Issued by Clearwisdom Net

CCP's atrocities of live organ removal for profit have caught the attention of all circles and governments after the report of Canadian Independent Investigation Team was published and the team visited more than ten countries and regions. The Taiwanese Vice President, Ms. Annette Lu, hosted a meeting regarding "CCP's atrocities of organ harvesting and related human rights issue" on October 27. She said that mainland China conducts illegal organ transplantation, which gravely violates human rights and must be condemned. In addition, it is equivalently important how to prevent Taiwanese patients from going to China to receive illegal organ transplants. She hoped that all circles pay attention to and safeguard human rights and Taiwanese people's health.

She said in her speech that she represented the President to express concern on CCP's horrible act of live organ harvesting and transplantation for profit. Not only are citizens paying attention to the issue, but Legislation Council Members Lai Ching-te and Tien Chiu-chin held a hearing in the Legislation Council. The Department of Health, Ministry of Judicial Affairs, and Mainland Affairs Committee also discussed the issue in the Legislative Council.

Ms. Lu referred to China's organ transplantation data. From 1994 to 1999, there were 18,500 organ transplants. The number increased suddenly to 60,000 from 2000 to 2005. Where were these live organs from? It was suspicious. She pointed out further that there were 22 liver transplantation centers in China in 1999, but 500 in 2005. There were 135 liver transplantation operations in 1999, but 4,000 in 2005. There were 3,596 kidney transplantations in 1999, but 10,000 in 2005. From these numbers, it is questionable that there would all of a sudden be so many more death row inmates.

After hearing opinions of attendees from related departments and judicial circles, Ms. Lu expressed that such serious issues should be handled from three aspects: human rights, health and politics. Government and non-government organizations should work together to take corresponding actions.

Regarding how to solve this human rights issue, Ms. Lu pointed out to proceed from guidance, investigation and legislation. In guidance, the first is to condemn CCP's violation of human rights and the second is to have patients or family not make the choice. For investigation, the Department of Health, Ministry of Judicial Affairs, and Mainland Affairs Committee take active investigation to find out if medical staff or organizations are involved. In legislation, human rights and law circle professionals work together to assess the possibility to amend current law or initiate new legislation.

Ms. Lu said that the other channel is to get media attention. Legislation Council or non-governmental organizations can hold hearings to get the attention of citizens. In addition, government should gather information, print brochures or posters to publicize the issue. She called for attention of this issue.

Vice President Ms. Lu recommended a committee, temporally named "Caring Committee for Citizens Going to China for Organ Transplants" to safeguard human rights across borders from active and positive caring aspects in collaboration with government, law and professionals of all circles.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2006/10/29/141270.html

 On October 2 and 3, 2006, Carnegie-Mellon University (CMU) and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) joined to host the Cornerstone CMU ¡V UPMC Symposium 2006: The Dynamic Economies of Asia and Global Wellness ¡V Opportunities for Prosperity in the Pittsburgh Region. The attendees included Professor Thomas Starzl, regarded as the "father of transplantation surgery," the Prince of Belgium, diplomats, CEOs and medical experts. The organ transplant center of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is the largest of its kind in North America and has close relationship with many transplantation hospitals in China. Falun Gong practitioners from Washington DC and the Midwest went to the UPMC and venues near the meeting to clarify the truth about the Chinese Communist Party harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners.

On the first day of the meeting, all attendees were invited to the Duquesne Club, the oldest and most prominent club in Pittsburgh. At dinnertime, people exchanged their views and suggestions to develop the local economy. The topics focused on how to utilize the advantages of human resources, technology, research and other resources, in order to take advantage of the opportunities of globalization, and increase business relations with China so as to develop the economy and technology of Pittsburgh and surrounding areas.

Dr. Wenyi Wang from New York gave a speech at a dinner party for CEOs, medical experts and diplomats. She pointed out that it is a good thing to promote economic and technology exchange between the West and East. But when doing business with China, a country of tyranny and where the rule of law is not respected, while emphasizing the market, making money and technology exchange, every investor and scientists must have a sense of conscience and of moral responsibility. One must not turn a blind eye to the injustices in China, but must bravely face it and condemn the Chinese Communist Party.

Dr. Wang said that if a government doesn't respect life and human rights, wealth and technology can be used to do evil things. Two recent examples were Yahoo providing personal information of a freelance reporter to Chinese authorities that resulted in him being jailed, and Google agreeing to filter information on the servers in China.

She continued that organ transplantation can save lives by doctors with conscience and morality but it can also be used to kill life and make huge profits by immoral doctors. Under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party, doctors can harvest organs from living people and sell them to organ transplantation patients.

On a website for the China International Organ Transplantation Center, the center claims that it can provide organs for patients from any country for a fixed price. For example, a cornea is US $30,000 and a heart is US $160,000. This indicates that China has a large living organ bank. Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners were jailed and their blood and tissue information was saved in a computer database to match patients seeking organ transplant. When they find a match, a process of cutting and killing starts.

Many Chinese websites openly declare that they can provide matching organs within a very short waiting time, often in only a couple weeks. From a medical standpoint, this raises many questions, as in other countries around the world, it often takes years before one can get a transplant. Two people with knowledge of the situation in China and many telephone investigations made to China by the Global Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong have substantiated the allegations that Falun Gong practitioners are the victims of illegal organ harvesting. Organ transplantation surgeries doubled every year since 2000 in mainland China, beginning shortly after the persecution of Falun Gong started.

In the question and answer session of the meeting, Dr. Pang from Washington DC used a question opportunity to introduce the Congressional Hearing of September 29 on the issue of Chinese Communist Party harvesting organs from live Falun Gong practitioners. He said it was as serious as the Holocaust and the only difference is that this time the Chinese Communist Party is covering it up more carefully. When the world is eyeing the Chinese market so intently, many people refuse to learn the truth of the human rights situation there. Dr. Pang said that this is very disappointing and it is the shame of the whole human world.

"When I heard that my fellow Chinese were treated so inhumanly, doctors cutting out their organs when they are alive, and then cremating them when they are still breathing, I can only cry." he said. Doctor Pang said that when the investigation goes deeper, more evidence will appear. Later, Congress will pass laws about it. He wanted more people to pay attention to this issue.

According to a report on American Daily News, about 40% of the death penalty criminals were executed by lethal injection in vans, known as the "Death Bus." A spokesperson for Amnesty International Hong Kong stated that the increase of executions on the "Death Bus" is because it is easier to take their organs there.

At the gate, practitioners passed out a report by David Kilgour and David Matas to every attendee and hoped that they will make their own judgment. Practitioners also clarified the truth to professor Thomas Starzl, telling him that the Chinese Communist Party is abusing his groundbreaking work in the area of organ transplantation and changing it from a surgery to save lives to one of killing.

Outside of the meeting, practitioners talked with organ transplantation experts.

Falun Gong practitioners distributed a lot of materials on and off the campus during the meeting. Dr. Wenyi Wang accepted interviews from several local media outlets and gave a speech at a City Council meeting. She called on the people of Pittsburgh to be aware of the organ harvesting crime against Falun Gong practitioners in China and to condemn the Chinese Communist Party's atrocity.

Many practitioners also passed out a lot of truth-clarification materials around the Organ Transplantation Center. Many doctors, patients and passersby expressed their anger at the CCP atrocity. Some passersby expressed their concern that the University of Pittsburgh is still training organ transplant doctors for China.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2006/10/21/140692.html

 The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office published its 2006 Human Rights Report in October. The report states: "The Chinese authorities continue to violate a range of basic human rights. The use of the death penalty remains extensive and non-transparent; torture is widespread; there is a lack of judicial independence; obstacles to fair trials include administrative detention and re-education through labor (RTL); prison conditions are poor and prisoners are treated badly; human rights defenders, worshippers and Falun Gong adherents face harassment and detention; human rights violations occur frequently in Xinjiang and Tibet; and there are increased restrictions on freedom of expression and severe restrictions on freedom of association."

The report highlighted recent developments. "The Chinese government has taken an increasingly hardline approach to freedom of expression, introducing restrictive new regulations on print media, closely controlling Internet use, closing newspapers and detaining journalists and online writers. Lawyers who defended them faced harassment and detention.

"Some demonstrations were dealt with violently. In December 2005, three villagers died after police reportedly shot at protesters in Dongzhou village, Guangdong province.... Mainland media were banned from reporting on these incidents.

"Petitioners are periodically detained, sent home and, in some cases, assaulted."

The report also examined the communist regime's human rights records in specific areas, pointing out that "in most areas progress is either slow or non-existent." Regarding respect for freedom of religion and belief, the report concludes, "There has been no progress on this issue," and referred to UK concerns about "the narrow definition of officially sanctioned religious groups in China; the prohibition of some religious and spiritual groups; the restriction and harassment of others; and reports of the mistreatment of Falun Gong members in detention."

Former FCO Minister Ian Pearson visited China in April 2006 and raised concerns over reports of organ harvesting from executed prisoners, the human rights report says.

During the "China Time" event, which took place between September 13th and October 1st, practitioners held activities in downtown Hansestadt to expose the persecution of Falun Gong in China. China Time celebrated the city partnership between Hamburg and Shanghai.

Passersby could hear the soft Falun Gong exercise music as they approached. People stopped to find out was going on, ask questions and sign a petition condemning the persecution.

Many interested parties could be seen strolling alongside the Chinese booths, which were put up along the Alster River. One practitioner distributed many fliers to onlookers during a carnival procession of different ethnic groups wearing beautiful traditional costumes. The Parade of Cultures has been taking place annually for four years in Hamburg and is meant to bridge the divide between cultures.

Falun Gong has taken part in this parade since its inception. Many people who pass the Chinese booths, put up during China Time, have already received a flier, a Falun Gong bookmark, or are carrying a paper lotus flower made by practitioners.

A practitioner spoke over a loudspeaker about the persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and one could see and hear the astonished reaction of the onlookers. A young woman told her friend who stood next to her, "Did you hear that CCP even murdered monks?"

"Look at this! This is so different," said another woman to the person next to her,"One should see this more often."

When the fan dancers passed by, the comments changed. "Oh, these participated also last year. They are wearing beautiful dresses." Other spectators who had never heard of Falun Gong watched spellbound .

A practitioner exposes the crimes committed by the CCP	Practitioners dressed in white carry photos of those who were murdered

Falun Gong practitioners held a solemn vigil nearby the hotel where Wen Jiabao was going to stay. At the same time, a group of Chinese people hired to welcome Wen Jiabao joined the practitioners in front of the hotel. Some of the practitioners distributed Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party to the group, which they accepted gladly.

 In Glasgow University, there is a very active Amnesty International student society. Its members are from different faculties in the university. These young students are full of righteousness; they firmly support all kinds of activities which support human rights.

With the help from Amnesty International, Falun Gong practitioners were able to expose the persecution and gather signatures for a petition in Glasgow University

Falun Gong practitioners visit Amnesty International student society to expose the persecution of Falun Gong every year. At the beginning of October 2006, Falun Gong practitioners held a seminar, at which they gave a presentation to the students regarding an independent investigation report of live organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which was written by David Kilgour a former Canadian Liberal Member of Parliament, and David Matas a human rights attorney. Falun Gong practitioners emphasized talking about the history of Falun Gong, why the CCP started this persecution and why Falun Gong practitioners still hold to their beliefs of "Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance" even when they are facing such a brutal persecution. To help the student understand how the CCP could be so cruel that they harvest organs from live practitioners and then sell them for a huge profit, practitioners introduced the Epoch Times newspaper's editorial, the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party to the students to help them to recognize the CCP's evil specter.

All students were listening wholehearted from the beginning till the end; they would not miss a single detail. During the seminar, practitioners answered each question raised by the students. Afterwards, the students decided to apply a campus campaign to the university, under the name of Amnesty International student society, in respect of the live organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners by the CCP. Some students said that they heard in a media report about how the CCP took organs from prisoners; some said that they have heard about the persecution of Falun Gong in various ways; some people had a heavy or solemn expression on their face, as they could not believe that such a ruthless thing exists in China, a country which appears to be flourishing.

Falun Gong practitioners brought various leaflets to the students. They also told them that practitioners spent their own money to buy this material; they want to let more people know this persecution in China. They hoped that when these students finished reading them, they could pass them to their family members, friends and their tutors in the university, etc. As there is one more person who gets to know the truth, it adds strength to morality and justice.

The activity was fixed on October 16; practitioners did a lot of preparatory work before it: practitioners from other areas posted banners which were made within a short period of time; many newspaper clippings regarding live organ harvesting were also sent to local practitioners; hundreds of e-mails were sent to the tutors of those main faculties in the university. Students from Amnesty International society also helped to deliver hundreds of letters to the main departments' offices in person.

On the day of the campaign, it was not allowed to put up banners on the railing due to the university regulations, therefore Falun Gong practitioners set up a simple tent to hang the pictures which exposed the torture of Falun Gong practitioners. Practitioners also brought two big suitcases and hung a big banner with the words "Appealing for the investigation into all the CCP concentration camps." The pictures and banners delivered a clear message to the passers-by: please help to stop this intolerable, cruel genocide in China.

The students from Amnesty International Society utilized their free time to join the activity and distributed the fliers and discussed the persecution of Falun Gong together with practitioners to the passers-by. After learning the truth about the persecution, several law students took an open letter written by the Chinese human rights lawyers Gao Zhisheng to the Chinese leaders regarding the torture of Falun Gong, the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, DVDs and newspaper clippings about live organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners. They told practitioners that they would show this material to their tutors. A few medical students expressed their intention to bring the materials to their fellow students and lecturers as well. Students from the Politics department also took some materials and said that they would watch the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party DVD carefully to understand the true history of China. There were also a few Chinese students who took away some leaflets. One of them asked about the April 25, 1999 incident where Falun Gong practitioners appealed peacefully outside the main offices of the CCP. After learning the truth, he took the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and other material and left satisfied.

The site of the activity was in front of the student union. During the breaks, many students and tutors from the surrounding buildings came to the canteen and the restroom in the student union. The practitioners distributed the fliers continuously, and hoped that people who took the material would spread the information about the persecution of the innocent Falun Gong practitioners by the CCP to other people.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2006/10/25/140991.html