Issued by Clearwisdom Net

Lai Ching-Te, a member of the Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party and a member of the Legislative Yuan proposed a bill during a Congressional session on September 26, 2006, which states the Executive Yuan should allocate funds to educate the Taiwan public with correct information regarding organ transplants. He thinks Taiwan's international image would be damaged if stolen organs (from Mainland China) are transplanted into Taiwanese people. He also asks the Legislative Yuan to invite Canadian parliament members or anyone else who has participated in the investigation of the Chinese Communist Party's harvesting of organs from living Falun Gong practitioners to visit Taiwan, so the Taiwanese people can learn the truth. Eighty-nine members of the Legislative Yuan have co-signed the bill.

Lai Ching-Te requests the Executive Yuan to allocate funds, to immediately create public education programs to fully inform the Taiwanese people of human rights violations in Mainland China, including live organ harvesting, in order to protect Taiwanese people's lives, property and their right to know.

Lai Ching-Te's bill, proposed at the first meeting of the fourth session of the sixth Legislative Yuan, makes the point that the interaction across the Taiwan Strait has become more frequent in recent years; however, the Taiwanese people have very limited knowledge of the current human rights situation in China. In order to protect the Taiwanese people from encroachment on their rights and to guarantee the safety of their lives and property during these interactions, the Taiwanese government is responsible for providing the public with accurate information on human rights issues in Mainland China, including harvesting organs from living persons. The making and administering of policies must truly satisfy people's needs as well as universal principles of justice.

Lai Ching-Te stated he based the bill on three main considerations:

First, he wants to ensure the health of Taiwanese people. Currently, 4,740 Taiwanese people have gone to China for transplant surgeries. Many of them experienced severe health problems on their return to Taiwan, sometimes even death.

Second, the bill is aimed to uphold human rights. "This is a disastrous human rights violation. If Taiwanese people would not go to China for organ transplants, the market there would shrink, and [as a result] our Falun Gong friends and other innocent people in Mainland China wouldn't have to suffer." We all know very well that there are not enough death row inmates in China to provide all these organs, and most of these organs come from non-consenting Falun Gong practitioners. The former Canadian Secretary of State and the U.S. Congress have investigated this matter. We have also obtained powerful evidence from some Taiwanese people.

Third, we should uphold Taiwan's image in the international community, that would be damaged if Taiwanese people were the recipients of forcibly removed organs.

Lai Ching-Te expressed hope that the Executive Yuan would allocate a sufficient portion of the budget to make sure the Taiwanese people receive accurate information. He emphasized that although people have to wait for an organ in Taiwan, it is legal and safe, whereas other people's precious lives would end and the recipient's own safety would be possibly jeopardized if one were to undergo organ transplant surgery in Mainland China.

He stated that 89 members of the Legislative Yuan across party lines had co-signed the bill, and the bill had gained support from all parties. He hopes Wang Jin-Pyng, President of the Legislative Yuan, in his name or the name of the committee, would invite Canadian parliament members or anyone else who has investigated (the Communist Party's harvesting of living people's organs) to visit Taiwan, so the Taiwanese people can learn the truth.

The draft was eventually submitted to Chung Jung-chi, Vice President of the Legislative Yuan as well as to the Conference Department.

Attachment: the Draft bill

Member of the Legislative Yuan Lai Ching-Te and Eighty-eight other members of this Yuan (other names omitted) issue the most severe condemnation against the atrocities of harvesting organs from living individuals, sale of organs for profit and cremation of bodies to destroy evidence in Mainland China, which was exposed in early March this year, because of the basic principles that human rights are universal values and we respect lives. We request the Executive Yuan to allocate funds to immediately establish educational programs to fully provide the public with information related to the current human rights condition in Mainland China, in order to guarantee the safety of our people's lives and property. We also urge this Yuan to invite David Kilgour, the former Canadian Secretary of State for the Asia-Pacific region, and international human rights lawyer David Matas, who conducted independent investigations and published their report on organ harvesting in early July 2006, to visit Taiwan. We respectfully request joint decision on the propriety of this bill.

Clarification:

1. The interaction across the Taiwan Strait has become more frequent in recently years; however, the Taiwanese people have very limited knowledge on the current human rights situation in China. In order to protect the Taiwanese people from encroachment of their rights and to guarantee the safety of their lives and property during these interactions, the Taiwan government is responsible for providing the public with accurate information on human rights issues in Mainland China, including harvesting organs from live persons. The making and administering of policies must truly satisfy people's needs as well as universal principles of justice.

2. The entire world condemned [the Chinese Communist regime] after international media exposure of its harvesting of organs from living Falun Gong practitioners, the sale of organs for profit and cremation of bodies to destroy evidence in early March this year. County and city councils' representatives heard the information and were shocked. Within three months, Jiayi County, Yilan County, Jilong City, Hualian County, Tainan City, Yunlin County, Pindong County, and Penghu County passed resolutions to condemn live organ harvesting and called for the international community to band together and end this barbaric practice. Other county and city councils are drafting resolutions.

3. During this period, justice-loving people in the world founded the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG), to conduct independent investigations and collect thorough evidence in China and abroad. The organization demanded a thorough investigation of labor camps, prisons, detention centers, custody centers and mental hospitals where the CCP currently holds Falun Gong practitioners. This coalition also invites other international organizations and governments to join the investigation of related crimes.

David Kilgour, the former Canadian Secretary of State for the Asia-Pacific region, and international human rights lawyer David Matas formed an independent investigation team. After two months of investigations and evidence collection they published an investigation report on the CCP's harvesting of living Falun Gong practitioners on July 6, 2006 in the Canadian media. The report concludes, "The government of China and its agencies...since 1999 have put to death a large but unknown number of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience. Their vital organs...were virtually simultaneously seized involuntarily for sale at high prices." The world was shocked at their findings. After the Honorable Edward McMillan-Scott, Vice President of the European Union went to China and conducted investigations he decided to help the CIPFG to further investigate crimes on Chinese soil. Five courageous people from Mainland China have joined the CIPFG. They are human rights lawyers Gao Zhisheng, Zhang Jiankang, Yang Zaixin and two renowned scholars, Jiao Guobiao and Sun Wenguang. Government officials, lawyers, scholars and journalists from Hong Kong, North America, Australia and Europe have also joined the organization one after another. We believe a strong voice from the international community will make the investigation a success.

4. We deeply feel that "human right has no borders;" and that "life is priceless and does not have any party affiliation." As the highest entity representing the people, this Yuan must pay close attention to the development of live organ harvesting; additionally, in order to raise the awareness and participation of our Congress on topics of international human rights issues, we urge the Legislative Yuan to invite David Kilgour, the former Secretary of State of Canada in the Asia-Pacific region and international human rights lawyer David Matas to visit Taiwan. We respectfully request a joint decision on the propriety of this bill.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/9/27/138783.html

On September 24, 2006, Human Rights Square in Paris was especially crowded. Practitioners hung up banners reading, "Falun Dafa is Good" and "Bring the illegal incarceration of Falun Gong practitioners in detention centers, labor camps and jails to an end," and demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises along with gentle traditional-style Chinese music.

Onlookers packed in front of the photo exhibition, one group after another. Some squatted down to concentrate on the contents while others took photographs of the anti-persecution exhibitions. On this day there were many inquiries. Many visitors took the initiative to sign the petition and ask for leaflets and the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party (an editorial about the Chinese Communist Party published by The Epoch Times newspaper). Some questioned as to why the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) persecutes Falun Gong. Visitors and immigrants from Eastern Europe who suffered a great deal from the Communists rallied, "We support you. You are doing the right thing. Please continue."

The famous singer Renaud said, "I support you. I will ask people around me to help stop this terrible persecution."

A sturdy gentleman stood out in the crowd. Having read the exhibits, he solemnly walked to the front of the stand and signed his name on the petition form without a word. Some practitioners recognized him as the famous French singer, Renaud.

After talking with several practitioners, he was deeply moved. He said, "I support you. I will ask people around me to help stop this terrible persecution." Taking a stack of organ harvesting leaflets, Renaud continued, "I support you with all my heart. You can put my photo on your website if it helps to stop this terrible persecution. I will tell people around me. That is the least I can do." With this, he had photos taken with Falun Gong practitioners. He took a French version of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party when he left.

An employee of the Maison de Radio France commented after reading the information boards, "This incident is rarely covered by the media. I will take material for my colleagues so that everyone can help stop this barbaric persecution."

A couple with a young daughter whispered in a practitioner’s ear, "My friend is a journalist. I’ll ask him to write an article on this." Their daughter asked practitioners to teach her the exercises. They happily watched on as their little girl learned the exercises. What a rewarding journey this chance outing turned out to be.

A hearing and speech-impaired couple passed by. A practitioner offered leaflets, and clarified the truth. Shaking the practitioner's hand, the man indicated that he did not understand. Pointing to the exhibits, the practitioner gestured to him about the CCP harvesting human organs from living people for profit. The man was shocked. Was it true? The practitioner nodded in confirmation. The man immediately raised his fists to show indignation, gesturing that it was an inconceivable crime. Seeing their regret at not being able to express themselves fully, practitioners promptly offered the petition form, which the couple immediately signed.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/10/5/139405.html

 In advance of Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to China on August 8, Falun Gong practitioners in Japan went to parliament in the rain to appeal. The practitioners held banners that read, "Stop the CCP’s killing of Falun Gong practitioners". Tsuruzono Masaaki, Director of the Falun Dafa Association of Japan, went to the Prime Minister’s Office to deliver a petition letter. In the letter, the practitioners urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to pay attention to the CCP’s brutal persecution of Falun Gong and request the CCP to stop the persecution, immediately cease organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners, release all Falun Gong practitioners unlawfully imprisoned and immediately release attorney Gao Zhisheng, who is unlawfully detained.

The Officer in charge of appeals at the Department of General Affairs in the Prime Minister’s Office met Tsuruzono Masaaki and accepted the petition letter.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/10/8/139467.html

On October 1, Melbourne Falun Gong practitioners held a photo display at Federal Plaza to expose the tyranny of the Chinese Communist regime and its evil nature, especially the atrocities of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. The practitioners also collected signatures, calling for public action to stop the regime's persecution of Falun Gong.

Many people signed the practitioners’ petition after learning the facts

The practitioners distributed the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and fliers about the organ harvesting atrocities. When passers-by saw the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) record of killing innocent Chinese citizens, they were shocked. Many stopped to talk. A westerner said that he just came back from China and had a pretty good impression. He said that he knew the regime had a bad human rights record in the past and thought it may have improved somewhat. However, upon learning the facts about the organ harvesting, he realized that the CCP is against humanity and the Chinese people are in a tragic situation. When he asked how he could help them, a practitioner handed him a petition form. He signed immediately.

A woman from China, Ms. Li, told the practitioners her personal experience: Her father was labeled as a "rightest", and her family was forced to go to the countryside. It happened during the so-called "natural disaster" period and there was not enough food for the family. She cried every day because of hunger and saw village cadres boil a baby for food. Ms. Li said that her sisters were all pretty and village cadres often went to their home to harass them at midnight. Even with such a terrible experience, because of the party's brainwashing education, she still thought that the CCP was good, though the village cadres were terrible. She even thought that it was her father's fault that the family suffered so much. Fortunately, she now realizes how evil the party is and that the party is the root of all evil and suffering in China.

A boy was very sad when he saw photos of practitioners who were tortured to death. He signed the petition and said that he would ask his friends to sign as well.

At Chinatown, which is nearby, volunteers for the Quitting CCP Service Center played the Nine Commentaries documentary using a big screen TV and distributed fliers. There were many Chinese tourists because it was a holiday season in China. An old man watched the documentary for a while and then said: "I joined the CCP when I was young and have gone through all kinds of political movements. I know its nature pretty well; it is really bad! It has done too many evil things!" He wrote down his name and asked the Service Center to help him to quit the CCP.

In the past, most people who signed practitioners' petitions were mainly westerners. Chinese people rarely dared to sign. However, with the spread of the Nine Commentaries, the shadow of the CCP's terror has been dissipated and people are gradually seeing the truth and gaining courage. After viewing the photos about the CCP's atrocities of harvesting organs, a passing-by Chinese international student said to her friend: "Let's sign the petition." There was a Chinese girl who learned the truth at the display site. She took a petition form and said to her friends: "I must sign this petition, you all should sign as well."

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/10/7/139614.html

 Mr. Rahim Jaffer, Chairman of the Conservative Party of Canada and Rob Anders, Member of Parliament commented recently regarding the 14 million Chinese people quitting the CCP and its affiliated organizations. Mr. Anders stated, "And really the solution is inside China, with those people who no longer want to support a barbaric regime." Mr. Jaffer also expressed his admiration and said he respected and encouraged such actions.

Rahim Jaffer, Chairman of the Conservative Party of Canada

Canadian MP Rob Anders

On Tuesday, October 3, this correspondent interviewed Mr. Jaffer and MP Anders. Both of them had comments on the withdrawals from the CCP and China’s human rights. Mr. Jaffer said that the investigation report by Mr. Matas and Mr. Kilgour on the CCP’s organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners caught the attention of the Canadian government and the government would take action.

Member of Parliament: Withdrawals from CCP is solution for China

Regarding over 14 million Chinese people renouncing the CCP by making statements on the website of the Epoch Times, MP Mr. Anders said, "The more people in China that give up their membership in the Communist Party, the better. I think this regime has long outlived its life and that it needs to come to an end. And really the solution is inside China, with those people who no longer want to support a barbaric regime."

Mr. Jaffer said, "One thing I admire about people in China, is that despite some of the challenges they face in dealing with the government they do try to highlight and protest and try to make changes from within. We need to respect that and we need to encourage that and work with those Chinese who have been taking the leadership."

"I think that’s excellent. I encourage that sort of activity. Because it's the only way. Even here in this country when people want to change the government they can protest and they can obviously have a demonstration and do it peacefully."

Attention on the CCP’s live organ harvesting; Canada plans to work with other countries to put pressure on the CCP

Mr. Jaffer said that the Canadian government is paying attention to the investigation report by Mr. Matas and Mr. Kilgour. He said that according to the theme the prime minister has set for Canada-- to work with those countries that are promoting human rights, democracy, and freedom-- in light of this , something needs to be done.

He expects that there will be some sort of announcement or action soon as to how the government is going deal with what was discovered in the report. The Foreign Minister has not given any details yet, but Mr. Jaffer was encouraged that something would be done soon. He said that hopefully within the next few weeks or less we will hear some announcement from Mr. MacKay. But he is aware of it, he’s taken a keen interest, and Mr. Jaffer thinks he wants Canada to take an active role.

MP Anders said that it is his sense that if China is the world’s largest abuser of human rights, and they’re more than willing to kill students en masse and Falun Gong practitioners, he thinks it makes absolutely perfect sense that they are harvesting organs. They've had some of their own former officials testify to that. It’s sad, and he thinks that Western countries should do more to hold China to account for those things.

Recommending cutting foreign aid to China

Mr. Jaffer recommended canceling foreign aid to China. He said, "I think almost all of the aid going directly to China will be cut if it hasn’t already been." "And from what I understand our Minister in charge of International Development, as soon as she was able to take over, and also through the PM’s leadership, has reviewed those budgets of foreign aid going to China."

MP Anders agreed with cutting the $50 million aid to China. He said, "One of the things I want to see us do is go ahead and pull foreign aid to China based on their human rights violations. I think we’re starting to see some reflections in Canadian foreign policy with regard to trade and diplomatic relations. And I’m glad to see that. The Chinese have to realize the repercussions for their activities in human rights. There’s still more that can be done and I’d like to see that happen."

Mr. Jaffer said, "I think there is obviously great interest from China in Canada for natural resources, for trade, for things like that. We have to really engage as we work with China on many of these issues that are of common interest, to really prove to us and show us what they are doing to enhance and promote human rights. And ensure that they show us, not only for the short-term but for the long-term, how they will respect the treatment of minority groups, different individuals, and respect for different religions. This is something that Canada is so passionate about and represents everything that we are."

He continued, "So we really need to ensure that they can prove to us, if we continue to have a positive relationship in the future, how they’re going start respecting those sorts of things, especially when there are problems. And I think we as a country have to do that but we have to work with other countries that would like to see that change, to put pressure on China. So this is what I would suggest as a way we can do positive things to ensure China changes some of its bad record."

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/10/8/139666.html