CIPFalun Gong (CIPFG) Newsletter

Join in the Global Human Rights Torch Relay

2008-05-30T11:39:00.000-07:00

Open Invitation to join in the Global Human Rights Torch Relay

As the Global Human Rights Torch Relay arrives in our country http://www.humanrighstorch.org we cordially invite you to our event aiming to draw attention to the Communist China’s worsening human rights abuses and to press for change in advance of the Beijing Olympic Games.

China was honoured with hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics on condition that it would improve its horrific human rights record ahead of the games. Yet according to reports from the United Nations and media and human rights organizations worldwide, its rights abuses have in fact substantially increased. Recent reports of large-scale arrests of Falun Gong practitioners—1,878 in two months—indicate yet another attempt to stamp out the spiritual group before the games. The killings of Tibetans and intensified crackdown on human rights defenders over the past months also testify to the urgency of the situation.

In light of this, the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) initiated the Human Rights Torch Relay (HRTR), a year-long international effort to put the spotlight on the regime’s human rights violations. The relay, which is travelling to 40 countries and through 150 cities, consists of concerned individuals, athletes, church leaders, government officials, civic and religious groups, as well as non-profit organizations committed to defending universal human rights.

Through grassroots events, the HRTR group speaks out against China’s systematic persecution and organ harvesting of imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners and its atrocities against Tibetans, Christians, Uyghurs, democracy advocates, human rights supporters, journalists, lawyers, and other groups. The relay also provides an opportunity to expose the regime’s support of rogue regimes that perpetrate slaughter upon their citizens, including Sudan (Darfur), Burma, Zimbabwe, and North Korea. The fascist regime in Beijing persists in demonstrating the utmost contempt for the principles of peace and human dignity espoused in the Olympic Charter.

The HRTR began in Athens last August and has toured 30 countries on four continents to date. The torch receiving ceremony will include the traditional Olympics run with a symbolic torch along with speakers, information displays, music performances, petition signing, and press conferences.

We would be honored if you would join the event and add your voice, with an emphasis on your stand for human rights, to that of the elected officials, human rights advocates, and other concerned citizens who support human rights in China.

Through our combined efforts, perhaps we can bring the true Olympic spirit to the Chinese people. Please visit http://www.humanrightstorch.org/ for more information about the global HRTR.

CIPFG/HRTR Group

Background:

CIPFG was established in 2006 to investigate the largest and most extensive human rights violation in China today, the persecution of the spiritual discipline of Falun Gong. Tens of millions of Falun Gong followers suffered serious abuses at the hands of the Communist regime since the persecution started in 1999.

o At least 3,145 practitioners are confirmed to have been killed in the persecution of Falun Gong. The real number of deaths and other casualties could be shockingly higher.

o In March 2006 the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture stated that 66% of all alleged torture victims in China were Falun Gong practitioners. Another UN report states: “The cruelty and brutality of these alleged acts of torture defy description.”

o The US State Department 2006 Annual Report indicated that Falun Gong adherents may constitute “half of the 250,000 officially recorded inmates in reeducation-through-labor camps,” while the real number could be much higher.

o According to an independent report by Hon. David Kilgour and well-known human rights lawyer David Matas, over 40,000 human organ transplants have beenunaccounted for in China in six years and it is feared that unwilling Falun Gong adherents were killed for the source of the organs.

o 1,878 Falun Gong practitioners were reported to have been arrested in the first two months of 2008, clearly another attempt to stamp out the spiritual group before the Olympics.

HRTR has been joined by thousands of international government officials, past Olympic medalists, and individuals and organizations from around the world with the hope of bringing an end to all human rights abuses against people in China.

The Torch is a symbol of respect for humanity, and represents justice and hope. It is carrying this message to cities around the world.

CIPFG welcomes all individuals and organizations to join the effort and spread the word that, “The Olympics and crimes against humanity cannot coexist in China.”

CIPFG hopes the relay will help stop terrible crimes, help to protect the integrity of the Olympic spirit, and help protect the dignity of all human beings.

Join the CIPFG group: www.cipfg.org info@cipfg.net

Human Rights Torch Comes to Vancouver May 25

2008-05-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

MWC: Vancouver - Activists will take to the streets and focus attention on human rights abuses in China before the Beijing Olympics when the "human rights torch" arrives in Vancouver on May 25.

Initiated by the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG), Apaak Clement said, the torch relay is not looking to cause problems or interruptions. “It’s a very peaceful group who are against human rights violations. They’ve got lots of support from world leaders.”

The Human Rights Torch Relay is a global grassroots effort to raise awareness of the Chinese communist regime's human rights abuses. It strongly condemns the Chinese regime’s ruthless crackdown in Tibet; the underwriting of genocide in Darfur; the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong and arrest of nearly 2,000 followers since January 1; its support of corrupt regimes in Burma, N. Korea and Zimbabwe; and persecution of Christians, lawyers, reporters and all who have become ‘prisoners of the Olympics’ as a consequence of China’s pre-Olympic whitewash.

The message behind the relay, Clement said, is that “the Olympics and crimes against humanity cannot co-exist in China.” Since it was lit on Aug. 9, 2007, in Athens, Greece, the torch has traveled to 115 cities across the world; Vancouver is its last stop in Canada.

“We invite everyone concerned with human rights in China to join in the relay at the Art Gallery, Georgia Plaza. We will start at noon with speeches from VIPs followed by the Torch Walk and a celebration with 4 local bands interspersed with speeches from NGOs and wrap up around 5pm”, Clement said.

He stressed that it is not “a campaign against the people of China. This is just [protesting] the government’s role in human rights abuses. This is supporting the people of China.”

The relay, which follows the Olympic torch relay route in some areas, plans to span five continents, 40 countries and 150 cities.

Since May 4, the torch has traveled throughout Canada from Halifax to Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Kingston, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg. http://www.humanrightstorch.org

Global Human Rights Torch Relay
Vancouver Art Gallery ~ Georgia St. Side
May 25, 12pm-5pm

12pm – 1pm - Torch Receiving Ceremony

Apaak Clement, MC
Goddess of Freedom

Guest Speakers:

· Bill Siksay, Member of Parliament

David Matas, International Human Rights Lawyer

Simma Holt, Former MP and journalist

Clive Ansley, Chair of CIPFG and China Country Monitor for Lawyers Rights’ Watch Canada

Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Int. HR Activist, Recording Artist

Jim Stephenson, Federal Candidate for the Green Party
Greetings from the Honourable Hedy Fry

1pm – 2pm - Torch Walk—Start and finish: Art Gallery

2pm – 5pm –Live music interspersed with more speeches

Guo Guoting, Attorney from China and China Expert
Dan Grice, Green Party Candidate in recent Quadra By-Election
Shahram Vahdany, Founder of Media with a Conscience
Kyi Min Saw, Representative of Burma
Tenzin Lhalungpa, President of Canada Tibet Committee
Gao Qiaomin, Representive of Falun Gong
Apaak Clement, President of Canadian Students for Darfur
Message from Jeremy Frimer, world renowned mountain climber, Team Darfur

Music: Bocephus King ~ Darker the Sky ~ David Newberry ~ Innocent Bystander ~ Sarah Wheeler

“With our combined efforts, we can bring the true Olympic Spirit to the Chinese people”: CIPFG

Singapore Welcomes the Global Human Rights Torch Relay

2008-02-03T13:54:00.000-08:00

By George Fu

The Epoch Times

Jan 23, 2008

The Human Rights Torch Relay(HRTR) arrived in Singapore at Changi on 19 January 2008 (George Fu/The Epoch Times)

Global Human Rights Torch Relay
(Exclusive NTDTV Video)

- Human Rights Torch Arrives in Batam Thursday, January 17, 2008

- Million-Signature Campaign Aims to Stop Falun Gong Persecution Wednesday, January 09, 2008

- Welcoming the Global Human Rights Torch Relay in Jakarta, Indonesia Friday, January 04, 2008

The Global Human Rights Torch Relay (HRTR) arrived in Singapore this Saturday, 19 January, following a receptive welcome of over 200 supporters in Batam last week. A ceremony to welcome the torch was held at Changi, on the east coast of Singapore.

Local politicians, lawyers and representatives of the "SG Human Rights Organisation" were among the citizens who came to support the torch and its worthy message: "The Olympics and Crimes against Humanity Cannot Coexist in China".

President of The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG), Singapore Branch, human rights lawyer Mr. M. Ravi, welcomed the arrival of the torch, "This is an immensely important event as there has never been a human rights torch that has arrived in Singapore in this fashion."

Veteran politician and lawyer JB Jayaretnam and John Tan, Assistant Secretary General of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) both expressed their deep concern for and disappointment at the human rights abuses committed against various groups in China, especially Falun Gong – the most severely persecuted group in China today.

"This event for me is most symbolic above anything else. I hope it is going to have real pressure on the Chinese regime. They are not doing the right thing in terms of their abuse and they ought to stop the persecution," said Mr Tan.

"If they want friendship of the world and if they want the participation of the Olympics in Beijing, they have to stop the abuse… not because they want business and cooperation, but it's all part of being human and not to abuse the rights of other human beings", he added.

Shortly after the human rights torch was ignited, a pick-up bearing the HRTR banner chauffeured two torch-bearing Olympic maidens, dressed in flowing white ancient Greek-style dresses, directly into the heart of the city and later to the Chinese embassy.

Please watch the video of the arrival of the Human Rights Torch in Singapore.

The sight was greeted with thumbs-ups and cheers by surprised weekend crowds and tourists along Orchard Road and City Hall. Motorists passing by the Chinese embassy looked on as a statement was read aloud, detailing the Chinese Communist Party's various crimes committed against the Chinese people and humanity.

The statement closed with a demanded that the crimes cease before the scheduled Beijing Olympics in August, especially the crime of harvesting organs from Falun Gong practitioners, while still alive, for profit. The statement was then handed over to a guard at the Embassy, who promised to pass it on to Embassy leaders.

"The torch turns on the spotlight on China's atrocity against Falun Gong. We hope that at least today this torch will receive a given attention to all Singaporeans who would come to know that this torch has come to Singapore," sad Ravi.

The Global Human Rights Torch will be relayed through a total of 37 countries and more than 100 cities around the world until August this year. It is next scheduled to visit Sri Lanka, India and Africa.

Local Police Seize Human Rights Torch 'For Investigation'

Shortly after the HRTR activities ended at Singapore's landmark hill and frequent tourist spot, Mount Faber, six police officers, tagged by a cameraman, seized two Human Rights Torches and two HRTR banners from CIPFG members.

Categorizing the event as "illegal assembly", the investigation officer said the torches and banners were needed to facilitate their "investigation", and repeatedly demanded HRTR event participants to reveal their names and personal particulars, on the pretext of returning the props to the rightful owner after their investigation.

When the police were questioned about the purpose of the investigation and who would be held accountable for the confiscation of the items, no direct answer was given.

Some HRTR event participants told the police to arrest them if they had committed a crime, rather than take away the symbolic items. The police officers were hesitant and seemed uncertain. When the event participants walked away the police did not take any action.

The Human Rights Torch, gaining international attention from dignitaries and citizens around the world, is a symbol of justice and peace, standing for the sacredness of humanity's fundamental rights.

The banners, which were also confiscated, read 'Human Rights before Olympics' and 'Olympic Games and crimes against humanity cannot coexist in China'.

"The word 'human rights' has become a dirty word because of the government's propaganda. There is no such thing as human rights, only until recent years, the notion of human rights at least," said John Tan, who was at the scene.

"What is really significant is that Singaporeans are now vocal and daring enough to come out and say 'hey, this is human rights, contrary to what the government has been telling us. Human rights do not belong to just the West. We want human rights too and we deserve human rights as well."

Click here to read the original article in Chinese

Co-sign Letter to IOC to remove Olympic Ban of Falun Gong

2008-02-03T13:48:00.000-08:00

Sign Petition letter here at MWC.

Dear Friend:

Below is a self-explanatory letter to the International Olympic Committee listing major concerns affecting the international community and arising out of appalling policies of the Beijing government, which are only now garnering international attention. Please consider co-signing this letter to indicate your solidarity with those who are determined “never again” to stand idly by and turn its eyes away from genocide as the world did from 1931 to 1945. Your support in advancing the cause of human dignity is invaluable at this crucial time and it is greatly appreciated.

Clive Ansley
US-CANADA Chair, Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong
China Country Monitor for Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada

Mr. Jacques Rogge, President
Members of the International Olympic Committee
Chateau De Vidy, Case Postale 356
1007 Lausanne, Switzerland
Fax: +41-21-621-6216

Dear Mr. Rogge and members of the IOC:

On November 8, 2007, Li Zhanjun, News Director of the Beijing Olympics media center, responded to western criticism of religious restrictions previously announced by Beijing, saying that the Chinese Communist government would now allow athletes and tourists to bring religious objects for personal use during the Olympics. However, this policy will not apply to Falun Gong practitioners: "Falun Gong texts, Falun Gong activities in China are forbidden," and "Foreigners who come to China must respect and abide by the laws of China." (AP)

We are distressed at this policy which is in direct violation of article 5 of the Olympic Charter, which states that: "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."

As well, Article 36 of China’s own constitution declares that citizens "enjoy freedom of religious belief," and that, "No state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion."

The persecution of Chinese citizens who practise Falun Gong constitutes a violation of China’s constitution by the Beijing government. That persecution of Chinese citizens is well-known. However, the host country for the 2008 Olympic Games has now extended its discriminatory religious policies to the entire international community through these recent declarations. Beijing, as host country, is saying that while participating foreign athletes who are Christians will be allowed to bring Bibles into the Olympic Village and to practise their faith while residing there, foreign athletes who are Falun Gong practitioners will not be allowed to bring Falun Gong materials or to practise their Falun Gong exercises. In fact, foreign athletes who are adherents of Falun Gong may not be allowed to participate in the Games at all.

This is eerily reminiscent of the situation which obtained before and during the Nazi Olympics of 1936 in Berlin. Within Germany, Hitler barred Jewish citizens from competing for places on the German Olympic team. Unlike his contemporary counterparts in Beijing with respect to Falun Gong, Hitler did not go so far as to impose restrictions on Jewish competitors from other countries. Nevertheless, his discriminatory racial and religious policies within Germany itself provoked a widespread call in the United States for a boycott of the Nazi Olympics, and many Jewish athletes refused to participate.

Not only does this latest order further demonstrate the Chinese regime’s unwillingness to fulfil its 2001 promise to the IOC to improve human rights in China, but it is also clear proof that any hope of improving Chinese human rights through the Olympics is futile because of Beijing’s total and demonstrable insincerity.

You may recall that in April 2007, Beijing’s Ministry of Public Service issued a blacklist barring “antagonistic elements” from attending the Games, including adherents of Falun Gong, “religious infiltrators” and others. Although this was a clear violation of the Olympic Charter, we are unaware of any declaration by the International Olympic Committee that it will enforce that Charter or that the IOC is at all concerned about the fact that Beijing has trampled upon the Charter.

Li Zhanjun's response clearly demonstrates that the Chinese government's policy of persecuting Falun Gong and its practitioners continues unabated. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has overtly extended the regime's persecution of Falun Gong to the Olympics—a most noble institution that is respected worldwide. Such abuse and discrimination against the followers of a peaceful spiritual teaching not only trash the Olympic Spirit, but also constitute a spurning of fundamental morality and ethics in the international society.

Having called upon the world not to politicize the Olympics, Beijing’s leaders have persistently, continuously, and consistently turned their hosting of the Games into a totally political propaganda extravaganza designed to glorify, whitewash, and strengthen their single-party dictatorship. They have from the outset exploited the opportunity afforded them by the IOC in precisely the same way as Goebbels and Hitler before them.

Therefore, we call on the IOC to:

- Require Beijing to rescind its policy of barring Falun Gong from the Olympics, which constitutes a severe breach of the Olympic Charter;

- Reconsider the eligibility of the Communist regime to stage the Olympic Games, given the steadily worsening human rights situation in China today;

- Discuss the possibility of holding the Olympics in another nation.

We also urge the international community and athletes from around the world to condemn Beijing’s trashing of the Olympic spirit and its scorn for the Olympic Charter.

The whole world is about to learn what religious repression “made in China” means. Beijing's characterization of Falun Gong as “illegal” is a clumsy attempt to justify a pogrom of government sanctioned violence and persecution. There is no basis in the Chinese Constitution or in any other Chinese law for Beijing’s claim that Falun Gong is illegal in China. It is “illegal” only because the top leadership declared it to be “illegal”, and no Chinese court has the authority to interpret the Constitution and overturn the fiats of the top leaders. No judicial process was ever involved in rendering Falun Gong “illegal”.

It is clear that the Chinese regime must stop using the Olympics as a cover for launching a crackdown on peaceful people of faith both in China and abroad and to halt the persecution of Falun Gong and all Chinese citizens.

Hence, we, the undersigned, believe that the IOC has the moral obligation to bring the true Olympic spirit to the Chinese people as set forth in the Olympic Charter. It’s not too late for the IOC to renegotiate the location of the Olympics and bring some well-deserved sobriety and human dignity into this situation for the sake of the Chinese people and our proud athletes.

Previous Olympics devolved into propaganda bonanzas for dictatorial hosts, such as the Nazis in 1936 and the Soviets in 1980, rather than promoting the universal celebration of peaceful competition and sport for people of all colours and creeds in accordance with the Olympic ideal. Beijing cannot possibly expect to freely continue with rampant political oppression, mass executions, forced abortions, illicit organ harvesting, religious persecution, and a slew of other human rights abuses, while attempting to present a civilized face to the world as host of the Summer Games in 2008.

Israeli rabbi condemns Chinese atrocities

2008-02-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

Published: 02/03/2008

An Israeli rabbi has called on Jews to condemn China for its human rights abuses against Chinese citizens.

Rabbi David Druckman, chief rabbi of the city of Kiryat Motzkin, near Haifa, made the call protesting the alleged holding of thousands of political prisoners without trial, beating people who protest being thrown out of their homes and employing slave labor -- in a recently released video, Arutz-7 reported.

Druckman was most critical of the Chinese government's persecution of the Falun Gong sect, a Buddhist sect outlawed in China.

Rabbi Reuven Bulka, head of the Canadian branch of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China, has called on Israel to pressure the Chinese government to stop alleged organ harvesting from Falun Gong prisoners by quitting the Olympic Games.

"We as Jews must therefore stand at the front lines of this war, and employ every possible tactic in order that the world expunge atrocities such as this," Druckman said on the video. "When there is evil in the world, every person with a human conscience, and every person with intelligence, must protest against it."

Druckman called on Israelis to protest China's human rights abuses by rallying against them when the Olympic torch passes through Israel later this month. China will be hosting the 2008 summer Olympics.

In November, more than 220 Israelis, including academics, eight Knesset members and more than 40 rabbis, signed a petition calling for an end to the Chinese atrocities, the Arutz-7 report said.

Related Article:

Rabbi: Jews Must Lead Condemnation of China

Human Rights Torch-Iceland's Move

2008-02-03T13:34:00.000-08:00

Morgunbladid, Iceland: Jan. 26, 2008 - Get the latest here.

(Clearwisdom.net) In the run up to the Olympic games to be held next summer, the nations of the world are faced with the challenging question: "How can the Games support the human rights situation in China?" The Olympic Charter states that the goal of the Olympics is to place sports at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity. The Olympic committee's justification for choosing the People's Republic of China for the 2008 Summer Olympics was based on the conviction that doing so would be a way to press for positive change in the country. The choice was therefore made on the precondition that human rights would finally be respected in China.

For the past few years, independent international organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights in China, and Human Rights Watch have maintained that the human rights situation in China has not only not improved but worsened. Many other organizations concerned about this issue, such as the International Society for Human Rights, Reporters Without Borders, Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting, the China Aid Association, and Olympic Watch also support those claimes. An independent organization that investigates the persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG) has protested the increase in human rights violations in the country. They point to crimes against peace and the Olympic Spirit, organ harvesting for profit, the persecution of Christians, oppression of the Tibetian people, the suppression of the freedom to speak, and the sabotaging of efforts to stop the genocide in Sudan's Darfur region and the regime's violent crackdown on monks in Burma.

Disturbed by this situation created by the Chinese government, the organization has initiated a global "Human Rights Torch Relay" that began a world tour in the heart of Athens on the evening of August 9 a year before the Olympic Games. At the initial ceremony in Athens, participants came from different corners of the world. A planned series of events throughout Europe, Australia, and the United States dedicated to the cause has motivated mayors, members of parliaments, atheletes, and those concerned about human rights to officially express their concerns.

Besides a commitment to international human rights agreements, all fundamental human rights are listed in the Constitution of The Peoples Republic of China, including freedom of expression and the press, freedom for organizations and religious groups, and freedom from being held in custody without due process. In reality, lawyers that try to hold the Republic responsible through the legal system when these rights are violated can expect duress and persecution. Gao Zhisheng, a highly respected Chinese lawyer who has been nomitated for the Nobel Peace Prize, disappeared from his home on September 22. Earlier this year he published the book, A China More Just. My Fight as a Rights Lawyer in Communist China, and wrote a 16-page report to the US government, an invocation to the international society, two days before his disappearance.

In the name of The Human Rights Torch, Australian lawyers have called for the immediate release of Zhisheng and other prisoners of conscience, also for those whose rights have been violated in the name of the Olympic Games themselves. Ye Guozhu, an organizer of peaceful protests on behalf of the 1.5 million residents of Bejing whose homes have been taken away to be replaced by Olympic construction without fair compensation, has been imprisoned and tortured for four years and the organization suppressed.

Icelandic journalists that intend to report from the Olympic games next summer might have to accept illegal impingment of their journalistic freedom to tell the story of what is really going on in this populated country.

The Chinese Communist Pary has already openly admitted that detailed personal information about all journalist that intend to visit China next summer is being collected into a database. Truth is a liberating force, but repressive authorities that need to constantly cover up for their own actions live in fear of the truth and the will of the people. The existence of 30,000 Chinese Internet police that "protect" the Chinese public from informed discussion about democracy, human rights, and religion is a real testimony to such fear. By the beginning of the 2008 Summer Olympics, The Human Rights Torch Relay will have visited 35 countries and 150 cities, reflecting the solemn spirit of the Olympic Games and their status as a symbol for human dignity and respect for life.

Before the media spotlight shines on the atheletes' accomplishments in Bejing next summer, sports organizations, governments, journalists, and the general public around the world have to take a stance concerning the misuse of the Olympic vision. How can the Olympic vision assist a nation that is more interested in benefitting from the abuse of basic human rights than honoring human rights at the biggest sporting event in the world?

The Olympic Games and crimes against humanity cannot coexist. In Iceland, where human rights, peace and developmental aid are cornerstones, the goverment will undoubtedly take an explicit stance on this issue in the new year.

Rose Parade and the Olympic Float

2007-10-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

Oct. 25, 2007 - Pasadena Weekly: Broken Roses
A new year's float representing China Forces civic leaders to grapple with international human riights concerns
By Joe Piasecki

Excerpt: Activists are expected to hold a press conference today outside Tournament House calling for the Rose Parade to start with a running of a Human Rights Torch Relay by the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of the Falun Gong in China (www.humanrightstorch.org). They are also expected to announce plans for a Nov. 4 human rights march from City Hall to Tournament House. (more)

The Human-Rights Vacuum

2007-10-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

The Times CNN: Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007 By SAMANTHA POWER

Enlarge Photo

Buddhist monks join Myanmese activists in a demonstration in front of Myanmar embassy in Bangkok on October 7, 2007.

Pornchai Kittiwongsakul / AFP / Getty

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India‘s Silence on Burma Speaks Volumes Saturday, Sep. 29, 2007 By SIMON ROBINSON/NEW DELHI ...

What is going on? Even in an era of connectedness, when such outrages are beamed into living rooms around the globe, the world's major powers can't seem to agree on what should be done or who should do it. While many foreign critics of the U.S. express relief at the erosion of American influence, events in Burma and Darfur show the downside of the U.S.'s diminished standing: a void in global human-rights leadership.

The U.S. has raised its voice on Darfur and Burma louder than any other country. George W. Bush has regularly denounced the Sudanese campaign of destruction as "genocide," Washington has spent $2.5 billion on humanitarian aid to keep Darfur's refugees alive, and the Administration has spearheaded creation of a 26,000-person, U.N.-led peacekeeping force. When the Burmese regime cracked down on protesters, it was Bush who used his appearance before the U.N. General Assembly to announce that the U.S. would freeze the assets of Burma's repressive leaders and deny them visas. Yet when he urged "every civilized nation" to use its diplomatic and economic leverage to "stand up" to the regime, his appeal was largely ignored. Many countries acted as if they agreed with Burma's self-serving claim that the crackdown was simply an "internal matter." Notwithstanding the U.S.'s $500 billion military budget and $13 trillion GDP, its summoning power has dwindled.

The inaction is partly backlash against the discredited American messenger. Torture, "black sites," extraordinary rendition and the bungled, bloody invasion and occupation of Iraq have all made U.S. human-rights appeals ring hollow. But many countries that point to America's abuses are doing so to cover their self-interested, economic reasons for overlooking atrocities in Darfur and Burma.

U.S. leverage over Sudan and Burma is particularly limited. In 1997 Congress protested Khartoum's brutal tactics in southern Sudan by barring select Sudanese companies from involvement in the U.S. financial system. The same year, Congress punished the Burmese junta's "severe repression" by prohibiting U.S. investments in Burma. These measures have left the U.S. with few remaining business or diplomatic ties to terminate.

Others will need to step in. But China, the international actor with the greatest leverage over both countries, seems disinclined to use it. Two-thirds of Sudan's oil goes to fuel China's booming economy, and China's foreign direct investment in Sudan exceeds $350 million annually. China is Burma's leading arms supplier and trading partner and has just won the right to build a major oil pipeline there. Beijing's support for abusive governments would be troubling under any circumstances, but its influence is magnified because it is using its veto on the U.N. Security Council to block international sanctions.

Some observers hope U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his envoys can persuade repressive regimes to relent. U.N. officials must certainly use their pulpits to condemn abuses and mobilize international (not simply bilateral) punitive measures. But history has shown that envoys rarely succeed unless the Security Council is united behind them. Until Sudan and Burma begin to hear Chinese footsteps, they will have little incentive to engage in good-faith negotiations.

Given China's human-rights deficiencies and its reluctance to be seen to cave in to outside pressure, it will not budge easily. But China's wealthy trading partners must show Beijing that the long-term costs of uncritically backing murderous regimes exceed the benefits of doing so. We must elevate human safety alongside consumer safety, expressing the same outrage over massacred civilians that we do about faulty toys. And governments sending athletes to China's Olympic "coming out" must shine the torch on its support for brutal regimes.

It may take China decades to see that governments that kill at home make unreliable neighbors and threaten global stability. In the meantime a coalition of the concerned must insist that what is manifestly true of the economy is also true of human rights: in this age, there is no such thing as a purely "internal matter."

Investigative Group Questions China’s Pledge to End Organ Harvesting

2007-10-08T15:40:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 8, 2007

An organization established to investigate accusations related to the persecution of the Falun Gong spiritual group is questioning the Chinese Medical Association’s recently-announced agreement to stop harvesting organs from prisoners and others in police custody. The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG) doubts the promise will have any real meaning.

“We believe this could just be a cover to ease international pressure on the Chinese regime to improve its human rights practices,” asserts Dr. Sherry Zhang, a spokesperson for CIPFG. “Despite numerous promises they made in order to host the 2008 Olympics, the Chinese government is suppressing the media, religious groups, ‘dissidents’ and ordinary citizens even more severely than before.”

The Coalition was formed in March of 2006 after a Chinese journalist working for a Japanese television station exposed the presence of a concentration camp in northeast China where 6,000 Falun Gong practitioners had been held for the purpose of harvesting their organs for profit. Subsequent witnesses, including the former wife of a neurosurgeon at the facility, supported the journalist’s shocking exposé. A witness who identified himself as a retired military doctor revealed there were at least 36 similar concentration camps operating across China.

On July 6, 2006, two Canadian attorneys – David Kilgour, the former Canadian secretary of state for Asian-Pacific affairs and David Matas, a respected human rights attorney – released the results of their own investigation. The report affirmed large-scale organ seizures from unwilling Falun Gong practitioners in China for profit. "Organ harvesting of unwilling donors where it is either systematic or widespread is a crime against humanity," stated the authors of the report.

“The Chinese regime has never been able to challenge any of the evidence raised in the Matas and Kilgour report,” according to Dr. Zhang. “CIPFG has tried many times to obtain visas so that we can conduct investigations in China, yet we are repeatedly denied. As long as the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China continues, we remain doubtful that the Chinese regime will end this heinous practice.”

Human Rights Torch Reaches the Heart of the European Union

2007-10-06T15:45:00.000-07:00

Epoch Times (Belgium) - October 1, 2007

The Belgian Human Rights Torch Relay Ambassadors assemble on stage. (The Epoch Times)

- Geneva Mayor Receives Human Rights Torch Wednesday, September 19, 2007

- Human Rights Torch Relay Welcomed in Slovak Republic Tuesday, September 18, 2007

- Human Rights Torch Relay Reaches Czech Republic Sunday, September 16, 2007

- Human Rights Torch Continues on to Vienna Wednesday, September 12, 2007

- Romania Welcomes the Human Rights Torch Tuesday, September 11, 2007

- Czech Vice Premier Supports the Human Rights Torch Rally Monday, September 10, 2007

BRUSSELS, Belgium—After a morning of pouring rain, the skies cleared for the welcoming ceremony for the Human Rights Torch relay at Schumann Place in Brussels, Belgium. Members of almost all the parties in Belgium's Parliament supported the event.

The Human Rights Torch, which started its five-continent trek in Athens, Greece on August 9, arrived in Brussels, the administrative capital of the EU, on September 28. Brussels is the Torch's twelfth stop. The torch brings with it the message that human rights violations cannot continue in China if the Chinese regime will be allowed to host the Olympic Games.

The Torch Relay was initiated by the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG.) Many think the persecution of Falun Gong, affecting one hundred million practitioners, and involving torture, murder, and organ theft, is the worst human rights violation happening in China. CIPFG started the Torch Relay to tell the world about the persecution of Falun Gong, Christianity, Islam, democracy and freedom of belief, assembly and expression by the Chinese Communist Party.

Mr. Petitjean, local CIPFG representative, said in the opening speech: "The 2008 Olympics are less then 12 months away while according to reports from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other NGO's, the Chinese communist regime has stepped up measures to further silence anyone suffering repression under their rule."

He added "The torch relay is aimed at urging the international community to boycott the Olympic games in Beijing as we believe hosting the Olympics in Beijing would be a travesty of the Olympic spirit and a direct violation of the Olympic Charter".

Bea Diallo, Belgian Parliament member and ten-time International Boxing Federation middleweight champion, explains why he supports the Human Rights Torch Relay. (The Epoch Times)

One of the Belgian Torch Relay ambassadors, Senator Vankrunkelsven, who carried out his own investigation into illegal organ transplanting in China in 2006, stressed in his speech the ongoing human rights violations in China. "The Chinese regime will use the Olympics for their image, while we should not cease to use this opportunity to expose the real situation in China," Vankrunkelsven stated.

The ongoing persecution in China was sadly illustrated by this week's arrest of renowned human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng in China, because of his open letter to the U.S. congress. Therefore the participants of the Torch Relay in Belgium wore yellow ribbons to show their support for lawyer Gao. "We have great appreciation and admiration for Gao's determination and courage in issuing this open letter at a time when he was placed under extensive surveillance and subject to severe coercion from the Chinese regime", as one of the speeches mentioned.

The list of support statements from political and cultural personalities presented at the ceremony was extensive. "I hereby announce that I will support CIPFG's Global Human Rights Torch Relay. We will join all those who stand up for justice, and together we will light the torch and let the brightness of justice illuminate all corners of our world," one of the Belgian mayors wrote.

Speech by Clive Ansley during the 62nd United Nations (UN) Summit in NY

2007-09-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

Address by Clive Ansley

Co-Chair of CIPFG US-Canada Chapter

September 28, 2007 Rally

New York, 62nd United Nations (UN) Summit

Has there ever been a man at any time, in any country, who has shown more courage than Gao Zhisheng, staring down the most brutal and vicious oppressor in modern world history? Has there ever been a man at any time, in any country, whose courage has been so married to integrity, ethics, and morality?

Has there ever been a man at any time, in any country, who has been more ready to sacrifice his own life for the good of his fellow citizens; citizens not only of China, but of the world?

There may well have been a precious few in human history whose sacrifices and courage have equaled those of Gao Zhisheng, but I can think of none who surpasses him.

Just days before the arrest of this noble and selfless man, President George W. Bush accepted the invitation of Hu Jintao to attend the Bloody Harvest Olympics of 2008 in Beijing. Is it any wonder that Gao Zhisheng, a humble man who epitomizes respect and tolerance, wondered openly in his recent letter to the American Congress what can possibly be going on in the mind of George W. Bush?

The Spirit of “Berlin 1936” is alive and well 72 years after the Olympic Games were awarded to the last regime which could be compared to this present Beijing regime in terms of mass murder, terror, crimes against humanity, and a general antipathy to the Rule of Law.

In the 1930’s, the Nazis were the worst violators of human rights on the planet. The International Olympic Committee rewarded this achievement by awarding the 1936 Games to Berlin.

Today, the fascist government in Beijing is without doubt the worst violator of human rights on the planet. Moreover, most of the world’s thugocracy regimes which rival Beijing in terms of sheer brutality and bestiality are supported, sustained, and in some cases made viable by Beijing. Burma, Sudan, and North Korea come readily to mind. But Beijing itself is today perpetrating at least some atrocities which exceed even those of the Nazis for sheer barbarity. And, in an eerie historical parallel, the International Olympic Committee has once more chosen to award the Games to the most chillingly brutal perpetrator of Crimes Against Humanity which our generation has known.

The German Nazis in the 1930’s, the Soviets in 1980, and now the Beijing fascists have all used the Olympic Games to showcase their regimes and shower themselves in glory. For Beijing, the quest to host the Games has from the outset been the most important political propaganda exercise in the post-revolution history of the regime. Yet the International Olympic Committee can dismiss, on the grounds that the Games should not be politicized, even the fact that this regime keeps “herds” of human beings alive for the purpose of slaughtering them on demand so as to sell their organs on the international market.

The 2008 Games are now being shamelessly employed to glorify and idealise the most brutal, bestial, and benighted regime the world has ever seen.

As you gather here before the United Nations, every Falun Gong practitioner arrested in China undergoes an immediate blood test. No other prisoners in China are tested unless they have already been sentenced to death. Every young and healthy Falun Gong practitioner is given regular medical examinations. Why?

Because organ tourists request Falun Gong organ donors, knowing that practitioners follow healthy lifestyles, exercising regularly and shunning alcohol and tobacco.

Unknown thousands of Falun Gong practitioners are kept alive in herds, with their blood types, tissue types, DNA, and related information all readily available on computers. They are slaughtered on demand for their organs and then cremated. Compatible kidneys, livers, hearts, corneas are all available on notice ranging from two days to two weeks.

In 1945, when the gates were opened at Belsen, Dachau, Auschwitz, and Treblinka, the Jewish Defence League initiated the slogan “Never Again”, and it became the slogan of decent people the world over. “If only we had known!”, said an appalled international community. And no doubt all would have agreed that if they had only known, there could have been no earthly excuse for awarding the Olympic Games to this most evil government in the history of the world.

History will not allow our generation to once more fall back on the lame excuse “If only we had known!”. We can’t say that, this time. The evidence is there and we know about it. We know that the fascist government in Beijing has been carrying out a campaign of genocide for the past eight years. We know that it is systematically murdering thousands of human beings in order to harvest their organs for profit.

We know that this regime routinely imprisons, tortures, and kills Catholics, Protestants, Tibetans, Muslims, Human Rights lawyers and advocates, and pro-democracy dissidents.

But so many leaders of western democracies, apparently including George W. Bush, are apparently prepared to once again overlook little things like genocide and other Crimes Against Humanity, in deference to trade issues. They are prepared to facilitate and be co-opted by the Beijing fascist regime, just as almost the entire business and political elites of Britain, France, and America assisted Adolf Hitler to assemble his military juggernaut. But those elites had an entire generation of young men whom they could send to salvage their own “mistakes” when Hitler launched his war.

Gao Zhisheng has called for the civilized world to boycott the 2008 Games in Beijing. The 2008 Games are not for China. Their only purpose is to glorify and sanitize the criminals who operate the Beijing thugocracy. We must heed the pleas of the Chinese people, articulated by courageous advocates for human decency, such as Gao Zhisheng.

We must demand that our own leaders express our outrage at the inhuman practices of the Beijing fascist regime. And we must urge George W. Bush in the strongest possible terms not to repeat the mistakes of his grandfather.

In fervent hope for the triumph of civilization over cynical greed and hypocrisy,

Clive Ansley

Unfortunately Mr. Ansley could not be present at the rally (more)

NY Senate Human RightsTorch Relay Proclamation

2007-09-30T13:44:00.001-07:00

Gao Seized by Chinese Police After Sending Letter to U.S. Congress

2007-09-24T18:04:00.000-07:00

Press Release

Sept. 23, 2007—Renowned Chinese rights lawyer Mr. Gao Zhisheng was taken from his home by police on Saturday, Sept. 22; his present whereabouts are unknown. It is believed that Mr. Gao's arrest is related to the 16-page letter he sent to the United States Congress last week expressing his deep concerns over the worsening deterioration of human rights in China ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In his letter, Gao explains that China's promises to the IOC in 2001 were hollow and deceitful: "Under the name of securing the success of the Olympic Games, all kinds of evils have been committed openly, including forced evictions, illegal arrests and persecution of people who petition to the authorities, and the suppression of religious people. It is plain as day to all Chinese people that, by successfully hosting the Olympic Games, the communist regime is trying to [appear as a] legal government despite all the tyranny and all the horrible crimes against humanity the Party has committed during the past decades, at the cost of at least 80 million Chinese lives."

U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen; Edward McMillan-Scott, Vice-President of the European Parliament and ranking member of the EU Foreign Affairs Committee; and David Kilgour, former Secretary of State of Canada, Asia-Pacific, held a press conference in Washington, D.C., after receiving Gao's letter.

Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen praised Gao as a voice for the "dislocated, the abandoned, and the oppressed." The 10-term Representative said the Chinese regime had passed up the opportunity to make the Olympics a time for greater openness. Instead, the regime sees the Olympics as "a mandate for further control and repression of the Chinese people."

Gao was arrested on Aug. 15, 2006, a few months after the U.S. Congress had unanimously passed a resolution supporting him. After his arrest, Gao was forbidden by the Chinese regime to communicate with the outside world. Gao decided to break the silence after seeing that the Chinese communist regime had not improved human rights in China, as promised to the International Olympics Committee, but instead, had intensified its persecution of the Chinese people, including rights advocates and religious believers.

Gao was well aware of the danger such a letter might bring to him and his family, but he said, "Someone's got to do it." Gao's letter is enclosed for your reference.

For more information, contact: Dr. Sherry Zhang 1-415-845-5295

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

Background

Mr. Gao Zhisheng has been featured on the cover of The New York Times. He authored "A China More Just: My Fight as a Rights Lawyer in the World's Largest Communist State." He was named as one of China's top ten lawyers in 2001 and has worked for the gamut of China's vulnerable groups—coal miners, home-demolition victims, and house church members.

While facing surveillance, house arrest, detention, interrogations, threats, and even attempts on his life, Gao managed to rally China's activists and legal community around the cause of human rights like no one before him. He has publicly renounced his Chinese Communist Party membership, along with 26 million other Chinese people.

Gao has dealt with many high-profile cases. He wrote open letters to the National People's Congress stating that the prison terms and fines imposed on Falun Gong practitioners are in complete violation of basic legal principles and contemporary legal norms. He revealed the suppression of Christian house churches, challenged corruption by local officials, and provided legal assistance to Chen Guangcheng, a blind rights advocate working on rural poverty, forced abortion, and forced sterilization.

Gao is widely regarded as the "conscience of China" and "the symbol of China." He volunteered to be an investigator for CIPFG (the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong) despite the danger of carrying out such mission in China.

BIG Torch Relay Poster

2007-08-28T18:27:00.001-07:00

Banners: No Human Rights, No Olympics

2007-08-28T17:59:00.001-07:00

Poster: Support the relay

2007-08-28T17:56:00.000-07:00

Newsletter # 2

2007-08-28T17:34:00.000-07:00

The Global Human Rights Torch Relay, a year long event initiated by the CIPFG, is currently relaying in Europe. It has gained much support wherever it goes. We are most grateful for the great number of international organizations that have contacted us and inquired about global participation. As well, we warmly welcome volunteers from the international community that have expressed an interest in making contributions to the torch relay activities. In order to make participation easy, we would like to take this opportunity to make the following announcements:

1. Countries and regions receiving the torch:

As of August 28, 2007,so far there are 37 countries and regions that have registered to participate in the Human Rights Torch Relay. They are:

Greece, Germany, Czech, Austria, Romania, Switzerland, France, Slovakia, Lithuania, Italy, Latvia, Estonia, Belgium, Holland, Bulgaria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, Ethiopia, the United States, Canada, Argentina, Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Macau, Hong Kong and China.

As the countries that would like to participate continue to grow, the torch relay route might be readjusted accordingly. Please go here from time to time for updated information.

2. Suggested slogans used at Human Rights Torch Relay events: (can be made
into banners and T-shirts)

a. Olympics & Crimes Against Humanity Cannot Co-exist in China

b. Stop Killing Falun Gong Practitioners for Their Organs

c. Free Falun Gong Practitioners and Supporters

d. No Human Rights, No Olympics

e. Support an Olympic Organized by the Chinese People without the
Communists

August 28, 2007

Kilgour, Darfur, Organs and Torch Relay

2007-08-27T22:29:00.000-07:00

GOVERNMENT OF CHINA ROLE IN SUDAN/DARFUR, ORGAN SEIZURES, OLYMPIC GAMES AND GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS TORCH RELAY

Address by Hon. David Kilgour, J.D.

Institut des Affaires Publiques de Montreal/Institute for Public Affairs of Montreal

Hotel Delta, 777 University Avenue

Montreal

15 August 2007

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The China Fantasy book by an American, James Mann, is helpful here because it challenges a number of three decades-old assumptions of U.S. politicians of both parties, Fortune 500 executives, sinologists and diplomats. He argues that it is time to stop overlooking the government of China’s human rights abuses, the crushing of political dissent at home and support for pariah regimes abroad.

On the activities of the government of China abroad generally, Mann notes that it undermines democratic values and human dignity wherever it can get a foot in any door. For example, it gave Robert Mugabe a honourary degree and economic help to his regime, which is one of the most brutal on earth. It also supplied him with helicopter gun ships. It is the principal backer of the military junta in Burma/Myanmar, where Aung San Suu Kyi continues under house arrest 16 years after she and her supporters won an open election. When Uzbekistan president Islam Karimov ordered a murderous crackdown on demonstrators in 2005, China’s government supported him.

Mann reminds readers that a continuing totalitarian China also bolsters Russia’s currently diminished commitment to democracy. For example, during the 1991 coup attempt by the Soviet military and intelligence officials against Mikhail Gorbachev, China’s government media gave positive and extensive coverage to the plotters, barely mentioning Boris Yeltsin or his democratic allies, and was left disappointed when the coup attempt failed.

In short, principled people everywhere should be working much smarter and harder to encourage the development of a China that is democratic. Dunn correctly notes that every American president since Nixon has either given up on or ignored the issue of democracy in China. The same is certainly true of other leaders of democratic countries, including our own, although Prime Minister Harper said recently that our relationship with China will from now on be determined by both human values and commercial interests.

Government of China role in Sudan/Darfur

In Sudan, where many independent observers have concluded that the Bashir regime has been committing crimes against humanity and genocide in its province of Darfur since mid-2003, not to mention similar methods used in South Sudan for many years earlier, the Beijing remain his major diplomatic backer. There is little doubt that the government of China’s recent sudden interest in stopping the killing, burning and raping, which continues against communities deemed ‘African’ in Darfur, is related to offsetting for public relations purposes the “Genocide Olympics” charge about which Darfur supporters like Mia Farrow continue to raise public awareness.

Consider:

Over the past decade, the government of China has provided the Bashir government with more than $US ten billion in commercial and capital investment, mostly for oil investments, with crude oil comprising virtually all of Sudan’s exports and much of it going to China. Approximately seven percent of China’s oil imports currently now come from Sudan.

According to one source within Sudan, up to seventy percent of the Sudanese government’s revenues from oil are spent on arms, a good deal of them coming from China. Nick Kristof of the New York Times has reported that the government of China has built four small arms factories in Sudan.

In February of this year, President Hu of China, visiting Khartoum, offered to forgive $80 million of his host government’s debt and promised another $13 million for infrastructure, including a new presidential palace.

The most valuable service Hu has provided to Bashir’s government is using China’s permanent veto at the UN Security Council to protect the Sudanese regime from any robust peacemaking initiatives while the slaughter in Darfur continues. Only following Mia Farrow’s op-ed piece in March, 2007, which accused the government of China of assisting in genocide, did China’s UN representative join in the Security Council initiative to send 26,000 civilian police and soldiers to Darfur.

The problems already evident with this latest in a long series of ineffective Security Council initiatives on Darfur include:

Ø Will a good faith peace process begin for Darfur and continue in South Sudan (where there are indications that the peace agreement is breaking down in part because the Bashir government refuses to withdraw its army from the South as required by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA))?

Ø Will Chinese, Russian and other arms exports to Khartoum continue?

Ø Will Beijing pressure Bashir to honour his previous ceasefire agreements and get him to disarm the janjaweed militias, which have caused so much human suffering, murder and destruction?

Ø Will Hu help UN Secretary General Ban to persuade Khartoum to stop bombing civilian targets in Darfur?

Ø Will the Sudanese government permit humanitarian agencies much needed unfettered access to all regions of Darfur?

Resolution 1769

The specifics of UN SC resolution 1769 passed at the end of July in fact demonstrate how well Beijing continues to protect Khartoum:

Ø The hybrid UN/African Union force will have no authority to seize weapons from belligerents, thus probably making it impossible to control the janjaweed and other militias,

Ø There is no provision for sanctioning the government in Khartoum in the highly-probable event that it refuses to comply,

Ø The watered down command-and-control provisions will inevitably create problems between the African Union commander on the ground in Darfur and the UN Department of Peacekeeping in New York,

Ø Nothing is specified about containing the violence that has spread into Chad, where China is looking for oil, and the Central African Republic,

Ø Not a word is said about halting aerial assaults by Khartoum’s helicopter gunships and Antonov bombers,

Ø Tragically, the deployment of the peacekeepers is still to be very slow, with December 31, 2007 being the deadline for the transfer of authority from the AU to the AU/UN hybrid, although this itself is merely symbolic and unlikely in practice to save civilian lives in the meantime or quite probably for a considerable period thereafter, and

Ø The inability of the AU to solicit enough trained troops and civilian police for the hybrid force remains unaddressed. The AU Commission chair Alpha Konare this week indicated that he wants only Africans to be deployed and that they must be under African command.

Shaming Genocidaires

In my view, shaming the government of China over its partnership role in Sudan offers the best hope to save civilian lives in Darfur. How to proceed? Let me adapt here some earlier language of Prof. Eric Reeves to Canada:

The key task is to transfer knowledge to those presently unaware of China’s role in Sudan generally and Darfur specifically.

What happens, for example, if students and others demonstrate in front of the Chinese embassy in Ottawa or the consulate in Montreal, declaring with banners, placards, and T-shirts that China must be held accountable for its complicity in the Darfur genocide? What happens if such demonstrations are continuous, and grow, and take place outside China’s embassies in other countries? What happens if everywhere Chinese diplomats, politicians and business people travel they are confronted by those who insist on making it an occasion for highlighting China’s destructive role in Darfur?

To succeed, the campaign must be creative and focused. It must take advantage of every means offered through electronic communications. The government of China must be forced to see that there is a stark choice before it: either it uses its leverage effectively with Khartoum to improve and speed up the UN/AU deployment discussed above or it will be the target of the most powerful international shaming campaign in history.

The general lack of effective advocacy initiatives has not been lost on Khartoum’s génocidaires. Despite the enormous and consequential successes of the American-led divestment campaign, pressure must be ratcheted up even higher. Other European companies should follow the lead of Germany’s Siemens and Switzerland’s ABB Ltd; both have suspended operations in Sudan. Such ongoing loss of European commercial and capital investment certainly has the full attention of the Bashir regime.

The task is daunting but fully achieveable, given the moral passion and creative energies of the Darfur advocacy communities. All success to the campaigns!

Beijing Olympic Games

Turning to the Beijing Olympic Games now, I’ve been asked to add a word about what was happening in Athens recently, where some of us were calling for a shunning of the 2008 Beijing Olympics at the launch of the Global Human Rights Torch Relay. The relay will travel to about 100 cities during the next twelve months on five continents, urging the government of China to stop the systematic human rights abuses to Falun Gong practitioners, human rights lawyers (e.g. Gao Zhisheng) and to provide religious freedom for all citizens as stated in the Constitution of China.. You’re all welcome to join/support the ‘Run for Human Dignity!”

Any national government whose medical professionals are executing without any species of prior judicial proceeding members of an officially disapproved spiritual community, as has been occurring for more than half a decade across China to numerous Falun Gong practitioners, is self-evidently unsuited to host the Olympic Games in its capital city.

If agents of the same government are selling the vital organs-livers, kidneys etc-of such prisoners of conscience for high prices and often to organ tourists, the case for a games boycott or shunning by governments, spectators, prospective event sponsors and athletes becomes even more compelling under the Olympic Charter and a host of United Nations instruments dealing with dignity for all people.

I hasten to stress here that the Falun Gong community present in approximately seventy countries is not calling for a boycott or shunning of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The boycott effort is coming from others of us who are deeply worried about the worsening state of human rights in China generally.

Numerous kinds of Proof

The government of China has continuously denied that it is engaged in organ seizure activities, which David Matas has termed "a new form of evil on this planet". It has, however, not responded to the 33 kinds of evidence Matas and I have gathered in various parts of the world in our revised report available in 17 languages at organharvestinvestigation.net. It was not any of the 33 in isolation but the combination of them that led us to the chilling conclusion we reached.

Among the sources of proof and disproof we examined:

The waiting times for organ transplants in China are astonishingly short, days and weeks, contrasted with months and years in the rest of the world. Hospital websites in China boast short waits for all organs for those who can pay large sums.

Corruption is a major and continuing problem in China, large profits being made from transplants and the general lack of control. The prices charged foreigners vary from US$ 30,000 for corneas to 180,000 for liver/kidney combinations.

President Jiang Zemin, then leader of the government in China, decided in the summer of 1999 that the then estimated 70-100 million Falun Gong practitioners in the country posed a threat to his government. He declared a brutal war, which involved imprisonment, systematic torture and forced labour for thousands of practitioners. The government of China media demonization and dehumanization of Falun Gong practitioners across the country since mid-1999 appears to have exceeded what was directed at persons convicted of capital offences.

The government of China gave its military-the PLA-the authority to raise money privately. It is now heavily involved in organ transplants but operates outside the rules of the civilian health system. Transplants are performed in military hospitals and in civilian ones by military personnel.

Falun Gong practitioners have been arrested in huge numbers since mid-1999 and held without trial until they renounce their beliefs. Our report names more than three thousand Falun Gong practitioners who died as a result of torture; if a government is willing to murder large numbers of them through torture, it's easy to accept that it will do the same crime against humanity through organ seizures.

“Organ Donors”

The usual sources of organs for transplants in China-executed convicted prisoners, donors and brain dead persons-come nowhere near in numbers to explaining the rapidly rising number of transplants across the country since the persecution began and are the only other explanation for where the 'donors' come from.

In researching our report, Matas and I had persons calling hospitals and detention centres throughout China posing as family members of persons who needed organ transplants. In a wide variety of locations, those who were called asserted that Falun Gong practitioners (reputedly healthy because of their exercise regime) were the source of the organs. We have recordings and telephone bills for these calls.

We also interviewed the ex-wife of a surgeon from Sujiatun, who had said her husband personally removed the corneas from approximately 2000 anaesthetized Falun Gong prisoners Sujiatun hospital in Shenyang city in northeast China during the two year period before October, 2003. Her testimony was credible to us.

There have been two investigations independent from our own which have addressed the same questions we have addressed whether there is organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners in China one by Dr. Kirk Allison of the University of Minnesota, another by a European Parliament Vice- President, Edward McMillan-Scott. Both have come to the same conclusion we did. These independent investigations corroborate our conclusions.

The hardship a Games boycott would create for the affected athletes is enormous. The consequences for humanity, however, of having Olympic Games go ahead in the capital of a country where innocent Chinese citizens continue to be murdered for their vital organs are even greater. If the killing seizes across China, this particular call (my own) for a shunning or boycott will also cease.

Global Human Rights Torch Relay

The first flame was lit at the ceremony in Athens, Greece on August 9^th. As mentioned, the “Run for Human Dignity” will pass through more than 35 countries and 100 cities, received by rallies and concerts along the way. The torch relay will be a beacon of hope bringing improvement in human rights and awareness that the Olympic Games and crimes against humanity cannot co-exist.

The relay was initiated by the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG). Key ambassadors and supporters for the HRTR are

Baroness Caroline Cox of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom
Senator Andrew Bartlett of the Australian Democrats
US Congressmen Hon. Dana Rohrabacher and Hon. Thaddeus McCotter
Taiwanese Legislator Lai Ching-Te
Rabbi Dr.Reuven Bulka of Ottawa,
Award-winning actor Michael Riley
Gemini award winner Michael Mahonen
President of Agir pour les droits de l'Homme Marie-Françoise Lamperti, Paris
Olympic Silver Medalist Xiaomin Huang
Winter Olympic Medalist Martins Rubenis

The Global Human Rights Torch Relay is, I understand, supported by the Australian Darfur Network, Canadian Students for Darfur, Network for Human Right in China (Denmark), International Society for Human Rights (Germany), Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting, Federation of Vietnamese Communities in Australia.

We welcome all individuals and organizations that are concerned about human rights abuses in China or related to the Chinese regime to join the Global Human Rights Torch Relay. All relay activities will be jointly organized by local human rights groups and individuals, and CIPFG delegations. For additional information or to register for the torch relay, please send an email to torch@cipfg.net.

Thank you.

Newsletter #1

2007-08-12T17:42:00.000-07:00

The objectives of the Global Human Rights Torch Relay are to reveal the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) tyranny and stop human rights violations, with the theme that "Olympics and Crimes Against Humanity Cannot Co-exist in China." The human rights torch is a symbol of peace, justice and freedom. It has broken through many obstacles put in place by the CCP, and the first flame was lit on August 9, 2007 in Athens, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics.

This event has been widely reported by the international media. Many people have approached us to inquire about the details and ways of participating. We would like to address this by providing the following information:

The Global Human Rights Torch Relay is a series of activities initiated by the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) (www.cipfg.org). The coalition consists of over 350 government officials, lawyers, doctors, clergymen, and human rights activists from around the world. Through the torch relay activities, the CCP’s cruel eight-year persecution against the peaceful Falun Gong community will be exposed, with a focus on the illegal harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners’ organs that is currently being carried out in China.
CIPFG is urging the CCP to end the persecution immediately and not to turn the 2008 Olympics into the Bloody Harvest Olympics. Olympics and crimes-against-humanity cannot co-exist in China.
After the first flame was lit in Athens, many international human rights organizations and individuals expressed their support. We welcome all those who have shown an interest and who have committed to participating for the entire route or part of it. Supporters will expose and condemn the CCP’ human rights violations in suppressing the Chinese people, especially those who are most vulnerable.
Many Mainland Chinese are also participating in the torch relay in their unique way, eager to pass on their wish of "Human rights wanted, not Olympic Games" to all corners in the world. So far, eight provinces have confirmed their participation. (For security reasons, the names of these provinces will not be announced.) Concrete plans are underway and will be announced in due course.
Relaying the human rights torch is a grand event that has never been done before in history. The extensive press coverage and community participation so far have been extraordinary and encouraging. As of August 12th, 35 countries and 128 cities across five continents have already made their commitment to receive the torch. The event will last for an entire year, or until the time when the persecution ends or the CCP collapses. The human rights torch will be relayed through the following countries in this order: Europe, Oceania, Africa, North America and Asia.
Method of relay: The Human Rights Torch Relay events will take place at a site that best describes the characteristics of the host city. At the ceremony, all those who participate will symbolically jog for a distance and pass on the torch. Between countries and cities, the torch will travel by plane, car, and any other suitable means. With the torch relay ceremony in Athens just completed, it is now on its way to its next stop. It will arrive in Germany on August 18. The first city in Germany that receives the torch will be Berlin.
In order to maximize participation, we are in the process of designing an online human rights torch relay website (http://www.humanrightstorch.org/) which is expected to be in full function within days. The new website will provide all the necessary details about the relay and welcome participants.

CIPFG

August 12, 2007

Human rights group lights torch for Beijing games boycott

2007-08-09T16:13:00.001-07:00

View Larger Image

A woman, playing the role of a priestess, raises a torch during the lighting ceremony of a global human rights torch relay in Athens, August 9, 2007. Hundreds of human rights activists and spectators gathered in central Athens to launch the relay urging the boycott of next year's Beijing Olympics over what they said was China's dismal human rights record. REUTERS/Yiorgos Karahalis

Karolos Grohmann, Reuters - Published: Thursday, August 09, 2007

ATHENS (Reuters) - Hundreds of human rights activists from across the world gathered in central Athens on Thursday to launch a global torch relay urging the boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympics over China's human rights record.

Beijing has been under fire for what groups say are extensive human rights violations, including against the spiritual group Falun Gong, ahead of next year's Games.

China classified Falun Gong as a cult and banned it in 1999. Since then the group has campaigned from abroad against what it says is brutal persecution of its followers in China.

Organizers of the event in the central Syntagma square, the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG), said Beijing was involved in systematic "organ harvesting" from jailed Falun Gong members and other dissidents.

"We want to put enough pressure on China to stop killing its people and selling livers and kidneys to people around the world," former Canadian junior foreign minister David Kilgour told Reuters.

Kilgour, co-author of a report on Chinese "organ harvesting," said the International Olympic Committee was turning a blind eye to violations of its own charter.

IOC President Jacques Rogge on Monday fended off criticism saying the Games were a force for good but were no panacea.

"That's garbage," said Kilgour. "Jacques Rogge should know what the Olympic charter states. It talks about human dignity."

The global human rights torch relay will stop over in 25 countries and more than 100 cities in Europe, Asia, North America and Australia, organizers said.

Among the speakers were former Olympic athletes, including the 2006 Olympics luge bronze medalist Martins Rubenis from Latvia.

"The Chinese Communist Party has not fulfilled the promise to adjust the situation of human rights," Rubenis said.

Beijing marked the one-year countdown to the Games on Wednesday with spectacular celebrations in Tiananmen Square.

Global Human Rights Torch Relay About To Kick Off

2007-08-07T16:09:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, 8 August 2007, 9:18 am
Press Release: CIPFG

Global Human Rights Torch Relay Kicks Off in Athens 9 August 2007

Scoop NZ: In Athens, Greece, at 8:30pm on 9 August 2007 the Global Human Rights Torch Relay, initiated by the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) and supporters, will light its first flame in a solemn ceremony at Syntagma Square to urge the international community to press for the release Falun Gong practitioners in China or there will be a call to boycott the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Over 25 countries and more than 100 cities will be taking part in this torch relay that is going to span 5 continents. Starting from Europe and ending in Asia in 2008, wherever the Torch travels, CIPFG members and supporters will raise public awareness of the organ harvesting crimes and call to end the genocide of Falun Gong in China.

New Zealanders and Australians are among the initiators of the Human Rights Torch Relay. Senator Andrew Bartlett, Australian Democrats, Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM, Human Rights Commissioner (2000-05), Pan Qing, Democracy advocate, and Olympian Jan Becker, Australian Swimming team, Tokyo 1964 will greet the ceremony in Athens via recorded message or in person. Ms Jan Becker will be at the ceremony in Athens, Greece.

Background:

The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG) is a global organisation established in 2006, prompted by the reports of forced organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners in an organised manner, with apparent state involvement, for profit.

Falun Gong is a peaceful spiritual discipline attacked by the Chinese regime due to its popularity and its belief in traditional values.

CIPFG now has four chapters - Oceania, Asia, Europe and North America - and more than 300 members. Last year, CIPFG wrote to the Chinese Consulates, Embassy and the State Council of China, demanding the release of Falun Gong prisoners of consciences and requesting admittance into China to investigate the persecution.

Due to a lack of any response, CIPFG published a statement on 30 May 2007 that "Crimes Against Humanity and the Olympics cannot Co-exist in China". On 8 June 2007, an open letter was sent to Chinese leaders Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao, again calling for the release of all incarcerated Falun Gong practitioners and to allow an independent investigation by CIPFG. Two months have passed and there has still been no response.

CIPFG has initiated the Human Rights Torch Relay along with Hon David Kilgour, Canadian Students for Darfur, Network for Human Rights in China (Denmark), Doctors Against Organ Harvesting (USA), and many more groups. The purpose of the torch relay is to FREE Falun Gong practitioners in CHINA and to End the Persecution or there will be a call to BOYCOTT the Olympic Games in Beijing.

END

'Human Rights Torch Relay' Logo and Theme Song Unveiled

2007-08-07T12:39:00.000-07:00

Global Human Rights Torch Relay symbol (CIPFG)

Epoch Times: August 6, 2007 - The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG)—consisting of more than 300 public officials, lawyers, doctors, religious leaders, and human rights advocates—unveiled the logo and theme song for its "Human Rights Torch Relay." The Coalition plans to ignite a human rights torch in Athens, Greece, on August 9, 2007.

Since CIPFG published an ad for a logo design and a theme song several weeks ago, it has received hundreds of responses, including some from mainland China.

The logo's main component is a torch with a dove in front of it, representing freedom and a bright future. The background is a map of China outlined in barbed wire. The logo illustrates that China is a prison, and the torch of human rights will bring freedom and a bright future to the Chinese people.

The theme song is also refreshing and powerful. The composer is from Europe. The theme song is currently being recorded in multiple languages including English, German, French, Italian, and Japanese.

The lyrics are as follows:

Human Rights Torch

The sacred flame of the Olympics is lit from Mt Olympia
The Olympic flag, a wreath of olive branches
Cooperation, teamwork, brotherhood and friendship
Honor, glory and dedication
Peace and justice
Freedom and Human rights
The heavens and earth, mountains and seas
The spirit soars and the heart calls
May the consecrated Olympic flag
Be forever raised on high

Beijing Olympics Year 2008
The scent of blood hangs in the air
80 million ghosts paved to prosperity
The blood and tears of hundreds of millions spawned
extravagant palaces

Stop the persecution
Give back our rights
Shackles cannot replace the Olympic wreath
Let the human rights torch
Kindle the whole world
Blood cannot taint the Olympics' purity and sacredness

Wash clean the blood drenched stains and filth
May the Human Rights Torch of freedom, peace and justice
light up the world forever.

Kilgour, Athens and the Bloody Harvest Olympics

2007-08-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

Kilgour Heads to Athens to Light the First Flame of the Human Rights Torch Relay Calling for Boycotting Beijing’s “Bloody Harvest Olympics”

OTTAWA: August 6, 2007 -The co-author of the “Bloody Harvest” report and former Canadian Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific, David Kilgour is to head to Greece with delegations from other countries to light the first flame of the Global Human Rights Torch Relay (HRTR) this week. They will call for boycotting the “Bloody Harvest Olympics”.

The Torch Relay is expected to last for an entire year and to involve participants in more than one hundred cities in Europe, Asia, North America and Australia, including Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary and other Canadian cities. The core message of the relay is that “the Olympics and crimes against humanity cannot coexist in China."

Kilgour said: “Over six years, the government of China and its agents have killed a large number of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience and sold their vital organs for high prices often to organ tourists. The Matas-Kilgour revised report (http://organharvestinvestigation.net) and much other evidence establish beyond any doubt that this is occurring.”

“This new crime against humanity is incompatible with the Olympic Charter and Olympic movement. It also violates the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, much of which was drafted by a Canadian, and many other UN human rights covenants. If the killing ceases across China, this particular call for a Games boycott will also stop.”

“The hardship a boycott would create for the affected athletes is enormous. The consequences for humanity, however, of having Olympic Games go ahead in the capital of a country where innocent Chinese citizens continue to be murdered for their vital organs are even greater.”

“The invasion of Afghanistan by Russian troops caused a boycott by some countries of the 1980 Games in Moscow. In hindsight, all nations should have boycotted the Berlin Olympics in 1936, but at the time most governments claimed not to know what Hitler had in mind. Today, we do know what the government of China has in mind for its Falun Gong community because of what it continues to do to them. This is an important difference between 1936 and 2008.”

Telephone contact in Athens:  011-30 69 45 148 152

Email contact: investigation.team@gmail.com

Olympics-Taiwan torch relay to spotlight China 'abuses'

2007-08-02T17:08:00.000-07:00

By Benjamin Kang Lim
REUTERS 12:06 a.m. August 2, 2007 - TAIPEI – A group of Taiwanese critics of China on Thursday announced a plan to launch a rival torch relay to highlight human rights abuses on the mainland, months after the island rejected the 2008 Beijing Olympic torch.

The announcement came as New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said China's dire human rights record and a renewed crackdown on media freedom may spoil the Chinese government's hopes of a successful coming-out-party at the Olympics.

Taiwan and China have been at loggerheads over whether to take the Olympic torch relay to the self-ruled democratic island, over which Beijing has claimed sovereignty since their split in 1949 at the end of the Chinese civil war.

'The (rival) human rights torch relay will expose the inside story of the bloody Olympics,' Lai Ching-Te, a deputy of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, told a news conference.

The human rights torch will be lit in Athens on Aug. 9 and the relay will cover about 100 cities worldwide.

'No human rights, no Beijing 2008,' read a banner on display at the news conference venue.

Abuses listed by Lai and other China detractors included the 'persecution' of Tibetans and adherents of Falun Gong, a spiritual movement banned by Beijing as a cult in 1999.

The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China, a non-governmental organisation, quoted a Chinese Ministry of Public Security classified document as saying 43 types of 'hostile' people would be barred from the 2008 Olympics.

China has lumped Falun Gong followers, Chinese defectors, pro-democracy activists, religious 'extremists and infiltrators', exiled Tibetans and Moslem Uighurs together with 'terrorists' on its persona non grata list, a spokeswoman for the coalition said.

Chow Meili, president of Taiwan Friends of Tibet, an NGO, urged Taiwanese to show support for 14 exiled Tibetans on hunger strike to press China to stop human rights abuses.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment when reached by telephone.

Human Rights Watch said Beijing is more worried about political stability and tightening its grip on domestic human rights defenders, grassroots activists and media to choke off any possible expressions of dissent ahead of the Games, the group said.

'Instead of a pre-Olympic 'Beijing spring' of greater freedom and tolerance of dissent, we are seeing the gagging of dissidents, a crackdown on activists, and attempts to block independent media coverage,' said HRW Asia director Brad Adams.

'The government seems afraid that its own citizens will embarrass it by speaking out about political and social problems, but China's leaders apparently don't realise authoritarian crackdowns are even more embarrassing.'

One Hundred Cities to Participate in the Human Rights Torch Relay on Five Continents

2007-08-02T16:55:00.000-07:00

MEDIA ADVISORY

One Hundred Cities to Participate in the Human Rights Torch Relay on Five Continents Urging China that "Crimes Against Humanity and Olympic Games Cannot Co-exist in China”

The Global Human Rights Torch Relay will light its first flame in a ceremony in Athens, Greece on August 9, 2007. Led by the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China, hundreds of individuals and organizations will support and participate in this global event inspired by the Olympic Torch relay.

Over 20 countries and more than 100 cities will be part of the Human Rights Torch Relay, calling on the international community to urge the Chinese communist regime to respect the spirit of Olympics; to expose the ongoing and increasing human rights violations in China; and stop China from continuing to commit the most gruesome and unspeakable evil crimes - including the murdering of Falun Gong practitioners for their vital organs for profit. This crime against humanity must end. We have an obligation to ensure that the 2008 Olympics will not turn into the Bloody Olympics.

The Human Rights Torch Relay ceremony in Athens will highlight speeches of government officials, human rights organizations, former Olympic medallists, and human rights activists from China. Canadian Former Secretary of State and co-author of the Independent Investigation into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China, David Kilgour will also be present. New evidence of the organ harvesting will be disclosed.

Background Information:

The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong is a global non-profit organization established in 2006. Four delegations from Oceania, Asia, Europe and North America, total more than 300 members The ambassadors of the four delegations are Senator Andrew Bartlett of the Australian Democrats, Lai Ching-Te, a Taiwan Legislator, Rabbi Dr Reuven Bulka, Chairman of the Organ Donation Committee of the Kidney, and Baroness Caroline Cox, Member of the House of Lords in UK.

CIPFG continues to request for an end of the persecution of Falun Gong and to go into China to investigate the persecution. To date the Chinese communist regime has never replied.

On May 30 2007, CIPFG held a press conference and released a joint statement: "Crimes Against Humanity and Olympic Games Cannot Co-exist in China”. On June 8, an open letter was sent to the Chinese leaders Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao, calling for them to stop the persecution by August 8, 2007 -- otherwise, a series of global actions would be taken to call for the boycott of the Beijing Olympics.

Hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners languish in prisons without warrants while the Chinese regime uses the Olympics to accelerate the persecution.

The Global Human Rights Torch Relay is supported by the Canadian Students for Darfur, Network for Human Rights in China (Denmark), Doctors Against Organ Harvesting (USA), and many more groups. Chinese people in China are embracing the Human Rights Torch Relay.

Representatives from the National Human Rights Protection and Anti-Violation Organization will participate in the entire human rights torch relay route, spreading the message that "Chinese people from China want human rights rather than Olympics."

It was picked by a few media:

Olympic torch for human rights to highlight Beijing abuses
AsiaNews.it, Italy - 9 hours ago
On 9 August, a day after the official Olympic torch is lit, a group of human rights activists will light an alternative flame in Athens, to remind the world ...
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=9997&geo=6&size=A

Rival Olympic torch relay targets human rights abuses
ABC Online, Australia - Aug 2, 2007
By China correspondent Stephen McDonell Taiwanese human rights activists have announced they will start a rival Olympic torch relay next week to draw ...
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/03/1995532.htm?section=justin

Human rights torch relay to spotlight China "abuses"
Radio Taiwan International, Taiwan - Aug 2, 2007
Human rights activists are planning an international torch relay to highlight human rights abuses in China. The announcement came as New York-based Human ...
http://english.rti.org.tw/Content/GetSingleNews.aspx?ContentID=41415

Slamming Beijing for alleged Olympic black list
http://www.taiwanheadlines.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=83138&CtNode=46

International Herald Tribune
Taiwanese group sees PR opportunity in Beijing Olympics (English)
| TAIPEI: A group of Taiwanese critics of China on Thursday announced a plan to stage a rival torch relay to highlight human rights abuses on the mainland, months after the island rejected the 2008 Beijing Olympic torch. | The announcement came as Ne...
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/02/news/taiwan.php

DPP lawmakers call for boycott of 2008 Olympics
By Shih Hsiu-chuan
STAFF REPORTER Taipei Times
Friday, Aug 03, 2007, Page 1
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/08/03/2003372469

Olympics-Taiwan torch relay to spotlight China 'abuses'
San Diego Union Tribune, United States - 11 hours ago
Abuses listed by Lai and other China detractors included the 'persecution' of Tibetans and adherents of Falun Gong, a spiritual movement banned by Beijing ...
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20070802-0006-olympics-beijing-taiwan.html

Taiwan torch relay to spotlight China "abuses"
Phayul, Tibet - 18 hours ago
Abuses listed by Lai and other China detractors included the "persecution" of Tibetans and adherents of Falun Gong, a spiritual movement banned by Beijing ...
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=Taiwan+torch+relay+to+spotlight+China+%22abuses%22&id=17410

Taiwan torch relay to spotlight China "abuses"
Reuters India, India - 18 hours ago
Abuses listed by Lai and other China detractors included the "persecution" of Tibetans and adherents of Falun Gong, a spiritual movement banned by Beijing ...
http://in.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idINIndia-28782420070802

Taiwan torch relay to spotlight China "abuses"
Guardian Unlimited, UK - 19 hours ago
Abuses listed by Lai and other China detractors included the "persecution" of Tibetans and adherents of Falun Gong, a spiritual movement banned by Beijing ...
http://sport.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-682227

Letter to the Japanese Olympic Committee

2007-07-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-17T20:05:00.000-07:00

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'

2007-07-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-08T12:39:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-08T11:25:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-07-03T12:17:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-01T11:45:00.000-07:00

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.

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

2007-06-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-27T10:49:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-15T10:04:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-15T09:57:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-14T15:57:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-14T15:50:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-14T15:49:00.001-07:00

[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

2007-06-14T15:45:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-14T15:42:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-04T23:24:00.000-07:00

(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

2007-06-04T23:21:00.000-07:00

(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.

China’s Ministry of Public Security Issues Secret Directive to Investigate and Bar Thousands Worldwide from Olympics

2007-05-31T13:36:00.000-07:00

NEWS - May 31, 2007 Falun Dafa Information Center [ http://www.faluninfo.net/ ]

China’s Ministry of Public Security Issues Secret Directive to Investigate and Bar Thousands Worldwide from Olympics
Directive Targets Falun Gong, Dalai Lama, Counter-Revolutionaries, and the Handicapped

FDI: NEW YORK, NY – In what may be its most audacious Olympic act yet, China’s Ministry of Public Security has issued an incredible directive that lists 43 categories of unwanteds who are to be investigated and barred from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Falun Dafa Information Center has learned. Pariah groups include eerily vague “key individuals in ideological fields,” “overseas hostile forces,” “counter-revolutionary” figures, the Dalai Lama and all affiliates, members of “religious entities not sanctioned by the state” (e.g. Roman Catholics), “individuals who instigate discontentment toward the Chinese Communist Party through the Internet,” and even certain types of “handicapped” persons.

Members of the Falun Gong would be barred, as would “family members of deceased persons” killed in “riots” -- a euphemism for events such as the Tiananmen Massacre -- and Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province, which the regime brands “national separatists.” Only at the very bottom of the directive does it identify “violent terrorists” and members of “illegal organizations” as targets for investigation and possible barring.

To be investigated are participating athletes, members of the media, Olympic staff members, referees, sponsors, dignitaries, and the International Olympic Committee itself, among others, to determine whether they fall into any of the 43 categories. If carried out, the directive would amount to an espionage effort of astounding proportions, and would fly in the face of international law.

The Ministry’s directive, said to have been issued in April and titled “Notification on Strictly Carrying Out Background Investigations on Candidates for the Olympics and Performing a Pre-Selection Screening” has reportedly been circulated to each Chinese province and autonomous region as well as to all police stations and bureaus in municipalities directly under the Central Government. The Information Center is making available the relevant excerpt of the original document (Chinese) as well as a translation (English).

The directive also calls upon all levels of China’s regime to “cooperate,” but adds that it is “vital to keep this directive and all associated activities secret… it is of utmost importance to give the look of an easygoing environment to the outside, but in fact keep a firm handle on all activities.”

“To see China’s rulers abusing their Olympic privileges like this is simply unconscionable,” said Mr. Erping Zhang, Information Center spokesperson. “The regime appears to have gone so far beyond international norms as to risk absurdity, and is clearly bent on hiding this fact. This means that a shockingly large number of people could not participate in, work at, sponsor, or report on the Olympics. You might even have your phone tapped although you live in London, or you might be spied on in Florida, simply on account of your possible political or religious beliefs.”

“The CCP is making a mockery of the Olympic spirit,” Zhang said.

The directive is yet further evidence that China’s rulers are capitalizing on the Olympics to quash dissent, particularly the Falun Gong. A Feb. 21, 2001, Reuters report revealed that the campaign against Falun Gong had escalated as China entered the final stages of bidding for the 2008 Olympics. The report cited the state-run Xinhua propaganda outlet as saying the government had given “citations” to 110 organizations and 271 individuals “for anti-Falun Gong work” and to “wipe out” Falun Gong.

A July 17, 2001, report from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, meanwhile, disclosed that after Beijing landed the 2008 Olympics, China’s then Vice Premier declared that winning the Olympics was “justification for the country’s crackdown on the Falun Gong.”

In 2005, an intelligence journal, Intelligence Online, revealed that China’s deputy public security minister, Liu Jing, had been assigned the responsibility of wiping out Falun Gong before the Games. A directive was issued “demanding that all of the country’s security services lend a hand” in the effort. Notably, investigators were to be appointed even to Chinese embassies around the world to “infiltrate” Falun Gong groups there. This would appear to anticipate the new, April directive dictating massive international espionage.

A growing body of voices has been calling for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics in light of the regime’s human rights abuses. Many point in particular to the regime’s complicity in Sudan, where it has blocked U.N. and other efforts to stem the tide of genocide, with the regime itself being known to supply arms to the Sudanese government. Some China watchers have likened Beijing’s Olympic efforts to those of Nazi Germany in connection with the 1936 Berlin Olympics -- referred to by many as the Nazi Olympics. Historians have said of the ’36 Games that “the regime exploited the Games to bedazzle many foreign spectators and journalists with an image of a peaceful, tolerant Germany.” (link)

“China’s regime is using the Olympics to legitimize its oppression,” said Zhang. “Is China’s communist dictatorship to decide who gets a share of human rights come Olympics time? Or are the games to just be one big propaganda stunt?”

The Falun Dafa Information Center is calling upon the International Olympic Committee to vigorously investigate the above, and take firm, principled action to uphold the Olympic Charter and the human rights it enshrines.

# # #

NEWS - May 31, 2007
Falun Dafa Information Center, www.faluninfo.net

Background
Founded in 1999, the Falun Dafa Information Center is a New York-based organization that documents the rights violations of adherents of Falun Gong (or “Falun Dafa”) taking place in the People’s Republic of China. In July of 1999 China’s autocratic Communist Party launched an unlawful campaign of arrests, violence, and propaganda with the intent of “eradicating” the apolitical practice; it is believed certain leaders feared the influence of the practice’s 100 million adherents. The campaign has since grown in violence and scope, with millions having been detained or sent to forced labor camps. The Center has verified details of over 3,000 deaths and over 63,000 cases of torture in custody (reports / sources). Falun Gong is a traditional-style Buddhist “qigong” practice, with roots in the Chinese heritage of cultivating the mind/body for health and spiritual growth.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER- Contacts: Gail Rachlin 917-757-9780, Levi Browde 646-415-0998, Erping Zhang 646-533-6147, or Joel Chipkar 416-709-8678. Email: contact@faluninfo.net, Website: http://www.faluninfo.net/

Organ-harvesting claims spark call for boycott of Beijing Olympics

2007-05-31T09:31:00.001-07:00

China's own genocide should be in the front page of the world's media before the Games.

Times Colonist: Tim Naumetz - Published: Thursday, May 31, 2007 - OTTAWA - A coalition of Falun Gong supporters is calling for a boycott of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing if the Chinese government does not allow an independent investigation of organ-harvesting allegations.

The Canadian chapter of a coalition that claims China supports the illegal harvesting of a range of organs of imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners said the boycott should begin in August unless China complies with the request.

At a Parliament Hill news conference Wednesday, former Liberal MPs David Kilgour and Simma Holt, along with a group called Doctors Against Organs Harvesting, lent their support to the demand from the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong.

View Larger Image

Former MP, David Kilgour, speaks during a Falun Gong demonstration, on Parliament Hill, on Tuesday Sept. 26, 2006.

"It's simply impossible, in my view, to have torture and killing going on in one part of Beijing,"said Kilgour, "and the Games going on in another."

Kilgour and Winnipeg human rights lawyer David Matas last January released a report saying they had independently confirmed allegations of Chinese organ harvesting on a "large scale" from unwilling Falun Gong practitioners.

The Chinese government last month denied the claims, saying it has banned the sale of human organs and allows medical transplants only with written consent under standards that protect the safety and health of patients.

But Kilgour and Matas said they found evidence Falun Gong practitioners are killed for their organs, which are sold to foreigners for "huge amounts of money."

Holt, who once represented the Vancouver House of Commons seat now held by Trade Minister David Emerson, accused Emerson of being complicit in organ harvesting by ignoring the allegations while supporting closer trade ties with China.

Torsten Trey, a physician with Doctors Against Organ Harvesting, compared the 2008 Beijing Games to the 1936 Olympics held in Germany only three years before the beginning of the Holocaust.

"The Holocaust in China has already started," he said. "The organ harvesting of living people is just the tip of the iceberg in the persecution of Falun Gong."

China claims Falun Gong is not a religious or spiritual movement and poses a threat to society by exercising mental control over its followers while amassing illegal wealth. It has compared the movement to unnamed cults it claims are banned in western democracies.

Reuven Bulka, president of the Canadian chapter of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of the Falun Gong, said China should not object to an inquiry if the allegations are untrue.

"They shouldn't be afraid of an investigation," he said. "That's all we're asking."

Olympic Games and Crimes against Humanity Cannot Coexist in China: CIPFG

2007-05-30T12:51:00.000-07:00

Media Advisory For Immediate Release May 30, 2007

OTTAWA – Rabbi Dr. Reuven Bulka, president of the Canadian chapter of the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG), will hold a press conference to make known the Coalition's position in light of the atrocities committed by the government of China ahead of the 2008 Olympics. He will be joined by former MP Simma Holt, Dr. Torsten Trey of Doctors Against Organ Harvesting, the Honourable David Kilgour and Canadian Students for Darfur.

Date: Wednesday, May 30, 2007; 12:30 pm

Place: Charles Lynch Conference Room,

130-S Centre Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa

Background: The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG) was formed in 2006 to enable persons around the world to help investigate the persecution of Falun Gong in China by the 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.

- 30 -

Olympics and Crimes Against Humanity Cannot Coexist in China

Joint Statement

The Olympic Charter states in part: “the goal of the Olympics is to place sports everywhere at the service of a harmonious development of man, with a view to encouraging the establishment of a peaceful society concerned with preservation of human dignity. To this effect, the Olympic Movement engages, alone or in cooperation with other organizations and within the limits of its means, in actions to promote peace.” (Olympic Charter, Article3).

Safeguarding human dignity is a fundamental requirement of the Olympics. In order to win the right to host the 2008 Olympics the Chinese regime promised IOC members back in 2001 to improve its human rights record.

However, recent reports from the UN and Amnesty International have clearly indicated that human rights have been actually deteriorating in China of late, with the Olympics being used by the regime as a tool to further repress Chinese citizens.

Particularly hard hit is the community of Falun Gong practitioners. Since the Communist regime began its full-scale crackdown on Falun Gong on July 20^th 1999, 3036 deaths have been confirmed by overseas reports despite strict information blockades. UN Special Rapporteur Manfred Nowak reported in March 2007 that Falun Gong practitioners accounted for 66 per cent of victims of alleged torture while in government custody.

Since March 2006, witnesses have come forward alleging that the communist regime has built Nazi-style concentration camps to incarcerate Falun Gong practitioners. These camps house large numbers of practitioners who have had their organs removed while they were still alive; their bodies were cremated afterwards.

Reports published in July 2006 and January 2007 by Canadian human rights lawyer David Matas, and former Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific David Kilgour, support these allegations. (http://organharvestinvestigation.net ) Some China observers have in fact estimated that Falun Gong adherents constitute more than half of the 250,000 officially recorded prisoners in China’s reeducation-through-labour camps today.

The persecution of Falun Gong is undoubtedly the worst human rights disaster presently occurring in China. Wild claims by the Chinese government that they are improving human rights merely serve as window dressing and are aimed at manipulating the international community.

Failure to stop this persecution before the Olympics would mean that China is not fit to host the Games. The Olympics and crimes against humanity simply cannot coexist.

The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG) has over 300 members in Australia, Asia, Europe and North America, the majority of whom are from political, legal and medical professions, human rights and other non-government organizations.

Both David Kilgour and David Matas, as well as the four Chapters of CIPFG, have written separately in 2006 to relevant bodies of the PRC government or its overseas agencies to request permission to conduct investigations into organ harvesting in China. To this day, not a single response has been received.

We hereby urge the PRC authorities once again, to:

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

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

Hold discussions with CIPFG to arrange details on the opening up of labour 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^th, 2007, we will join forces with supporters from around the world to call for a boycott of the 2008 Olympic Games.

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

May 25, 2007

Canada Chapter Signatories:

Rabbi Dr. Reuven Bulka, Religious leader and scholar, Chairman of the Organ Donation Committee of the Kidney Foundation for Eastern Ontario, Canada

Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Canadian MP

Simma Holt, former Canadian MP

John Dossetor, Co-Founder of The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Officer of Order of Canada

Clive Ansley, Lawyer, China Expert, China Country Monitor of Lawyers Rights Watch Canada

Australia Chapter Signatories:

Andrew Bartlett, Australia Senator

Phil Glendenning, Director Edmund Rice Centre

Peter Westmore, President of the National Civic Council

Dr. Sev Ozdowski, Former Human Rights Commissioner

Dr. Noel Preston AM, Director Uniting Care Centre for Social Justice

Asia Chapter Signatories:

Lai Ching-Te-Taiwan, Legislator

Kenneth H.C. Chiu-Taiwan, Lawyer

Chung Koo Chin-Korea, Legal NGO Director

Szeto Wah-Hong Kong, Chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China

Edmund Bon Tai Soon-Malaysia, Lawyer

Europe Chapter Signatories:

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

Lord Thurlow – Co-Chair of Europe CIPFG

Lord Moyne

Supporters and Co-signers:

David Matas; David Kilgour (Canada)

“We laud this effort to bring to an end the organ harvesting in China from Falun Gong practitioners. It would violate the Olympic spirit for the Olympic games to take place in China while this nefarious practice continues.”—David Matas and David Kilgour

Canadian Students for Darfur (Canada)

“We need to pay more attention to China’s role in the world, how it poses a threat to humanity, not only by supporting rogue regimes such as Khartoum thus fueling the Darfur genocide, but also on how they treat their own people. Take the horrendous practice of organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners for instance. It is simply unconscionable for this form of genocide to be allowed to continue. We must not keep on looking the other way and truly do what is right to stop these gross atrocities. Rewarding Communist China with the Olympics is a travesty.”

Support Human Rights in China (Sweden)

Network for Human Right in China (Denmark)

Doctors Against Organ Harvesting (USA) -- DAOH’s Statement

Doctors Against Organ Harvesting (DAOH) is a non-profit medical organization that raises awareness about unethical and illegal organ harvesting practices. DAOH also strives for righteous and ethical medical practices, and aims at protecting correct organ donation programs. Currently, DAOH is informing the medical community about barbarous live organ harvesting practices in China.

After reviewing the available data about live organ harvesting practices in China, DAOH has come to the conclusion that these practices constitute a crime against humanity. In short, these organ harvesting practices violate the ethical standards that DAOH believes the medical community should uphold. In order to raise awareness and to stand up for the well-being of innocent people, DAOH finds it necessary to communicate to China that we cannot continue with business as usual until the barbarous live organ harvesting is completely stopped and its termination is verified by an international delegation.

Currently, the world is counting down to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. A website that calls itself the official website of the Olympic Movement (www.olympic.org) states that “the Olympic Games have always brought people together in peace to respect universal moral principles.” Yet DAOH states that China failed to keep its promise to improve the human rights situation prior to the Olympic Games. In contrast to its promise, the human rights situation has not only deteriorated but even degenerated in the eyes of the international community, with the recent exposure of China’s underground illegal organ harvesting procedures. The current situation is a cruel reminder of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, which served as a figurehead for the Nazi Party to both promote their ideology and simultaneously prepare for the Holocaust.

DAOH believes that, given China’s current human rights situation, to hold and promote the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 would be to the detriment of the true Olympic Spirit. Medical doctors around the world must protest these severe medical crimes. Therefore, until the termination of the live organ harvest practices is verified, DAOH will join an international coalition to call for a boycott of the Olympic Games 2008.

https://www.doctorsagainstorganharvesting.org/

China Kidney Transplant Expert Commits Suicide

2007-05-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

Report Quickly Deleted by Official Media

Epoch Times by Xue Fei - May 28, 2007 - On May 4, The Yangtze Evening News reported that China's most famous kidney expert, Dr. Li Baochun, had committed suicide by jumping from the twelfth floor of the Shanghai No. 2 Military Medical University Shanghai Hospital Building. Dr. Li had served as Deputy Director of the hospital and as Professor and Chief Physician for kidney disease. The report said Dr. Li's suicide was caused by depression.

On May 24, The Yangtze Evening News report was reproduced on several major websites including the website of China's most important official media, www.xinhua.net. Further analysis revealed that the cause of Dr. Li's depression and subsequent suicide was connected to his organ transplant work. Xinhua.net deleted the report almost immediately.

Hospitalized for Depression Prior to Committing Suicide

The Yangtze Evening News reported that an undisclosed source from inside the hospital had informed them of Dr. Li's depression and hospitalization.

The source told The Yangtze Evening News that during the months of March and April 2007, Dr. Li was often unable to sleep. Dr. Li had begun to take sleeping pills but their effectiveness lasted only a very short time. He fainted once, but a physical exam could not offer an explanation. By May 1, Dr. Li's depression was getting more and more serious. He was admitted to the hospital's neurology ward and started taking antidepressant drugs.

The source also revealed that on the day Dr. Li committed suicide, he had visited the seventh floor of Shanghai Hospital where he had served as Director of the Kidney Department of Medicine. The twelfth floor houses the Urological Surgery Department which was a source for fresh kidneys for Dr. Li's transplant work. A nurse told The Yangtze Evening News, that when a patient needs a kidney transplant, the transplant team will go to the Urological Team and request a healthy kidney.

Committed Suicide While At The Peak Of His Career

The Shanghai Hospital website bio on Dr. Li notes that he graduated from No.2 Military Medical University in 1986. He traveled to the United States for two years of further study toward a postdoctoral degree.

Dr. Li was Shanghai No.2 Military Medical University Subsidiary Shanghai Hospital Deputy Director, Professor and Chief Physician of Kidney Department of Medicine, a member of China Dialysis and Transplantation Association, Shanghai Chinese Medical Association, Shanghai Chinese Medical Association Study of Kidney Disease Youth Group, and the Shanghai Chinese Medical Association Study of Kidney Transplant Youth Group.

He was also an expert for the State Nature Fund Association, State Nature Fund Association Kidney Disease Analysis, an executive member of the editorial board of China Blood Purification magazine and a member of Military Health Technology Qualification Test Committee.

Many of the people working at Shanghai Hospital believed that Dr. Li had a wonderful life. He had everything including an excellent professional reputation, benefits, social position, car, house, kids and a wonderful future. Dr. Li's co-workers also said that he was at the top of his career. Dr. Li was only 44 years old.

The Hospital Refuses to Comment

The locals are talking about Dr. Li's suicide. "Everyone knows that a doctor from the Shanghai Hospital jumped out of the building," said a resident from a nearby housing complex. The Shanghai Hospital, however, is not talking about Dr. Li's suicide.

On May 14, the Director's office and the doors leading to the ward of the Kidney Department of Medicine on the seventh floor of the Shanghai Hospital were locked. A middle-aged female doctor from a nearby doctor's office appeared quite sensitive to the mention of "Dr. Li Baochu." She shut the door immediately upon learning that the questioner was a reporter.

The Transplant Doctor's Depression

Li's depression before his death appeared similar to the condition Annie (assumed name) had described as experienced by her ex-husband, the former Chief Surgeon at Sujiatun Hospital. Annie used to work at the Sujiatun Hospital. Annie has previously exposed the illegal harvesting of healthy organs from living Falun Gong practitioners at the Sujiatun Hospital. Her ex-husband was first transferred there in 2001. During the two years that he had worked as chief surgeon, her husband had often performed several cornea extractions each day without the consent of the still living donors.

In March 2006, Annie revealed that beginning in 2003, her ex-husband had begun to be more withdrawn. He would watch TV while holding a sofa pillow, but failed to notice when the TV was turned off. Later he began to have nightmares and to sweat profusely during sleep. After close questioning, her ex-husband had revealed to her the dark secrets of his involvement in the harvesting of healthy organs from living Falun Gong practitioners during his two years at Sujiatun Hospital.

According to Annie, because of a guilty conscience, her ex-husband had suffered from depression for a long period of time, even after he fled and had stopped performing organ extractions from living, non-consenting donors. He was extremely nervous even when driving. His life was eventually destroyed by his feelings of guilt.

Annie knew of another doctor who had worked on organ transplants from living non-consenting donors. Like her ex-husband, this doctor also fell into depression after conducting such illegal surgeries over a long period of time.

Organ Harvesting From Living Falun Gong Practitioners Shocks the World

The exposure of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) brutal killing of Falun Gong practitioners for profit in Mainland China through the harvesting of their healthy organs for transplant has shocked the international community.

In July 2006, two respected Canadian investigators announced to the world media that their investigations had confirmed that the CCP was involved in large-scale organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners. The report confirmed the existence of such practices and that the practices continue in China today.

In January 2007, the Canadian investigators published a Revised Report into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China. The latest report provided additional evidence that delineated the involvement of the Chinese army and military hospitals in the organ harvesting process.

The Shanghai Hospital is affiliated with the No. 2 Military Medical University in Shanghai. It is a Level Three Grade A hospital in the military system. On the hospital's website the Urological Department states that the waiting time for a kidney transplant is short and the success rate is high.

Visiting Chinese diplomat served $6M lawsuit

2007-05-29T16:45:00.000-07:00

Falun Gong practitioners claim official is guilty of crimes against humanity

National Post: Melissa Leong, National Post; Published: Monday, May 28, 2007

Falun Gong practitioners charge that a visiting Chinese diplomat is guilty of crimes against humanity and served him with a lawsuit yesterday afternoon in the elevator of an Ottawa hotel.

A member of the Falun Gong spiritual movement gave Bo Xilai, China's Minister of Commerce, a statement of claim that alleges he "orchestrated and led a campaign of terror" while serving as mayor of the coastal city Dalian and deputy secretary of the Chinese Communist Party for the Liao Ning Province.

Rong Jin, a 27-year-old former Chinese resident, is seeking $6.25-million in damages claiming that she was detained on two occassions in Dalian prisons, where she was tortured in 2000 for practising Falun Gong.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

Mr. Bo met with David Emerson, Canada's Trade Minister, yesterday to discuss investment and commercial relations while dozens of Falun Gong members demonstrated outside of the Foreign Affairs headquarters.

"I have known Minister Bo for 10 years, since he was the Mayor of Dalian and ... he's my counterpart, we have a tremendous amount of work to do together and [I have] a tremendous respect for him," Mr. Emerson told reporters yesterday.

"What is transpiring in terms of these other issues, I really have no comment on that."

Falun Gong practitioners complained that the RCMP kept them from serving Mr. Bo with legal documents, which police cited was for security reasons. Lin Di, an Ottawa resident, later presented Mr. Bo with the papers at The Westin as he stood in an elevator. "He wouldn't accept it. I threw it to him."

Mr. Bo or the Chinese embassy have 40 days to file a statement of defence or Ms. Rong can ask for a judgment in his absence, said Lawrence Greenspon, a human rights lawyer in Ottawa who has taken the case. Ms. Rong is able to sue Mr. Bo in Canada because she continues to suffer damages, he added.

"When I remember my experience in China when I was a freshman in university, it is a nightmare," said Ms. Rong, an accountant now living in Toronto. "I hope this lawsuit will be helpful to my local practitioners, to free them from jail."

The statement of claim was issued in Superior Court in 2005 when Mr. Bo was scheduled to visit Canada. He did not make the trip. The statement of claim was reissued last week.

Mr. Bo, a charismatic politician who has been called the John F. Kennedy of China, has been accused of torture and murder in lawsuits brought by Falun Gong practitioners in several countries.

Calls to the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China and its embassy in Ottawa were not returned yesterday. In a statement posted to its Canadian embassy's Web site, the Chinese government called Falun Gong a "cult" that has "degenerated into an anti-China political organization."

Mr. Greenspon said the lawsuit also helps raise public awareness about the alleged injustices in China.

"At the very least, their hope is Canada should not be playing host to people of authority who are responsible for torture," he said.

Related Article:

Epoch Times: Chinese Official Served Lawsuit, but Questions Remain

Free China Rally in Canberra

2007-05-25T17:47:00.000-07:00

This is a message from Peter Westmore, President of the National Civic Council, representative of CIPFG - The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China.

This rally marks the resignation of 22 million people from the Chinese Communist Party, an event unprecedented in the history of any Communist Party, and indeed, of any political party anywhere.

Yet in spite of the fact that the CCP has lost the confidence of so many of its members, and undoubtedly a far larger number of ordinary Chinese people who were never members of the Party, the regime stubbornly refuses to submit itself to the will of the people.

If the official title, the “People’s Republic of China”, is to mean anything, it is imperative that the Chinese Communist Party permit the operation of other political parties in China, and submit itself to the will of the people in open, free and fair elections, of the type which we are used to in Australia.

It is surely a sign that things are desperately wrong in China that a communist party can operate in Australia, but parties like the Liberal Party and the Labor Party cannot operative in China.

When China was granted the Olympic Games, it undertook to improve human rights in the country. In fact, some people said that the Olympic Games would force the Communist regime to be more open, more democratic, and to respect human rights. In fact, the opposite has happened. Today, China is less open, less democratic, and shows a contemptuous disregard for human rights: the Olympic Games have simply become an occasion for the regime to spread propaganda about its economic development.

But this development is being conducted at the expense of human rights, workers’ rights and the environment. It is a sign of the regime’s contempt for human rights that it is stepping up political controls ahead of the Olympic Games. The Australian’s correspondent in Beijing reported, just days ago, that “China … appears to be cranking up a strategy of preventing human rights activists with strong international profiles or contacts from travelling overseas, as a damage control measure in this sensitive period in the run-up first to the crucial five-yearly Communist Party national congress in October, then to the Olympic Games.” (The Australian, May 21, 2007)

Further, courageous human rights activists such as the lawyer, Gao Zhisheng, and Dr Gao Yaojie, have been detained without trial or put under house arrest. And in the meantime, an unknown, but large number of Falun Gong practitioners are being detained without trial, and their organs forcibly removed from their living bodies in acts of barbarism comparable to those which took place in Nazi concentration camps during World War II.

All this is happening today, in China, and has been documented by many former Chinese citizens in Australia as well as two well-known Canadian human rights lawyers, David Matas and David Kilgour.

The National Civic Council formed the first Australian CIPFG investigation team last year and had written to the Chinese Consulate to request access to conduct investigation into China.

We hereby urge the Chinese communist regime 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. Allow unfettered inspections by independent investigators from the international community to confirm (1) and (2) above, and be exonerated from the continuing live organ harvesting allegations.

If a satisfactory response to our requests is not received on or before 8 August 2007, we will support a public effort from around the globe to boycott the 2008 Olympics.

Unless the persecutions stop now, we must also call on the Australian Government to indicate, as it did with the cricket tour of Zimbabwe, that it does not approve of Australia’s participation in the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008.

It is our obligation to stand alongside the 22 million people of China who have had the courage to say “No” to the Chinese Communist Party, to salute their extraordinary courage, and to say that we stand with them in their struggle for freedom.

144 Organizations Call for Human Rights Lawyer to Accept Award in Person

2007-05-24T16:59:00.000-07:00

Gao Zhisheng due to be given Courageous Advocacy Award in U.S. on June 30

Epoch Times: May 24, 2007 - We write this letter to urgently request that you help Mr. Gao Zhisheng , a highly important Chinese human rights lawyer, to come to the Unites States to receive the Courageous Advocacy Award by the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). The date of the ABOTA award ceremony is June 30th of this year.

Gao, known as "China's conscience," has been a target of the Chinese communist regime ever since he called upon Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to end the persecution of Falun Gong by writing three open letters to the government, and began a relay hunger strike for human rights that spread around the world. His earlier work included defending land rights and other civil rights issues, and in 2001 was recognized as one of China's top ten lawyers.

He was arrested on August 15, 2006 following months of intense surveillance of him and his family, which involved attempts on his life. Gao was released from jail on December 22, but had not been heard from until April 6 of this year, when he was able to call Hu Jia, a prominent Chinese human rights activist and close friend of Gao, who then immediately released a letter by Gao dictated to him over the phone.

Though Gao has been forbidden by the CCP from communicating with the outside world, he has bravely tried to let the world know what is happening to his family, and what has happened to him, as a result of his support of human and civil rights in China.

In his letter, Gao recounts his treatment in prison, as well as his current situation. Despite being out of jail, Gao describes his home as a prison for him and his family, and how "no bird could even flee from my home." With his home often surrounded by more than one hundred plain-clothed police, he and his family are under constant surveillance, are denied any forms of communication, and are forbidden from meeting with anyone.

Gao described how he was abducted and beaten by more than 30 thugs on August 15, and when in prison how he was subjected to many hundreds of hours of physical and psychological torture. He tells about his highly secretive "public trial," and how one police officer told him that he had never seen so many police officers and vehicles mobilized for one man.

Gao writes further about the treatment of his family by China's regime: "Another thing is that the evil force openly holds my wife, two children, and my kin as hostages. They even deprived my wife's family and my hometown relatives of all means of survival. The CCP thugs continue to openly torment their spirits and to threaten me that they will thoroughly destroy the future of my children and the means of earning a living of my wife and all relatives of my and my wife's families. Although I had some understanding before of the evil nature of the regime—one that disregards justice, promotes shamelessness, has a complete lack of morality, and will do anything to realize its goal—I still underestimated how evil it is!"

So why has the CCP subjected Gao to such treatment? In his letter, Gao says, "Their main focus is on the relationship of me and Falun Gong—how deep this relationship is and my several open letters regarding Falun Gong. I feel clearly that the biggest worry of the evil force inside the regime is Falun Gong and the issue of civil rights."

Gao continues to be persecuted by the Chinese communist regime, and he and his family are paying a high price for seeking to uphold human rights and rule of law in China. Though Gao is not himself a Falun Gong practitioner, his support has brought to him persecution just the same.

We ask that you act to speak up for Gao's rights, and pressure the Chinese government to allow him to come to the United States to receive the Courageous Advocate Award. Gao wishes to come here to receive the award. He will, however, go back afterwards since his mission is to help the Chinese people obtain their rights. We ask that you write to China's leaders, specifically Hu Jintao, to ask that Gao be allowed to visit the United States, as well as to let them know that Gao's situation is known to the world, and that it is a source of concern.

Sincerely Yours,

Sherry Zhang, Ph.D.
Global Coalition to Support Gao Zhisheng
forgaozhisheng@verizon.net

On behalf of the following 144 organizations worldwide:

1. The Party for Freedom & Democracy in China (Sydney)
2. The Party for Freedom & Democracy in China (Oceania)
3. Support Network for the Persecuted in China
4. Secretary Bureau of The Alliance of Chinese Democratic Political Parties
5. The Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition (Australia)
6.The Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition (Sydney)
7. Chinese Labor Party (Australia)
8. Epoch Trade
9. Sydney Culture & Art Connection Center
10. Wudang School of Qigong
11. Heavenly River Writing House
12. Australia branches of Alliance for a Democratic China
13. Australia Chinese Writer's Association for Peace
14. The Party for Freedom & Democracy in China (Melbourne)
15. The Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition (Melbourne)
16. Association of Australian Public Supporting the Right of Falun Gong Belief
17. SFU China Research Association
18. Global Alliance for Democracy and Peace, Vancouver Chapter
19. Lin Zhao's Spirit Promoting Association
20. Vancouver Cast Off CCP Advocacy Society
21. Unistar Computer Inc.
22. The European Alliance of the Communist True History
23. Federation for a Democratic China (Canada)
24. June 4th Massacre Investigation
25. Lotus Flower Art Group
26. Minghui School of Canada
27. Friends of Falun Gong Association Of Canada
28. Chinese Community Centre of Metro Toronto
29. Mothers and Grandmothers for a Safe China and a Safe Canada
30. Preparation Committee of Chinese United States
31. PostmanChinese
32. Chinese Yidugongdu Liaison Center
33. Danmark Branch of Chinese Democracy Party
34. Union Government of China
35. Hong Kong Bright Strength Limited
36. Tianyao Web
37. Federation for a Democratic China (Denmark)
38. New China Magazine
39. Association of Chinese Students and Scholars in Germany
40. Yau Tsim Mong Mutual Development Association
41. Hong Kong Community Development Network
42. Southern Democratic Alliance
43. James Lung's Office of Community Service
44. The Front-Line Magazine
45. Chinese Students Association in Ireland
46. The Party for Freedom & Democracy in China (New Zealand)
47. The Party for Freedom & Democracy in China (Auckland)
48. Nursery of Minghui School in Taiwan
49. China Support Network
50. Visual Artists Guild
51. The Global Coalition of Chinese Veterans Who Have Quit the CCP
52. Global Coalition of the Good Riddance CCP
53. San Diego Society for the Protection of Freedom of Press
54. Omnifood, Inc
55. Friends of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party in San Diego
56. The Coalition to Rescue Persecuted Intellectuals in Mainland China
57. Coalition to Rescue Orphans of the Persecuted Individuals in Mainland China
58. Overseas Exiles Headquarter of Chinese Democracy Party
59.Caring for China Center
60. Liberty Bell Forum
61. Delaware Asian Culture Center
62. NTDTV Philadelphia
63. Sound of Hope Radio Philadelphia
64. Epoch Times Philadelphia
65. Greater Philadelphia Asian Culture Center
66. Committee for defending Orthodox Chinese Legacy and Language
67. The Alliance of Chinese Democracy
68. The Velvet Action Of China
69. China Democracy Party World Union
70. China Peace
71. Chinese Republican Party
72. Chinese Political Refugee Association
73. Zhao Ziyang Funeral Committee
74. Health & Life Biweekly
75. Association For Asian Research
76. UltraReach Internet Corp
77. Tianjiao Cultrue & Art Center
78. SecretChina News Net
79. Garden Networks
80. Concord International
81. Sino-Tibet Study Group
82. Friends of Falun Gong
83. Dynaweb
84. Oriental Culture Association
85. Brilliance Services Inc.
86. Chinese New Immigrant Association
87. Broadpress Inc
88. Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong
89. The Way of China Bimonthly Electronic Magazine
90. Netdigest
91. Nine Commentaries on the CCP Website
92. Beijing Spring
93. NewCosmos Systems
94. The Press of Overseas Chinese Students
95. China Affairs
96. Social Democratic Party, U. S. West Branch
97. Chinese Democracy Education Foundation
98. China Forum (Los Angeles)
99. Overseas Chinese Democratic Poets Association
100. Hong Kong Forum (Los Angeles)
101. Traditional Chinese Cultural Centre in Southern California
102. Metropolitan Los Angeles and Orange County "Quitting the CCP" Service Center
103. New Culture Center of Illinois
104. Foundation for East-West Cultural & Technological Exchange
105. Chinascope
106. China Mental Health Watch
107. Sound of Hope Radio Network
108. Global Information Freedom Inc
109. Global Coalition Against Exporting State-Terrorism from CCP
110. Minghui School
111. Washington Forum
112. FGM Media, Inc
113. Fa Wang Hui Hui (Human Rights Violation Investigation Organization)
114. The Epoch Times
115. Press Freedom and Human Rights League
116. Preparatory Committee for Safeguarding the Northern Homeland
117. 6.28 Watch
118. Yale Falun Gong Club
119. Connecticut Chinese Culture Association
120. Amnesty China
121. New England Life and Science Research Association
122. Global Mission to Rescue Persecuted Falun Gong Practitioners and worldwide branches
123. United Services & Trading Co.
124. The Fraternity of Overseas Chinese Veteran
125. International Institute of Future Science & Culture
126. Alliance to Protect the Rights of Women and Children
127. Great Thinking Club
128. China Democracy and Long March Foundation of Boston
129. Boston New Life and Culture Center
130. Boston Forum
131. Friends of Hong Kong and Macao at Boston
132. Boston-Chinese Macao Club
133. China Forum (UC Berkeley)
134. Friends of Charles Lee
135. Center for Global Culture Exchange
136. Federation for a Democratic China
137. The Startup of Macao Democracy
138. China Social Democratic Party
139. The Solidarity Union of Democrats of China
140. Global Service Center for Quitting CCP
141. Global Coalition Against Article 23 Legislation
142. Bye CCP
143. World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong
144. The Global Coalition to Bring Jiang to Justice

Taiwan: International Human Rights Expert Says the CCP Should Allow Investigations Into the Allegations of Organ Harvesting

2007-05-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

(Clearwisdom.net) By Zheng Xiaowei - May 22, 2007 - Mr. Theo van Boven, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and an international human rights issue expert from Holland, said during a visit to Taiwan that China has signed the UN Convention against Torture, so it should stop the torture. Mr. van Boven pointed out that since China denies the allegation of harvesting organs, the Chinese Government should allow professionals to conduct investigations into this issue in China.

Mr. Theo van Boven, from Holland, the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and an international human rights issue expert

Mr. van Boven said during an interview in Taiwan that he received many materials about the persecution of Falun Gong when he was the UN Rapporteur. He has signed an open letter in Europe requiring the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to open the gates for professionals to conduct investigations into organ harvesting in China.

Mr. van Boven said that although the CCP has been denying the existence of organ harvesting, there are many conflicts between their official statements and information from individuals. Mr. van Boven said that it is difficult to know the details about the organ harvesting, since investigations are not allowed by the CCP. He emphasized that professionals should be allowed to conduct independent investigations.

He pointed out that China has signed the UN Conventions Against Torture, a document that requires the signing governments to conduct unbiased investigations as soon as allegations of torture are brought up.

The Olympic Games is a Chance for International Society to Help with the Human Rights Issues in China

Mr. van Boven said that the 2008 Olympic Games is a chance to observe the human rights issues in China. He pointed out that it is proper to connect the Olympic Games with the human rights issues, and that international society should use this chance to improve the human rights situation in China.

Seventy-three year-old Mr. van Boven has been concerned about human rights in China for a long time. When he was the UN Rapporteur, he mandated that investigations be conducted in China. Due to the Chinese government's refusals to cooperate, such investigations were never carried out. The current UN Rapporteur has gone to China, but due to all kinds of difficulties, he has only collected very little evidence.

Mr. van Boven said that the current rapporteur has made many good suggestions to improve human rights in China, but what is more important is to carry out these suggestions. International society should pay attention to the implementing of these suggestions in China.

The CCP's Slow Response to a UN Inquiry on Organ Harvesting Generates More Concerns

2007-05-23T11:26:00.000-07:00

(Clearwisdom.net) By Falun Gong Human Rights Working Group - May 22, 2007 - Since the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) atrocities of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners were exposed, though it is hard to believe such atrocities could happen in this 21^st century, more and more supporting evidence has been collected suggesting that the atrocities are indeed taking place.

Soon after the atrocities were revealed, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Manfred Nowak, told the media that he would investigate. Nowak is the only UN Special Rapporteur on Torture who has made a visit to China to perform an investigation. He said that persecution cases of Falun Gong practitioners make up 66% of the the torture cases happening in China and the persecution of Falun Gong group is the most widespread and brutal.

Compelled by conscience, Canadian human rights lawyer David Matas and former Canadian Secretary of State (Asia Pacific) David Kilgour performed an independent investigation on the allegations of organ harvesting. Their report concluded that the atrocities are happening in China.

Though the report has received wide attention, many governments have failed to take a stand on this severe human rights issue. Instead, many of them kicked the ball to the UN, and waited for the UN investigation results.

To many UN special rapporteurs, organ harvesting is a new level of crime. In the past year, the organ harvesting atrocities have attracted attention from three UN special rapporteurs, who have contacted the CCP on several occasions requesting clarification and explanation.

Three UN Special Rapporteurs Sent Appeal Documents to China Regarding Organ Harvesting Atrocities

Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Manfred Nowak (left)

Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion, Asma Jahangir (right)

In the most recently released UN Annual Report, some investigation activities of the UN special rapporteurs on the organ harvesting atrocities and some official correspondent letters were disclosed. According to this report, on August 11, along with Nowak (special rapporteur on Torture) and Sigma Huda (Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons), Asma Jahangir, the special rapporteur on freedom of religion, questioned the Chinese Communist regime regarding the organ harvesting allegations. Below is the original appeal document (http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G07/117/05/PDF/G0711705.pdf?OpenElement, page 28):

"Communication sent on 11 August 2006 jointly with the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture and the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children.

The Special Rapporteurs brought to the attention of the Government information they had received concerning organ harvesting. According to the allegations received, 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. 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.

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. Officials from several detention facilities have indicated that courts have been involved in the administering the use of organs from Falun Gong detainees.

It is reported that there are many more organ transplants than identifiable sources of organs, even taking into account figures for identifiable sources, namely: estimates of executed prisoners annually, of which a high percentage of organs are donated by, according to the statement in 2005 of the Vice Minister of Health Mr. Huang Jiefu; willing donor family members, who for cultural reasons, are often reluctant to donate their organs after death; and brain-dead donors. Moreover, the reportedly short waiting times that have been advertised for perfectly matched organs would suggest the existence of a computerized matching system for transplants and a large bank of live prospective donors.

It is alleged that the discrepancy between available organs and numbers from identifiable sources is explained by organs harvested from Falun Gong practitioners, and that the rise in transplants from 2000 coincides and correlates with the beginning of the persecution of these persons.

On organ transplants, in general, it has been reported that in March 2006, legislation was introduced which bans the sale of human organs and requires the donor to give written permission. The legislation also limits transplants to certain institutions, which must verify the source of the organs. This law came in force on 1 July 2006. Contrary to the Government assertion that human organs have been prohibited from sale, in accordance with the 1991 WHO guiding principles, it has been reported that up to this time Chinese law has allowed the buying and selling of organs, has not required that donors give written permission for their organs to be transplanted, there has been no restriction on the institutions which could engage in organ harvesting or transplants, there was no requirement that the institutions engaged in transplants had to verify that the organs being transplanted were from legal sources, and there was no obligation to have transplant ethics committees approve all transplants in advance.

CCP Late Response Raises More Questions

1. After the appeal document was issued, it took more than 3 months for the Chinese Communist regime to formally respond to the UN.

2. In the response, it claimed: "In order to clarify the facts, the Sujiatun District Government carried out an investigation at the hospital, domestic and foreign media including Japan's NHK and Hong Kong's Phoenix Satellite Network and Ta Kung Pao conducted on-the-scene interviews, and two visits were paid by consular personnel from the US embassy. Based on the results of these investigations it was discovered that the hospital only had 300 beds and was completely incapable of housing more than 6,000 persons... and there is no evidence to show that it is being used for any purpose other than as a public hospital."

It is a common sense that there is a dramatic difference between "visit" and "investigation." Investigations require international professionals and need to be performed according to international standards. How can media and consular officials perform an effective investigation? In addition, among the invited media, the Hong Kong media outlets are known to be pro-communist and the Japanese NHK never reported that visit.

Meanwhile, the special rapporteurs questioned several large hospitals which were likely involved in organ transplantation using organs harvested from living Falun Gong practitioners. The CCP had no response to address this aspect, implying that such allegations were true.

3. In the appeal document, the special rapporteurs questioned why the CCP enacted a new regulation on human organ transplant after the organ harvesting allegations were made. The CCP argued that the regulation was to reiterate the 1991 agreement with the WHO. This response is just absurd. Why hasn't the 1991 agreement been effectively implemented in the past 15 years (the regulation was to become effective on July 1, 2006)? This only suggests that the international community should examine whether the CCP has fulfilled any of its commitments that it made to all kinds of international organizations.

4. In their response, the CCP also claimed "The relevant Chinese Government agencies are drafting Human Organ Transplant Regulations in order to create the necessary regulation of human organ donation, registration, matching, and transplant." Again, this statement reveals that the regime is trying to cover up its crimes.

To summarize, the CCP's response to the UN's concerns about the organ harvesting allegations is: We are drafting more laws to regulate human organ transplant in China. Doesn't this suggest that all the allegations of organ harvesting were true?

CIPFalun Gong (CIPFG) Newsletter

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