News and Events from around the World -- January 3, 2007

Issued by Clearwisdom Net

Content

  • The Official Launch of Turkish Clear Harmony Website

  • Austria: Exposing Organ Harvesting from Falun Gong Practitioners in China

  • France: The European Divine Land Marching Band Makes Its Debut in Paris



  • The Official Launch of Turkish Clear Harmony Website

    On January 1, 2007,  Turkish Clear Harmony website is officially launched at http://tr.clearharmony.net.

    The Turkish Clear Harmony website is one of the sixteen language-versions of the European Falun Dafa website, which is published voluntarily by Falun Gong practitioners. Its aim is to reveal the facts about Falun Gong, give readers first hand information about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, display the voices of support for Falun Gong and let readers know the efforts made by Falun Gong practitioners to stop this persecution.

    The website provides readers with the opportunity to get to know Falun Gong practitioners through their words, thoughts and actions. We hope this website can help the Turkish people get a clearer and broader view on what Falun Gong is, as well as the truth behind the ongoing persecution in China.

    Welcome to the Turkish Clear Harmony website: http://tr.clearharmony.net



    Austria: Exposing Organ Harvesting from Falun Gong Practitioners in China

    David Kilgour spoke during a press conference on human rights, held November 21, 2006, and arranged by the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR-IgfM) in Vienna. The press conference's purpose was to highlight the unimaginable human rights violations happening in China. Mr. Kilgour presented an investigative report that details illicit organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners in China.

    Mr. David Kilgour spoke at the ISHR-IgfM press conference with a disarming smile and a pleasing voice. The message he brought to Austria, the 20th country he visited with the message, posed a stark contrast to his demeanor. He spoke of human rights violations suffered by Falun Gong practitioners in China that are unimaginable to those living in the West. The investigative report, prepared by Mr. David Kilgour and Mr. David Matas, both well-respected Canadian human rights lawyers, discloses that China has a large scale 21st century organ harvesting activity where the organ sources are imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners.

    Mr. Kilgour provided details of the unimaginable organ trade. He said, "A few weeks ago we met with a man who traveled in 2004 to a hospital in Shanghai in the hopes of having a kidney transplant. None of the four kidneys the military doctor provided were a match for this man. It took eight kidneys before a match could be made. The main surgeon at that hospital was also the chief doctor at the military hospital."

    Kilgour reasoned that since the beginning of the persecution of Falun Gong, 41,500 to 60,000 transplants organ sources were unverified. At the same time, Kilgour contends that China's regime did not, until actual accusations were made, admit officially that organs from executed death row inmates have been used commercially. "What China's regime does not admit is that innocent Falun Gong practitioners are executed for their organs."

    When asked if the United Nation's Special Advocate for Torture, Manfred Nowak, had already looked into the allegations, Kilgour responded that Nowak is active concerning the issue. "I was told that Mr. Nowak already put seventeen to nineteen questions about organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners to the Chinese Regime. Alas, he still has yet to receive a reply."

    When someone in the audience remarked that organ trade is also practiced in other countries, Kilgour emphasized quite emphatically that in China it is organ theft where unwilling donors are murdered for their organs.

    When asked what could be done about it, Kilgour responded, "It helps if more people ask Chinese diplomats about it. Also, it would help if more people state publicly that the Olympic Games should not be held in a country ruled by such a regime, a regime that murders its own citizens for no more than economical gain and lining individuals' pockets."

    Originally published in German at: http://de.clearharmony.net/articles/200612/35259.html


    France: The European Divine Land Marching Band Makes Its Debut in Paris

    On December 31st, 2006, the French Falun Dafa Association held two grand parades. In the morning, Falun Gong practitioners from various European countries set off from Belleville, a city that has many Chinese residents, and proceeded along the Third District of Paris, another area with many Chinese residents, before arriving at the Paris City Hall. In the afternoon, they were invited to participate in the activities of the Paris Parade Festival, which was held in Chantilly, a city known for tourism. The Paris Parade Festival was attended by over thirty organizations.

    The Divine Land Marching Band made two appearances, attracting a lot of attention from the spectators

    The European Divine Land Marching Band, consisting of more than 150 Falun Gong practitioners from various countries in Europe, was established three months ago. It was the very first time for this band to participate in these two parades, at the invitation of the French Falun Dafa Association.

    Exercise demonstration

    Supporting 17 million Chinese people who have withdrawn from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

    Through the demonstration of the Falun Gong exercises and the performances of the Divine Land Marching Band, as well as traditional Chinese dances, Tang Dynasty dances, a waist drum troupe, the Falun Dafa banner team and the Quitting the CCP banner team, the Falun Gong practitioners not only showed local residents the magnificence of Falun Dafa, they also provided joyful entertainment during the festival. In addition, they exposed the facts about the Chinese communist regime's cruel persecution against Falun Gong practitioners in China.

    On the morning of New Year's Day 2007, Falun Gong practitioners held another grand parade in Chinatown in Paris. In the afternoon, they participated in other activities marking the Paris Parade Festival at the Trocadero, near the Eiffel Tower.