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Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Letter: Let Harper Teach China a Lesson

Embassy, November 29th, 2006 - Finally, a prime minister who cares about people's rights! How refreshing and noble (Re: "Anti-China Groups Applaud PM's Stance on Human Rights" Nov. 22). The politicians on the Hill must still be in a state of shock over that one. "How dare a prime minister talk about human rights?" has become their new mantra lately. This makes one wonder how low people are willing to go to please China. Let's not bang our heads against the wall anymore over China's democratization–which hasn't happened as anticipated during the last decade.

It is ludicrous to think that Harper's human rights-tailored foreign policy means Canada will lose some key partners or make China's human rights record decline. How could China's human rights record possibly get any worse than it is already with widespread torture, live organ harvesting from Falun Gong members, and imprisonment of lawyers and reporters? If Harper can teach the brutal dictatorship a lesson or two, I'm all for that. It's clear that China needs our oil very badly, so isn't it their turn to sing and dance for us? Integrity is the key word of the day.

Marie Beaulieu
Victoria, BC

Monday, November 27, 2006

Canadian Parliament Committee Hears Evidence of Chinese Abuses

It’s high time that China’s abysmal human rights record drew attention from government officials and that some concrete measures be taken now.

Epoch Times Excerpt: Days after Prime Minister Stephen Harper made headlines by insisting on talking human rights with Chinese leader Hu Jintao, witnesses speaking before a parliamentary committee in Ottawa lent support to Harper's stance with vivid accounts of the state of human rights in that country.

The Chinese regime's crackdown on human rights defenders—particularly journalists and lawyers—was also on display Tuesday.

Li Xun, president of the Falun Dafa Association of Canada says,
"what is happening toward Falun Gong in China and other groups is not a normal human rights issue. It's an issue of crimes against humanity because of its systematic and widespread nature."


China is a large trading partner with Canada, but is a destination for only 1.6 per cent of Canadian exports. Last year, Canada ran a $22.5 billion deficit with the Chinese, according to Statistics Canada. The groups testifying before the committee included democracy activists, Falun Gong supporters, and PEN Canada, a group supporting the rights of journalists. All called for suspending the current dialogue with the Chinese regime.

Brock University professor Charles Burton authored a recent report highly critical of Canada's behind-closed-doors human rights dialogue with China. Burton testified before the same committee October 31. One of the findings of Burton's report was that the mandate of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to "defend China's interest abroad."

"It has no institutional interest in promoting respect for China's human rights domestically," Burton had said. (more)

Friday, November 24, 2006

Gao Zhisheng's wife 'beaten'

Update: While Chinese Lawyer Gao Zhisheng, also known as the Nelson Mandela of China, rots in jail for defending dissidents, the Chinese police commit more acts of indecency toward his family...beating his wife and (Update) daughter.

AP: BEIJING: The wife of an outspoken Chinese lawyer arrested on subversion charges was beaten on Friday by police, who bloodied her mouth and ripped her clothes in the scuffle, a friend said.

Geng He, the wife of Gao Zhisheng, has been under constant police surveillance since August, when her husband was detained after he started a hunger strike, said Hu Jia, a prominent campaigner on AIDS who is a close friend of the couple.

Surveillance and intimidation is common for dissidents and their family members.

According to Geng, she was out shopping in Beijing when she told three plainclothes officers who were following her to keep their distance, Hu said.

The discussion escalated and two of the male officers started beating her while the third, a woman, stood by and watched, he said.

The Public Security Bureau in Beijing did not immediately respond to a faxed request for confirmation of Geng's account.

Her husband, Gao, has represented clients who say their land has been seized by corrupt officials, followers of the banned Falun Gong sect and members of China's underground churches.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Kilgour-Matas react to statement made by Chinese Deputy Minister of Health

Media Advisory

Chinese regime admits taking organs from prisoners

Ottawa – Two Canadians, Mr. David Kilgour and Mr. David Matas, who published an investigative report on organ harvesting of Falun Gong prisoners in China issued their reaction to a recent statement by Chinese Vice Minister of Health Huang Jiefu, which admitted that Chinese regime has used organs from executed prisoners without consent, a claim the regime consistently denied until recently.

“Their admission to organ harvesting from executed prisoners without consent reinforces our conclusion that there is organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners without consent”, said Mr. Matas, “ The Falun Gong constitute a prison population who the Chinese authorities vilify, dehumanize, depersonalize, marginalize even more than executed prisoners sentenced to death for criminal offences.”

“The reason for the harvesting practice in China, which appears unique in the history of human evil, in my opinion stems from China's totalitarian governance model combined with the unrestrained capitalism system in place across the country since about 1979. It is thus not very surprising that deemed enemies of the government in China should be killed and their organs sold mostly to foreigners”, said Kilgour.

“The question now is whether persons of conscience across the world can persuade the government in Beijing to cease the grotesque practice now before the Olympic Games begin in 08. My impression from travels now to almost 25 national capitals across the world in recent months is that there is a growing international consensus that it must stop now if the games are to be successful”, said Kilgour.

Background

Mr. David Kilgour, former Secretary of State (Asian Pacific), and Mr. David Matas, international human rights lawyer, were asked to investigate an allegation that organs were being harvested in China from unwilling Falun Gong practitioners in early May. “The allegations were so shocking that they were almost impossible to believe, … but that disbelief does not mean that the allegations are untrue”. As skeptical lawyers, they investigated. “When one of the first in camera witnesses said that her surgeon husband personally removed the corneas from approximately 2,000 anaesthetized Falun Gong prisoners… we were shaken ", wrote Kilgour.

Kilgour and Matas concluded regrettably that the allegations are true. They further concluded that the government of China and its agencies in numerous parts of the country, have put to death a large but unknown number of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience. Their vital organs, including hearts, kidneys, livers and corneas, were virtually simultaneously seized involuntarily for sale at high prices. Their report is available online.

For more information, contact: David Matas: (204) 944-1831;

David Kilgour: dwkilgour@gmail.com

by Organ Harvest Investigation Team: investigation.team@gmail.com

Letter: Good to Pause Over China's Rights Record

Embassy, November 8th, 2006: I disagree with John Manley's criticism of the Harper government's coolness towards China ("Over Half of Canadians Dislike Tories' Foreign Policy Direction: Poll" Nov. 1). It is actually quite refreshing to see a government pause in front of China's abysmal human rights record. The recent shooting of Tibetans, the news of organ harvesting of living Falun Gong members, the ongoing persecution of Uyghurs and Christians, not to mention the crackdown on rights lawyers should be more than enough to impose economic sanctions on Beijing. In the run-up to the 2008 Olympics, it is deplorable to see human rights violations are on the rise in China. Did we think that the brutal dictatorship was going to change overnight because they said so? I hope that human rights will play an active role in our government's foreign affairs policy.

Marie Beaulieu
Victoria, BC

Ireland: Chinese envoy quizzed on organ claims

This is a step in the right direction and hopefully the meeting will bear some fruit -- Beijing is sure to hear about it. The strong message that the perpertrators of these atrocities are subject to face the International Criminal Court sooner than later will echo far and wide.


AFP: China's ambassador to Ireland is to be asked to appear before an all-party parliamentary committee to discuss claims his country's authorities have been harvesting human organs from prisoners, according to a statement.

The committee is also asking Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern to raise the issue with his Chinese counterpart at a meeting of the ongoing EU-China dialogue on human rights.

The report alleged that "the Chinese Government has over the past half decade put to death a large but unknown number of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience" and "simultaneously seized their vital organs for sale at high prices". (more)

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Human Rights Watch calls on China to disclose information about organ harvesting

This is a good report with one serious omission: the mass murder for organ of the Falun Gong is not mentioned.

Washington Post, 11/20/2006: BEIJING -- A human rights group urged China on Sunday to disclose details surrounding the removal of body organs from executed prisoners for transplants, after health officials recently acknowledged the practice.

Little information about China's transplant business is publicly available, and critics contend it is profit-driven with little regard for medical ethics. China has long defended the practice as legal.

"This is one of the most critical issues in terms of human rights today in China because it raises a number of areas of concern - China's criminal justice system, the use of the death penalty, medical ethics and irregularities in the organ trade," said Nicholas Bequelin, a Hong Kong-based researcher for Human Rights Watch, in a telephone interview.

"China has repeatedly discouraged any attempt to discuss the issue," Bequelin said. "We call on China to disclose the number of people executed every year and the number of organ transplants that take place."

Health officials last week said China routinely removes body organs from executed prisoners for transplants, but said it was only done with the prior consent of the prisoners or their families, according to a state media report.

"Apart from a small portion of traffic victims, most of the organs from cadavers are from executed prisoners," Vice Minister of Health Huang Jiefu said at a conference on human organ transplants last week, according to a China Daily report.

"The relevant authorities strongly require the informed consent from the prisoners or their families for the donation of organs," Huang was quoted as saying in the Nov. 16 report.

It was not the first time that China has acknowledged harvesting organs from executed prisoners. Huang had said at a liver transplant conference in July 2005 that the majority of organs used for transplant in China were from executed prisoners.

Voluntary donations remain far below demand, partly because of cultural biases against organ removal before burial.

Chinese transplantation specialists have estimated that as much as 99 percent of transplanted organs come from executed prisoners, according to a report by Amnesty International in September.

Chinese officials have also acknowledged that poor government supervision in the industry has led to a number of "improper" organ transplants.

Mao Qun'an, a health ministry spokesman, said in the China Daily report that the organs sometimes went not to those most in need, but to foreigners who could pay more for a kidney or liver.

Bequelin said that higher fees charged to foreigners were making it a lucrative business that Chinese authorities were often unwilling to police.

"This is driving so much profit and so much money that they are unwilling to intervene," Bequelin said.

In February, Japan said it was examining cases involving at least eight Japanese patients who received organ transplants in China and later fell seriously ill or died from infections and other problems after returning home.

"It is highly dangerous... if there is a medical impropriety or accident there is absolutely no recourse for the patient," Bequelin said.

China has been trying to clean up the laxly regulated transplant industry, with a law explicitly banning sales of human organs that came into effect July.

The law also requires that donors give written permission for their organs to be transplanted and restricts transplant surgery to top-ranked institutions that must verify the organs are from legal sources and that surgery is safe and justified.

Huang, the vice minister, said the country's supply of organs could not meet its demand for donations, estimating that 10,000 operations were carried out a year even though 1.5 million people needed transplants.

China is believed to carry out more court-ordered executions than all other nations who have the death penalty combined, for crimes ranging from murder to tax evasion. Amnesty International says China executed at least 1,770 people in 2005 _ about 80 percent of the world's total. China has never revealed the number of executions it carries out.

PM’s right to harp on China

An excellent piece by Peter Worthington. It is refreshing to have a PM walking the walk on Canadian values and human rights. This is good karma for Canada!

Toronto Sun - One wonders at the motives of those who are now attacking Stephen Harper for his blunt repudiation of China’s human rights record and his defence of a Canadian citizen being held by the Chinese as a terrorist.

The suggestion is that he jeopardizes Canada’s trade relations with China by his outspoken criticism, unsoftened by the “nuances” that the Liberals before him exploited to no avail, and are now so proud of.

The silly old Globe and Mail devoted a long editorial to scolding his “awkward position” on China. Odd, because it isn’t awkward at all. It’s clear and categorical. One hopes Harper’s resolve doesn’t weaken.

The Globe thinks he’s being too tough, while acknowledging that his predecessors as PM, Paul Martin and Jean Chretien (the list could stretch back toTrudeau, really), were too casual about human rights violations in China.

First of all, the complaint that Harper’s attitude could damage trade deals with Canada is not only illogical, but so obviously nonsense that one wonders how any rational person could believe it. Those who use this argument surely seem provoked by dislike of Harper, and maybe even a bit of envy at his courage to speak out.

Countries indulge in trade not because they want to help, or because they even like their trading partner, but because they benefit from it. China has invested heavily in Canada (our natural resources), and its trade relations benefit Beijing. Does anyone think they’ll cut back to punish Canada while hurting themselves? Not bloody likely.

Does anyone truly suppose China allows its citizens to come to Canada as tourists - up by 50% over last year - because it wants to help us? No way. Once again, China’s concern is China, not Canada.

As for Harper’s raising of the issue of Huseyin Celil, a refugee Uighur who is a Canadian citizen, he is not so concerned with Celil’s innocence or guilt, but with China’s brutal disregard of diplomatic niceties and international law; its failure to extend the courtesy (and right) to inform Canada, and to permit consular visits.

China may consider Celil a citizen, but he rejects Chinese citizenship - which he automatically became when China took over his country of East Turkestan and made it into a Chinese province.

If China’s claim that Celil is a terrorist and that he took part in an assassination is valid, then why the secrecy? If that could be proven, or there was even a likelihood that it was true, then Canadians would be howling at how such a person could have been allowed to enter Canada, much less become a citizen.

Remember, Beijing thinks the Dalai Lama is a terrorist leader, while we in Canada think of him as a man of infinite peace and wisdom and have made an honorary Canadian citizen.

That, too, irritates China, which sticks its nose into everyone’s business in the form of spies and informers. China harasses expatriates when occasion presents, and tries to poison the well for Falun Gong supporters, whose crime is their growing popularity within China and their belief that meditation, compassion and humanity will produce a better world.

Harper has been pretty restrained. He could have mentioned China’s money-grabbing penchant for selling human organs to those desperate and with money. Former MP David Kilgour and human rights lawyer David Matas have compiled massive evidence that Falun Gong prisoners have been used as a source for transplant kidneys, hearts, livers, corneas - something Harper hasn’t touched.

Yet.

Meanwhile, it’s business as usual. Carry on, Stephen, decency is on your side, and our bet is that Huseyin Celil will eventually be released--perhaps because of you.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Letter: No trade with China without human rights

This is a shameless self-promotion moment brought to you by BH&E...

Times Colonist: Published: Sunday, November 19, 2006

I strongly disagree with putting dollars ahead of human rights. Negotiations with China regarding approved tourism destination status have created a rare opportunity for rights groups to expose China, where torture and corruption are widespread.

Consider the recent news of organ-harvesting from live Falun Gong practitioners and Tibetans being shot like dogs at the border.

Can the free world really afford to sweep the sad reality under the carpet to sustain such a barbaric regime? It is clear that the jobs that are lost to China's cheap labour force and slavery offset the gains. We had better think twice before selling our souls to such brutal dictatorships.

Marie Beaulieu
Victoria, BC

Mr. Harper should be supported for upholding the value and principle of Canadians

MEDIA ADVISORY

Canada must not become complicit by keeping silent
and appeasing those doing evil

Ottawa - We are greatly encouraged that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is willing to undertake human rights as an essential part of Canada’s relationship with China. We applaud him for insisting on “not selling out [human rights] to the almighty dollar”.

We have been through seven years of “eradication campaign” by the Chinese Communist regime against Falun Gong knowing talking about human rights behind closed doors has only allowed complacency towards the Chinese regime’s human rights atrocities.

For the past seven years, as reported by all major human rights organizations, hundreds of thousands of innocent people were incarcerated, brainwashed and tortured, including vicious beatings, rape, freezing, burning, electric shocks, for the purpose of forcing them to renounce upright principles as vital and basic to humankind as “Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance”. Nearly 3000 practitioners are confirmed to have been tortured to death, the real number is unknown and much higher.

Amidst this horror, over 14 Canadians’ family members languish in brutal imprisonment in China today, serving sentence up to 12 years, for their practice of Falun Gong.

In addition, Mr. David Kilgour and Mr. David Matas concluded in their independent investigation report that “there has been and continues today to be large scale organ seizures from unwilling Falun Gong practitioners” by the “the government of China and its agencies in numerous parts of the country…”. The widespread killing of Falun Gong practitioners for profit to provide organs for transplants is “so shocking that it represents a new form of evil on this planet”.

This report tells the world that it must no longer underestimate and ignore the evil that these crimes against humanity represent. They are an attack on the moral conscience of all human beings. Canada must not become complicit by keeping silent and appeasing those doing evil. Mr. Harper should be supported for upholding the value and principle of Canadians.

We call on the Prime Minister and other elected officials to directly urge the regime to stop the practice of organ seizure of Falun Gong practitioners in China, and to open all detention facility for international inspection. We call for an end of the persecution and help rescue family members of Canadians who are now incarcerated for their Falun Gong beliefs.

Human rights are universal and non-negotiable. It should not be political or partisan. It is the social responsibility of all human beings including all our elected members and business people to take a righteous stand. Only by protecting the safety and well beings of our fellow world citizens can we truly protect the integrity and dignity of our own country. There truly is no other choice we can make as human beings.

Falun Dafa Association of Canada

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Horrific New Evidence of China Organ Harvesting Revealed

A Chinese military surgeon had eight Chinese citizens killed to supply a single foreign patient with a new kidney, said former Canadian Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific David Kilgour on November 14. Kilgour spoke as a special guest at the Asian Human Rights Week forum in Warsaw, on day two of a five day program.

"I am certain that at least some of these were Falun Gong practitioners who never went near a court, who were never convicted of anything," said Kilgour. (full story)


It's good to see more brave people exposing this macabre practice in China. David Kilgour will release part II of a report on organ harvesting targeting Falun Gong at the end of the year. If this is a preview of its content, then the new report should be enough to convince the free world to pay attention and take some steps toward stopping the genocide.

Related Article:

Is China Still Stealing Organs?


Chinese Diplomat Booted Out for Spying, Sources Say

This is a coup de maitre for the Falun Gong! One may wonder how many other spies are running around and doing this dirty business in Canada? Finally a government that doesn't go along with China's corruption.


Foreign Affairs rejected a Chinese official's application for renewing his diplomatic visa after he was caught compiling information on Canadians who practice Falun Gong and inciting students to help him, multiple sources familiar with the issue have told The Epoch Times. (full story)


Related Articles:

China denies spying report

Chinese envoy sent packing for 'spying' Paper says he was collecting info on Falun Gong

Diplomat spied, paper says Falun Gong practitioners targeted by China

Canada sends Chinese official home over snooping charges: Epoch Times report

Canada sends Chinese official home over snooping charges: Epoch Times report

Canada sends Chinese official home over snooping charges: Epoch Times report

China could find congress a chillier place

Pelosi is at the right place at the right time. IF she keeps on shining the light on Communist China, there is still hope for religious freedom, human rights and trading with a conscience among other things.

WSJ Excerpt: When Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi becomes House speaker in January, her views on China could set the tone for a new Congress looking to get tough on Beijing. Mrs. Pelosi's criticisms include human-rights abuses and unfair trade practices, as well as allegations that China is manipulating its currency and seeking technologies to undermine U.S. national security. (more)

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

China angry at Falun Gong?

The BC Premier is currently visiting China these days looking for gold--and no doubt to get the approved tourism destination status (ADS) on track. Will BC kowtow to Beijing in order to get the ADS – ask Sam the man. Saying that China is angry at Falun Gong is putting it mildly since they are harvesting their organs as if there was no tomorrow.

Excerpt: There are lots of explanations for what's gone wrong. China is reported to be angry about Falun Gong protests in Canada and criticism of its record on human rights.

Campbell's visit won't solve all the problems, or even produce immediate benefits. But what's needed is a range of relationship-building efforts, from university exchanges to provincial trade missions to a stronger federal government push. (full report)

World-Class 2007 Chinese New Year Global Spectacular Tour Launches from Vancouver

MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS CONFERENCE

Monday, November 20, 2006 at 10:30 a.m.
Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Center
Room 200 - 900 Canada Place

The behind-the-scenes people who have used their artistic talent to re-introduce to the world the true ancient cultural, traditional and spiritual heritage of China are travelling to Vancouver for this conference. Come and meet the key players who are here to introduce this spectacular event to our city.

Yu Zhou - Director of the Spectacular (New York)

Zhiping Chen - Artistic Program Advisor (Seattle)

Joe Wang, President of NTDTV Canada (Toronto)

Patrick Dong - Vancouver Director

A world-class production of performing artists of excellence, the Spectacular features outstanding vocalists and instrumentalists while showcasing grad stage designs, sceneries and costumes. Classical Chinese dance along with traditional dances of various ethnic styles help weave a talke that touches on the themes of love, compassion and virtue -- and the never-ending battle between good and evil. To usher in the Chinese Year of the Pig, the 2007 Spectacular will play in 26 cities across four continents, including 15 major cities in North America. In Canada, from Jan 3 to Jan 20, the show will play in Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto.

Last year's production at New York's world-famous Radio City Music Hall ranked the top 7th show internationally on Billboard magazine's Boxscore in February 2006.

In Vancouver for the second year in a row, the Spectacular will play two shows at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on January 3rd 2007, at 2 pm and 8 pm, featuring all new performances by world-class artists from New York. Don't miss this unique experience!

NTDTV is an independent, non-profit Chinese language TV network established by overseas Chinese. One of our missions is to foster mutual understanding between Chinese and Western societies and advance multiculturalism, peace and compassion. To watch programs 24/7, go to http://www.ntdtv.com

Hu and Harper - to meet or not to meet at APEC

Is Hu Jintao showing resentment towards Harper’s frank attitude on Beijing's communist policy and their lack of human rights? Nevertheless, Foreign Minister MacKay remains optimistic that a meeting will take place to convey their concerns. May they awaken soon! Update: It is confirmed that they will be meeting after all.

Excerpt: Since the Conservatives took power last January, a number of irritants have emerged, including the awarding of honourary Canadian citizenship to Tibet's exiled Dalai Lama, the Celil case, and public accusations by Ottawa of commercial espionage by the Chinese.

And before the Conservatives took power, Tory MPs were among the most vocal critics of religious persecution in China, particularly the treatment of members of the Falun Gong faith.

"I think Canadians want us to promote our trade relations worldwide, and we do that, but I don't think Canadians want us to sell out important Canadian values -- our belief in democracy, freedom, human rights,'' Harper told reporters during a Wednesday stopover in Anchorage, Alaska. "They don't want us to sell that out to the almighty dollar, said Harper.'' (more)

It has only been in the last month that ministerial outreach has been ramped up with Beijing, including a visit this week by Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn. Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay has been participating in a number of events with embassy officials.

Still, Canadian business leaders have been pressing the Conservative government to reach out to China in order not to hurt future trade ties with the economic powerhouse. At the same time, human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have been trying to remind western countries of the continuing abuses in China and the region. (full story)

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Letter: Good to Pause Over China's Rights Record

Embassy, November 8th, 2006 - I disagree with John Manley's criticism of the Harper government's coolness towards China ("Over Half of Canadians Dislike Tories' Foreign Policy Direction: Poll" Nov. 1). It is actually quite refreshing to see a government pause in front of China's abysmal human rights record. The recent shooting of Tibetans, the news of organ harvesting of living Falun Gong members, the ongoing persecution of Uyghurs and Christians, not to mention the crackdown on rights lawyers' should be more than enough to impose economic sanctions on Beijing. In the run-up to the 2008 Olympics, it is deplorable to see human rights violations are on the rise in China. Did we think that the brutal dictatorship was going to change overnight because they said so? I hope that human rights will play an active role in our government's foreign affairs policy.

Marie Beaulieu
Victoria B.C.

Letter: A response to claims against Falun Gong group

Molokai Times: 11/8/2006 11:03:00 AM

RE: Response to Falun Gong group By Charles Liu 11/4/2006 1:33:46 PM

I strongly disagree with Charles Liu's views about Falun Gong undermining China's rights record. Let's shine the light on Beijing for a moment, shall we?

The news of organ harvesting targeting the Falun Gong only surfaced recently but investigation reports highlight that it has been going on since 2000. Before that, the persecution of Falun Gong (in China) by the Chinese regime was already well documented at the UN with collected evidence amounting to genocide.

The world response toward stopping what Kilgour-Matas call "a new form of evil on the planet" has been encouraging with a recent hearing held by the US Congressional sub-committee and support from Amnesty International New Zealand. So far, the Finnish, Taiwanese and Australian governments, as well as the European Parliament, have backed up the allegations.

For such an abhorrent practice to be allowed to take place in the 21st century is unacceptable. By all means, China should be held accountable for such crimes against humanity. In the run-up to the 2008 Olympics it would be in China's best interest to live up to the promises they made-that is-to improve their rights record before the Games.

With the shooting of the Tibetans at the border, intensified crackdown on human rights lawyers along with tightening up internet and press censorship, not to mention widespread corruption, one can only attest to the contrary. It is clear that this long list of violations, including organ harvesting, has put Beijing apologists on the spot leaving them with a bunch of nothing to talk about.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Vancouver: Illicit Organ Harvesting and Transplant Tourism Forum

The BC Friends of Falun Gong cordially invite you to attend a public forum entitled:


Illicit Organ Harvesting and Transplant Tourism in China
Monday Nov.20th, 7:00 pm
Simon Fraser University515 W. Hastings, Vancouver
Room: 1900, Fletcher Challenge Theater

The keynote speakers are:

  • Mr. David Matas, a noted international human rights lawyer from Winnipeg. A former President of the Canadian Council of Refugees, Mr. Matas is active in such organizations as Amnesty International, Helsinki Watch and the International Commission of Jurists. He is also Honourary Legal Counsel for B'nai Brith Canada;

  • acclaimed scholar and author Rabbi Dr. Reuven P. Bulka of Toronto Congregation Machzikei Hadas. He is a member of the Canadian Council for Donation and Transplantation;

  • prominent human rights attorney Clive Ansley, a well-known specialist on China who has been actively involved with China and Sino-Canadian relations for more than forty years. He is the China Country Monitor for Lawyers’ Right Watch Canada (LRWC). Now a resident of Courtenay, Mr. Ansley worked and taught in China as a Canadian law specialist for 14 years.

Mr. Matas’ recent report on human organ trafficking, “Report into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners in China,” co-authored by former MP David Kilgour, came to the shocking conclusion that Falun Gong practitioners’ vital organs are being extracted while they are still alive. The organs are then sold to the highest bidder while the practitioners’ bodies are subsequently burned in a crematory to destroy all evidence. In order to halt this macabre practice, Mr. Matas has suggested that such a complex matter must be approached from both the justice side and the demand side.

If you are concerned about these allegations regarding the procurement of organs and tissues through coercive or exploitative practices in China, or practices that violate worldwide human rights standards, then this forum is for you. An organ transplant can save a life, but removing an organ from a living person for transplant and killing them in the process - such as in the case of the Falun Gong - is manslaughter.

We hope you will join us for this important forum regarding the booming and lucrative organ trade in China and its repercussions. Let us explore together how we can stop such an abhorrent practice in the 21st century. Your participation is sure to make this forum a success. Please note that members of the Vancouver media will be invited to attend.


Mary Woo Sims & Sadie Kuehn
Co-Chairs, BC Friends of Falun Gong

BC Friends of Falun Gong is a non-for-profit organization composed of human rights advocates and activists who are appalled by the discriminatory treatment of individuals solely because of their beliefs. BCFOFG is dedicated to actively support the efforts of Falun Gong practitioners by bringing the illegal and inhumane persecution of practitioners by the Chinese Government to the attention of the Canadian people and the Canadian government. Falun Gong, a.k.a Falun Dafa, is a practice of mind and body based on the universal principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance. Many people worldwide are practitioners of Falun Dafa.

Canadian pressure attracts growing international attention to Chinese Government's organ seizure from Falun Gong prisoners


News Release - For Immediate Release

Ottawa - Following the July release of their ‘Report into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China’, David Kilgour, former Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific), and David Matas, international human rights lawyer, visited approximately 20 capitals in Europe, Asia, North America and Australia/New Zealand to raise awareness of the “new form of evil on this planet” among legislators, governments, media and the public, including the European Parliament in Brussels and the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

“Our aim is to raise enough pressure on the government of China that it will stop the unacceptable practice of killing Falun Gong practitioners for their vital organs long before the Olympic Games open in 2008 -- and hopefully immediately”, said Kilgour.

The efforts of the two Canadians appear already to have produced consequences, including:

  • The European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the persecution of Falun Gong, and expressing concern over reports of organ harvesting; the issue was also raised under the direction of the EU troika leadership through the Finnish Foreign Minister Tuomioja meeting bilaterally with China's Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing at the EU-China summit in Helsinki in September.

  • The Australian government and main opposition party reportedly asked the Chinese government to allow an independent investigation of the matter within the country.

  • The vice-president of Taiwan, Annette Lu, proposed taking measures to prevent Taiwanese nationals from going to China to receive illegally obtained organs, while condemning China’s government for the practice, after a visit from Kilgour and Matas to Taipei in October.

“As international attention on this issue grows, it is imperative that our government also take action and contribute to the stopping of such crimes”, said Matas.

Background

Kilgour and Matas were asked to investigate an allegation that organs were being harvested in China from unwilling Falun Gong practitioners in early May.

“The allegations were so shocking that they were almost impossible to believe, “ but that disbelief does not mean that the allegations are untrue”. As skeptical lawyers, they investigated. “When one of the first in camera witnesses said that her surgeon husband personally removed the corneas from approximately 2,000 anaesthetized Falun Gong prisoners, we were shaken ", wrote Kilgour.

Kilgour and Matas concluded regrettably that the allegations are true. They further concluded that the government of China and its agencies in numerous parts of the country, have put to death a large but unknown number of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience. Their vital organs, including hearts, kidneys, livers and corneas, were virtually simultaneously seized involuntarily for sale at high prices. Their report is available on line http://organharvestinvestigation.net/

The report was prepared after a systematic examination and marshalling of the evidence. It demands a reply based on facts. So far, there has not been one from the Chinese government, nor does it allow anyone to gather evidence in China.

For more information, contact: David Kilgour: (613) 747-7854; David Matas: (204) 944-1831; Organ Harvest Investigation Team: investigation.team@gmail.com

Friday, November 03, 2006

NTDTV: Myths and Legends Spectacular


Last year's show was absolutely magnificent--la creme de la creme!

"NTDTV Brings the Divine Beauty of the Ancient East to Life With its Now Legendary Chinese New Year Spectacular!

To see previews click here , here, and here.

Join us for a journey across oceans and centuries to the world of China's legendary golden age - the Tang Dynasty. Experience a world of mythical dragons, heavenly maidens, and exhilarating drummers as they evoke the beauty and grandeur of ancient traditional Chinese culture.

Now in its fourth year, the 2007 Chinese New Year Spectacular is going to be grander than ever, touring 26 cities worldwide.

Our celebration in Vancouver has also grown, and this year we will return to the magnificent Queen Elizabeth Theatre on January 3, 2007 for a run of two shows at 2pm and 8pm, with all new performances by world-class artists from New York. From the soulful poignancy of the two-stringed erhu to the stirring rhythms of a Mongolian plains dance, NTDTV's Chinese New Year Spectacular are truly events not to be missed. So this year, step out of the ordinary and into a realm of ancient pageantry with the leader in genuine Chinese cultural entertainment, New Tang Dynasty Television.

Vancouver website is here and email: van_gala@ntdtv.ca

More Spectacular venues can be found here, i.e., Atlanta, Australia, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Japan, Korea, L.A., Montreal, New York, Ottawa, Paris, Philly, San Francisco, Taiwan, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington DC

Amnesty International and Falun Gong


AI is certainly doing their homework considering that their methodology, a long and arduous process, requires that they cross-check information from two sources before it becomes facts.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAS APPEALED TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES TO STOP THE CAMPAIGN OF PERSECUTION OF FALUN GONG, INCLUDING BY RELEASING ALL THOSE DETAINED SOLELY ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR PEACEFUL RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL BELIEFS AND PRACTICES.

Repression of Spiritual and Religious Groups in China

Religious observance outside official channels in China remains tightly circumscribed. In March 2005, the Chinese authorities promulgated a new 'Regulation on Religious Affairs' aimed at strengthening official controls on religious activities.

Unregistered Catholics and Protestants associated with unofficial house churches were also harassed, arbitrarily detained and imprisoned.

Persecution of Falun Gong

The Falun Gong spiritual movement is banned. When the movement was first banned in July 1999, police rounded up thousands of practitioners in a Beijing stadium.

The crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement was renewed in April 2005. A Beijing official clarified that since the group had been banned as a "heretical organization", any activities linked to Falun Gong were illegal.

Amnesty International has raised concerns that the official campaign of public vilification of Falun Gong in the official Chinese press has created a climate of hatred against Falun Gong practitioners in China which may be encouraging acts of violence against them.

A large but unknown number of Falun Gong practitioners remain in detention where they are at high risk of torture.

More than 250,000 people in China are being detained in camps known as 'Reeducation through Labour', on vaguely defined charges having never seen a lawyer, never been to a court, and with no form of judicial supervision. It is unknown how many Falun Gong members are detained in these camps.

Torture and ill-treatment is endemic and widespread in a wide variety of state institutions. It is frequently used as a punishment against those deemed to be "subversive" or "resisting reform".

Common methods of torture include kicking, beating, electric shocks, suspension by the arms, shackling in painful positions, and sleep and food deprivation. Gender-specific forms of torture, including rape and sexual abuse, have also been reported.

Trade in Organs of Executed Prisoners

Chinese authorities conceal national statistics on the death penalty as a "state secret". Based on public reports available, AI has estimated that at least 1,770 people were executed and 3,900 people were sentenced to death during 2005, although the true figures are believed to be much higher. In March 2004, a senior member of the National People's Congress announced that China executes around 10,000 people per year.

There is a widely documented practice of the buying and selling of organs of death penalty prisoners in China. The lack of transparency surrounding such practices makes it impossible to determine whether written consent was obtained. Amnesty International also remains deeply concerned that those faced with imminent execution are not in a position to provide 'free and informed consent' to having their organs extracted.

Amnesty International notes the introduction, in China, of new regulations on organ transplants on 1 July 2006 banning the buying and selling of organs. However, questions remain about how well the regulations will be enforced, particularly in view of the high commercial value of organ sales in China. Amnesty International also notes that the regulations fail to address the basic issue of the source of organs for transplantation.

Report on alleged live organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners

A report published by independent researchers David Matas and David Kilgour on 6th July 2006, concludes that large numbers of Falun Gong practitioners are victims of 'systematic' organ harvesting, whilst still alive, throughout China.

Amnesty International is continuing to analyse sources of information about the Falun Gong organ harvesting allegations, including the report published by Canadians David Matas and David Kilgour.

Amnesty International is carrying out its own investigation on this issue. These investigations are being hampered by the particular difficulty of collecting reliable evidence in China, including official restrictions on access for international human rights organizations.

Amnesty International has noted the response of the Chinese authorities to the Canadian report, which states among other things that China has 'consistently abided by the relevant guiding principles of the World Health Organization endorsed in 1991, prohibiting the sale of human organs and stipulating that donors' written consent must be obtained beforehand'. Amnesty International considers this statement to be at odds with the facts in view of the widely documented practice of the buying and selling of organs of death penalty prisoners in China.

Lai Changxing, Falungong are 'relationship issues' between Canada and China: Emerson

Note to Mr. Emerson: Communist China thus far doesn't understand that Canada cares for 'these things' called human rights and will they ever? Canada has to stand firm on those rights issues that represent the values of our democracy. Surely Mr. Emerson you can try a bit harder to get that message across.

"I'm not saying these things (Falungong and Lai) are hard facts relating to the Canada-China relation, but definitely are part of the constellation of relationship issues that China needs to understand... that in a Canadian legal and constitutional context, there are things we can do and things we can't do," Emerson said.

Chinese in Vancouver Blog: Falungong protests and the extended stay of China's most wanted fugitive Lai Changxing in Canada are "the issues" in shaping the China-Canada relationship, said international trade minister David Emerson in the Asia Pacific summit in Vancouver.


This is the first time a Canadian minister admits that Falungong and Lai Changxing may hinder relationship between the two countries.

"I'm not saying these things (Falungong and Lai) are hard facts relating to the Canada-China relation, but definitely are part of the constellation of relationship issues that China needs to understand... that in a Canadian legal and constitutional context, there are things we can do and things we can't do," Emerson said.

However, he denied there was tension between China and Canada. He said, for example, he and foreign minister Peter Mackay will visit China next January. He said the new Tory gov needed time to understand issues at stake between China and Canada and that's why they weren't able to pay a visit to China sooner.

Emerson said, "My goal is to start to push for the trade and commercial files." Talks around ADS (approved destination status) has been stalled for some time.


"People are saying Canada needs to understand China, but we need to look at the other side too."

Emerson also said that prime minister Stephen Harper has requested to meet with Chinese president Hu Jintao one-on-one during the APEC summit in Vietnam next month, though he emphasized he could not speak on behalf of the prime minister.


"But scheduling has been difficult, especially from the Chinese side."


"All of this spinning that is going on that the government is not prepared to deal with China is not true," Emerson stressed.

Among the agreements he hinted was tied up by the "constellation" was one that would have Beijing grant approved destination status to Canada and make it easier for Chinese tourists to visit.

Emerson said issues such human rights would be prominent in the policy still being developed by the Conservatives, but he suggested they were still grappling with the "nitty gritty as to tactics."


"How do you pursue your human rights objectives, your democracy objectives, environmental objectives and so on, in a practical way that doesn't limit and hurt Canada's economic prospects?"

Towards the end of the scrum with reporters, Emerson was asked: "Are you going to run in the next election?"


Emerson's answer was: "Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!"

Then he left.

Epoch Times: Chinese Tourism Deal Frozen

Rally in support of the 15 Million Chinese who quit the CCP

Sunday November 5, 2006 @ the Art Gallery on Robson

Rally and Speeches at 12:30 p.m.

March Begins at 1:30 p.m.

Members of the Vancouver Chinese and non-Chinese Community will march in support and recognition of the courageous Chinese citizens who are resigning from the Communist Party despite being heavily persecuted for this action.

Just fifteen years after the Berlin Wall was dismantled, a massive movement for freedom has emerged in China, the largest communist regime in the world. To date, over 15 million Chinese people have publicly renounced their affiliation with the Chinese Communist Party, with the number growing by up to 40,000 more people each day. This could be the single largest non-violent civil disobedience movement in China’s history, and indeed the world.

This phenomenon was spotlighted in the international community last week when Professor Jia Jia, Secretary General of the Science and Technology Experts Association of Shanxi Province defected from China. Mr. Jia is the highest-ranking Chinese official to openly support the movement to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) while still at his post. According to the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP, Mr. Jia's defection has triggered a chain reaction of members quitting the CCP in China.

What does this movement have to do with Canadians? As one of our major trading partners, what happens in China’s economic powerhouse directly impacts us. Susan Fang spokesperson from the Vancouver Chapter of Global Service Center for Quitting CCP said: “ When the Berlin Wall came down, we thought it happened overnight when in actuality the movement to end communism in Russia had been going on for many years. How will the fall of the Red Wall impact us? Canadians need to be aware of this.”

The massive wave of 15 million people withdrawing from the Chinese communist party was triggered by the book "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party" http://www.ninecommentaries.com/ , which has revealed, for the first time a comprehensive account of the CCP's formation, its advocacy of violence and deception, its destruction of traditional beliefs, and the disaster it has brought upon the Chinese nation for the past 60 years. The 9 Commentaries is now the #1 banned publication in China. Outside China, the value of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party was highlighted when it was honored with a National Journalism Award in the category of Asian American Issues - Online by the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) on August, 18, 2005.

At this crucial historial time, millions of ex-Communists are watching to see if the democratic world will protect and aid Jia. By granting Jia asylum and protection, Canada will show that the nations of the democratic world are eager to see China join them. Conversely, continuing to deny him asylum sends the unintended signal that the free world is more worried about the Chinese Communist Party than the Chinese people. This is not the signal we want to send. Jia Jia can be more than just a leader in the China democracy movement; he can be a symbol to all who have rejected the Communist regime that they have been noticed by the democratic world, and a symbol of encouragement to those considering leaving the Party to do the right thing. That is the main reason why the Communist Party is so eager to ensure Jia is not granted asylum. It is also the main reason asylum should be granted.

Jia is safe and sound in Thailand for the time being.