to give up Falun Gong.

In a country run by state terrorism, Falun Gong practitioners are demonized and labeled as dissidents. Their families strongly oppose their cultivation and even threaten divorce or ostracize them because of what they've been told about Falun Gong. Many practitioners, who traveled to Beijing to make an appeal for Falun Gong, vanish mysteriously. Some of their family members dare not search for them, fearing that they might face the same fate. They often have nowhere to turn, being unable to even share their pain at the loss of a loved one. In extreme cases, family members are even forced to cooperate with local authorities in this crackdown. They aid in imprisoning elderly Falun Gong practitioners who often die in detention at last.

Scale and Level of Crimes

When comparing the scale and level of these crimes, consider that the brick factories are largely unorganized operations of independent gangs, while the organ harvesting program is a meticulous operation backed by a state-run crackdown. Because organ harvesting runs all the way to the top, it enjoys the assistance of high-ranking officials, the resources of a major part of the state apparatus, many highly skilled individuals, and the ability to quickly cover up information and destroy evidence. These tools were not available to the criminals running the underground brick factories.

As a result, the world is shocked and appalled at the brick factories, but refuses to believe in the organ harvesting program. Particularly in China, the facts of this crime have been completely concealed within the country, thus remaining unknown to the public.

What these two incidents have in common are that its victims are seen as less than human by the society at large—they are viewed merely as free labor or an organ supply. Through violence, these "sub-humans" become the possessions of enterprising criminals. With such a mentality, if underground brick factories can occur, there should be nothing incredible or shocking about an organ harvesting program.

The public remains unwilling to believe in allegations of an organ harvesting program—such an atrocity indeed boggles the mind and many are simply not mentally prepared to envision such a cold-blooded reality. Yet once these allegations are seriously considered and the evidence weighed, individuals will be tortured by their conscience and forced to question their own morality and sense of justice.

Click here to read the original article in Chinese

London CIPFG announces Human Rights Torch Relay Plan

London Press Conference: 3 July 2007

Statement Regarding Human Rights Torch Relay by Chair of Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China

(Clearwisdom.net) We are here today to announce the start of a global Human Rights Torch Relay to protest against human rights abuses in China, in particular abuses against Falun Gong practitioners.

The torch will start on the 9th August in Athens and will then be carried through more than ten countries in Europe and then onto other countries around the world, in order to show the Chinese authorities the volume of support for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong, and to demonstrate the strength of feeling amongst right-minded people that the 2008 Olympics cannot co-exist with a climate of intimidation and physical and mental abuse of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese government.

We hereby urge the Chinese authorities once again, to:

1. Stop the persecution of Falun Gong immediately and release all practitioners incarcerated for their faith

2. Stop the persecution of friends and supporters and defense lawyers of Falun Gong practitioners (e.g. Gao Zhisheng, Li Hong)

3. Hold discussions with CIPFG to arrange details on the opening up of labor camps, prisons, hospitals and related secretive facilities for inspection by CIPFG independent investigators

We have informed the Chinese government that those three demands should be met by the 8th August, otherwise the human rights torch relay will go ahead. It is not unreasonable to hope that Falun Gong practitioners should be allowed to practice their beliefs freely, and we anticipate that other governments around the world will give their full support to the campaign.

Baroness Caroline Cox
Chair of CIPFG (Europe)
3 July 2007

Source: http://clearharmony.net/articles/200707/40215.html

Whither Human Rights in China?

Cross-posted at Boycott 2008 Communist Olympics

The preceding text is the transcript of the speech given by David Kilgour (co-author of Bloody Harvest) at the China Rights Network: Rights Now Forum held at the Ontario Institute for Studies on Education at the University of Toronto on June 2, 2007. Kilgour is a former M.P. and the former Canadian Secretary of State for the Asia-Pacific region. He, along with human rights lawyer David Matas, co-authored the Report into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China.

Look here for the entire speech.

Conclusions Confirmed

Epoch Times Excerpt: By announcing on April 6th this year that as of May 1st there will be no more trade in human organs, the government of China unintentionally confirmed the grisly truth of the conclusion by many, including our report. Matas and I, of course, hope that this latest edict will stop the killing of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience both before and after the Beijing Olympic Games. Given the vast sums of money involved, the indications that the military operate outside the health system and the obvious linkage of this announcement to concern about the now indelibly termed "Genocide Olympics", we remain sceptical that much will change in a crime against humanity that has gone on across China now for about six years.

The government of China has a history in this area of announcing policies and laws which sound fine in principle to the international community but are then not enforced. This announcement will mean nothing if the practice of organ harvesting from non-consenting 'donors' for huge sums of money continues.

The Chinese Deputy Health Minister Huang Jiefu, speaking in Guangzhou in mid-November 2006, denounced the selling of organs of executed prisoners, saying, "Under-the-table business must be banned." Yet the practice had already been banned in law on July I, 2006 and by policy long before that, so his speech was an official acknowledgement that the previous bans were ineffective. We worry that this announcement of a change in the law is nothing more than a political cosmetic, a piece of propaganda with its eye fixed firmly on cleansing the party's terrible human rights reputation before the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the minds of prospective foreign visitors.

...

Olympic Games

Mann (James Mann, author of The China Fantasy) thinks the media hype surrounding the 2008 Olympic Games will dwarf all earlier ones. China's government has already adapted a cute-and-cuddly image for them with its 'Five Friendlies'—doll-like characters, including a panda, designed to appeal to children, marketers and tourists. He asks pointedly if the "world's car manufacturers and beer companies (will) want to sponsor television coverage of the Olympics that dwells on the unpleasant side of China-the sweatshops, the poverty, the political prisoners, the corruption and the environmental disasters? Not likely." He queries if the Beijing games will follow the terrible precedent of the Berlin Olympics of 1936.

The Chinese media will stress patriotism at home throughout 2008 and probably before. Their coverage of the October, 1999 fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Peoples' Republic of China, which featured a parade intended to demonstrate the military power and the achievements of the CCP, is a likely template. John Pomfret of the Washington Post wrote chillingly about that day in Beijing: "No random spectators were allowed to view the scores of gaily coloured floats that coursed for two hours down to the Boulevard of Eternal Peace.

No overweight children were among the goose-stepping young students, women participants were picked for their beauty; soldiers were carefully selected for height, polish and marching skill. And all were chosen on the basis of their 'love of the motherland', Chinese officials said." The presence of a huge international media corps in Beijing could help to spur political demonstrations by democracy activists, religious groups, including Falun Gong, Tibetans, Uighurs, aggrieved workers and farmers, but only if they can penetrate the security designed to keep them away from the television cameras.

Mann: "Would-be protesters will be kept out of Beijing (or if they live in the city, they may be thrown out of Beijing). Crowds will not be allowed to gather; if they do, they will dispersed before they can make it to any public space. The police will be especially rough on groups seeking access to Tiananmen Square, which has been off limits to protests since 1989." The real test will come after the foreigners have left Beijing, says Dunn.

How many of the changes in China's political system hinted at on the eve of the Games will be implemented? Will the democratic world-now all but about 45 dictatorships across the planet-successfully integrate China to our norms? Or will the business community in Canada and elsewhere have to continue to explain why they are kowtowing to a regime that rather recently ordered tanks to fire on unarmed citizens and which since 2000 has been killing Falun Gong prisoners of conscience without trial and selling their organs for cash to organ tourists? Is this corporate social responsibility to some CEOs?

Mann stresses that the real problem with the business community is "Who's integrating whom?" How many Canadians have lost their livelihoods as a result of this integration, including, for example, 800 Goodyear Tire employees near Montreal who saw their tire plant close a few months ago because someone thinks they can manufacture tires more cheaply in China?

Recommended Initiatives

Among the initiatives that each of us might take to pressure the government of China on a host of human rights issues over the next year or so are these five:

...

4 -Leave no stone unturned on these vital causes. Be tireless. Speak, write, listen and strategize.

5-If it becomes necessary to call for a boycott together or separately of the 2008 Olympic Games, let us all be fully understanding of all the training and sustained effort put into their sport by Olympians everywhere. The International Olympics Committee should, given that human rights have deteriorated across China since it was awarded the Games, never have given the games to Beijing. If the IOC will not push harder on the host government to improve human rights in China than it has done to date, the IOC will be partly responsible for the calls for boycott. We did not know about the Holocaust before the Berlin Olympics in 1936, but the international community does know what the government of China is doing now both internally and internationally. Human dignity is ultimately indivisible today just as it was in the 1930s.

CIPFG's Plan to Stop CCP Organ Harvesting

Epoch Times: June 19- 2007 - Furthering their mission to stop the persecution of Falun Gong in China, the Asian chapter of the Coalition to Investigation the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) held simultaneous press conferences in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea and Japan on June 14, 2007 to announce their Global Human Rights Torch Relay.

The activities aim to protest rampant human rights violations in China by alerting the international community to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s crimes which CIPFG syas are "turning the Olympic Games—representing the peace of human beings—into the Bloody Harvest Games."

Hong Kong

Hosted by the vice-chair of CIPFG Asia, Szeto Wah, the Hong Kong and Macau press conference was held in Chater Garden in the territory's Central District at 3:00 p.m. Legislative Council member Leung Kwok-hung and Sai Kung District Council member Lam Wing-yin, were joined by Democratic Party Central Standing Committee member Lam Tsz-kin and other CIPFG members.

Wah said that the Global Human Rights Torch Relay is yet another of CIPFG's appeals to the international community to boycott the CCP's upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing.

Legislative Councilman Leung Kwok-hung criticized the Chinese authorities for imprisoning people merely because of personal beliefs, which he called the most heinous of crimes. "It is already considered evil to kill these prisoners," said Leung, "and to manipulate others to commit crimes as evil as harvesting organs from these prisoners while they're still alive in order to earn money is a disgrace to international standards of human rights."

Taiwan

Taiwan's press conference was held at 2:30 p.m. at the Legislative Yuan (Taiwanese Congress.) Legislative Council member and chairman of CIPFG Asia Lai Ching-te explained that the CCP once promised the International Olympic Committee that the Chinese regime would improve its human rights behavior in order to obtain the 2008 Olympic bid. "But human rights are not getting better in China," said Lai, "Recent reports from the United Nations and Amnesty International find that they are only getting worse. Falun Gong practitioners, Catholics, Tibetans, Xinjiang activists and others are being held in secret. The CCP has denied its victims any legal process instead is putting them to death."

Vice-Chair of CIPFG Asia, attorney Chiu Huang-chuan told those attending the press conference that the CCP spent a lot of money on public relations to in order to host the Olympics. "China's human rights are getting worse as the Olympics approach," said Chiu. "If the international community turns a blind eye to how the CCP has violated the Olympic spirit and fail to voice any protest, this will be the biggest insult to all mankind."

South Korea

In Seoul, South Korea CIPFG members admitted to their country's past poor human rights record, but pointed out that South Korea won democracy through the people's relentless efforts. CIPFG members argued that if all countries in the world were to unite, China would be forced to change and the persecution would stop. After the press conference, the group attempted to deliver their statement to the Chinese embassy, but were refused.

Mr. Zheng Qiuchen, a permanent representative of the Pan-Korean judicial reform bureau and deputy director of the Asia-Pacific Branch of CIPFG, said that in order to save lives without delay, there must be concrete actions to unify the forces of justice in the world.

1988 Olympic silver medalist, Huang Xiaomin said that as a native Chinese, I feel ashamed and angry at the Chinese communist regime's scheme of harvesting organs from live Falun Gong practitioners. "If the Chinese people know about the persecution of innocent people, they should feel the same way I do," said Huang. Upon meeting Chinese diving team members recently, Huang noted that a few of them also believed that the Olympics shouldn't be held in China while these severe human rights violations continue.

Japan

Renowned human rights activist and CIFPG member, An Donggan, read a statement from the Kilgour-Matas Independent Investigation—which thoroughly explored and confirmed China's organ harvesting program —at the press conference.

He then went on to say, "If the Chinese communist regime refuses to stop the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners before August 8, and continues to harvest organs for profit and to commit severe crimes against humanity, the CIPFG will unite the forces of justice of the entire world to resist the Olympics being held in China in 2008."

Akihisa Nagashima, member of the Japanese House of Representatives, pointed out that opinions involving sports and politics are not always relevant, but globalization has made human rights a focal point within the international community. "If the Chinese communist regime has not done anything wrong, it should allow others to investigate and find out the truth," said Nagashima.

Another member of the House of Representatives, Kenji Tamura, said he believed that it is significant to expose the violations of human rights. He said many Japanese congressmen were unaware of these crimes. "Consequently, clarifying the truth is extraordinary and, hopefully, more truth will be revealed," said Tamura. "As to the Canadian independent investigation report, to be honest, before the Canadian independent investigation team came to Japan, hardly anyone knew this kind of human rights violation still existed. It is truly unforgivable."

CIPFG joins with 300 international organizations—comprising all social sectors—in their mission to stop the persecution. With chapters in Australia, Asia, Europe and North America, CIPFG has sent forth three demands to the Chinese authorities:

• Release all Falun Gong practitioners incarcerated for their faith;
• Stop the persecution of human rights activists like attorneys Gao Zhisheng and Li Hong who support and defend the rights of Falun Gong practitioners;
• Allow an unconditional investigation from international independent groups into their organ harvesting program.

Earlier this month, CIPFG said that the Olympics and crimes against humanity cannot coexist in China. If a satisfactory response to their demands is not received by August 8, 2007, the CIPFG will unite all forces of justice worldwide to boycott China's Olympics hosting.

Click here to read the original article in Chinese

New Zealanders Considering Call For Olympic Boycott

Epoch Times: June 25, 2007 - New Zealanders may join the call for an Olympic boycott, in a bid to end the state-sanctioned organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners in China.

The Coaltion to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG) held a press conference in Auckland yesterday, to draw attention to mounting allegations against the Chinese regime's human rights abuses.

Auckland barrister and solicitor Richard McLeod, a member of the CIPFG panel, said Chinese officials had agreed to improve human rights in China when they were awarded the Olympics in 2001.

"The evidence that is emerging is that the [human rights] stituation [in China] has not improved. There is a good deal of evidence to suggest that it has actually worsened," Mr McLeod said.

Olympic Charter - Fundamental Principles Of Olympism

1) Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.

2) The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.

3) The Olympic Movement is the concerted, organised, universal and permanent action, carried out under the supreme authority of the IOC, of all individuals and entities who are inspired by the values of Olympism. It covers the five continents. It reaches its peak with the bringing together of the world's athletes at the great sports festival, the Olympic Games. Its symbol is five interlaced rings.

4) The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. The organisation, administration and management of sport must be controlled by independent sports organisations.

5) Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.

6) Belonging to the Olympic Movement requires compliance with the Olympic Charter and recognition by the IOC.

- taken from Olympic website

Amnesty International figures estimate 250,000 Falun Gong practitioners are currently being held in re-education through labour camps throughout Mainland China.

Mr McLeod said the allegations of organ harvesting in China is "an issue of very deep conscience".

"We [CIPFG] are opposed to the organ harvesting from any person. There is clear evidence that the Chinese Government executes political prisoners. The evidence that is emerging is that the majority are Falun Gong."

"The allegations here are so explosive that one wonders why anyone would want to go to the Olympics," he said.

He said Free Trade with China could also be holding New Zealand politicians back from speaking up about human rights.

"People need to make a stand and say let's not just think about short-term economic gain," he said.

CIPFG panel member and Auckland barrister Kerry Gore read the fifth article of the Olympic Charter, which states: "Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement."

He said there was no doubt that Falun Gong practitioners had suffered persecution, discrimination and torture in China. "The question is whether China actually deserves to belong to the Olympic movement," he said.

Mr Gore said the main focus of CIPFG was to send an independent panel of experts to China to investigate the organ harvesting claims in all labour camps, prisons, detention centres and mental hospitals where Falun Gong were being held, but this would require approval from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

CIPFG's New Zealand spokesperson Carole Curtis, an Auckland barrister and solicitor, said China should allow an investigation - if they have nothing to hide.

"Our concern is that the reports that are coming to this country about what is happening in China are more and more convincing," she said.

She said many New Zealanders had either not heard about the persecution of Falun Gong in China, or did not understand what Falun Gong is, but if the New Zealand public becomes aware of what is happening and becomes concerned then our politicians will also become concerned.

Auckland City Councilor Dr Catherine Casey, is also a CIPFG member but was not present at the press conference.

Call For An Olympic Boycott

CIPFG will call for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics from August 8, 2007 unless the Chinese regime allows an independent team to investigate the organ harvesting allegations, releases illegally detained Falun Gong practioners and their supporters such as human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, and puts an end to the persecution of Falun Gong.

If the Chinese Communist Party does not agree to an independent investigation then CIPFG will commence a Global Human Rights Torch Relay to tour various countries before the 2008 Olympics, to raise the profile of the organ harvesting issue and reiterate the call that 'Genocide and the Olympics cannot co-exist'.

The CIPFG will also invite all persons who care for justice and human rights to boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Mr Gore said.

The CIPFG currently has over 300 members worldwide, including MPs, Senators, lawyers, human rights campaigners, religious and community leaders, media personnel and NGO representatives.