Aug 29, 2006

(Clearwisdom.net) An Australian MP has drawn parallels between Nazi Germany and the Chinese Communist regime following the release of an independent report into the killing of Falun Gong practitioners for their bodily organs.

Labor MP for the western Sydney electorate of Fairfield, Chris Bowen, recently told Chinese language television station NTDTV that people during the 1930s and 40s were unable to appreciate early reports of mass murder against the Jews because the concept of such atrocities were too unbelievable for many people.

"People didn't believe the reports coming out of Germany because they didn't believe that one human being could do the sorts of things that were being done to another human being, and I think that's what we're faced with, [in regards to] the situation in China," said Mr. Bowen.

"I've no doubt the public would be absolutely horrified," Mr. Bowen said of the killing of Falun Gong practitioners for their bodily organs. "Even those people and there are many who've taken no interest in human rights in China in the past would be absolutely horrified by these allegations," he expressed.

Mr. Bowen said that with the July 6 release of the independent report co-authored by former Canadian Secretary of State, David Kilgour and human rights lawyer Mr. David Matas there is now an obligation to inform the public about the state sanctioned organ seizures from Falun Gong practitioners.

"There is an obligation on all of us who know about it to be spreading the word as largely as we can, as widely as we can; because not many people know about it at the moment and that needs to be fixed. We all have a role to play – members of parliament, the media, private citizens, everyone," stated Mr. Bowen.

"There is an obligation to be making very, very strong representations to the Chinese Government that this is not acceptable conduct in a modern society and that we view it very, very sternly indeed," he said.

While remaining in favor in trade with China, Mr. Bowen stated that human rights should be put first and such a stance would not affect Australia's trade with Beijing.

"I'd think we have very little to fear because, there's only so many countries in the world that China can get its coal, its steel, its uranium from. They need us in this circumstance, so even if we did have the fear of losing trade, I think we should still put human rights first, but in this case I think the fear [of losing trade] is over blown."

On August 6 Mr. Bowen met with and also hosted a press conference in the Australian Parliament House for one of the authors of the report Mr. Kilgour and also Mr. Edward McMillan-Scott, Vice-President of the European Parliament.