http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2006/s1715843.htm
TONY JONES: It's been called a new form of evil - claims that the Chinese
Government is killing members of the Falun Gong movement for their organs. A
recent report published by two Canadian human rights activists has backed up the
assertions, but there's no hard evidence of the systematic murder of Falun Gong
members. We'll speak to one of those activists, who says thousands are being
murdered for the organ transplant trade. Former Canadian politician David
Kilgour, in a moment. But first, this report from John Stewart.
JOHN TAYLOR: According to Amnesty International, last year the Chinese
Government executed 1,770 people.
PROFESSOR BRUCE JACOBS, MONASH UNIVERSITY: You can be executed for rape, you can
be executed for corruption, you can be executed for political crimes. There's a
whole range of capital crimes in the Chinese system.
JOHN TAYLOR: The Chinese Government admits it takes organs from dead prisoners
for organ transplant operations. But the Falun Gong spiritual movement, which is
banned in China, claims that organ harvesting has gone much further. The group
makes the extraordinary claim that up to 6,000 followers have been taken to a
Nazi-style concentration camp in the city of Shenyang and killed for their
organs.
INTERPRETER FOR ANNIE, DISSIDENT: She said usually, they would give the patient
an injection of anaesthesia, or they would use some other medication into the
heart so that it would cause the heart to stop functioning quickly. Then they
would push the patient into the operating room.
JOHN TAYLOR: The claims of systematic organ harvesting from Falun Gong followers
have been supported by two prominent Canadian human rights activists. Lawyer
David Matas and former parliamentarian, David Kilgour.
DAVID MATAS, REPORT CO-AUTHOR: The allegation and our findings are shocking, to
us. This is a form of evil we have yet to see on this planet. This is a new form
of evil.
JOHN TAYLOR: Mr Matas and Mr Kilgour have published a report about the
persecution of Falun Gong in China and say the allegations of organ harvesting
are true.
DAVID KILGOUR, REPORT CO-AUTHOR: You read the report, you'll be appalled. But at
some point, you've got to say that this is happening and there's no point
pretending it isn't.
JOHN TAYLOR: Harry Wu is a respected Chinese dissident who spent 19 years in
Chinese labour camps for criticising the Communist Government. He secretly
returned to China in 1991 and filmed conditions inside prison camps, which were
broadcast around the world. Harry Wu investigated the Falun Gong
organ-harvesting claims and concluded that the witnesses were unreliable and the
story may have been fabricated.
PROFESSOR BRUCE JACOBS: The Falun Gong argued that there was a camp in northern
China which was specifically harvesting the organs of Falun Gong members. And he
had his people go in and have a look and he felt that there wasn't a
concentration camp there and when he was asked, he made these feelings known. He
was then accused by the Falun Gong, so he says, anyway, of being a spy for
China.
JOHN TAYLOR: But some of the evidence in the Matas and Kilgour report is
compelling. In a secretly taped phone conversation, a caller asks for Falun Gong
organs.
WOMAN'S VOICE (TRANSLATION): Can you find the the organs of Falun Gong
followers? If you can, then I'll come over. Can you find them?
MAN'S VOICE (TRANSLATION): Let me tell you. We haven't been able to get the
organs. It is pretty troublesome to get the organs in Guangxi. If you want them
quickly, I recommend that you go to Guangzhou. Their organs are very easy to get
there.
JOHN TAYLOR: The are also allegations that prisoners were forced to give blood
tests to help Chinese authorities choose organ donors.
WOMAN'S VOICE: What if the chosen one doesn't want to have blood drawn?
MAN'S VOICE: He will sure let us do it.
WOMAN'S VOICE: How?
MAN'S VOICE: They will sure find a way. What do you worry about? These kinds of
things should not be a concern to you. They have their procedures.
WOMAN'S VOICE: Does the person know that his organs are being removed?
MAN'S VOICE: No.
JOHN TAYLOR: Chinese authorities reject the findings of the Canadian report and
say the Falun Gong claims are pure fabrication. John Stewart, Lateline.