Kamploops this week:

Organ Harvesting?

Communist government stands accused

http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=15&cat=23&id=686269&more

July 10, 2006 - Many accusations of human rights abuses have been lobbed at the Chinese government over the years.

Its treatment of Tibetan Buddhists is well documented and the country's use of sweatshop labour is no secret.

But a recent report put together by former Liberal MP David Kilgour has taken the accusations to new heights, with claims the Chinese government is harvesting the organs of Falun Gong members.

Falun Gong is a religion focusing on meditation that was embraced by the Chinese government until 1999.

Once Falun Gong's membership exceeded that of the communist party, the popular practice was declared a cult.

Gruesome accusations like the ones in Kilgour's report may seem beyond belief, but to Falun Gong practitioner Joel Chipkar, they are nothing new.

According to Chipkar, the Chinese government has been harvesting the organs of Falun Gong practitioners for years, while countries like Canada have watched in silence.

He told KTW that China uses its economic might to force countries, including Canada, into not exposing human-rights violations.

"They are so afraid their crimes against humanity will be exposed," said Chipkar.

"They continue to pressure our government to shut up."

Chipkar said city-to-city business relationships are a great venue for discussing some of these matters with Chinese politicians. He said even Chinese city councillors are pressured to oppose Falun Gong, and said Canadian civic politicos shouldn't be afraid to bring it up.

Despite the anger Chipkar feels towards the Chinese government, he does agree that business relationships with China can put the communist government on the track towards better human rights.

"As Falun Gong practitioners, we have nothing against business prosperity," said Chipkar.

"But we have to protect the integrity of Canada. We have to show China that Canada . . . will condemn human rights abuses."

Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo Conservative MP Betty Hinton said the federal government does take human rights and the fact that China is a dictatorship into account when forging business relations.

She said it is Ottawa's responsibility to discuss such issues with China and that human rights is not what city-to-city business relationships are usually about.

However, she admits the Chinese government can be hard to approach regarding democracy and the rights of its people.

"China is quite sensitive about human-rights issues," Hinton said.

Judy Wasylycia-Leis, the MP for Winnipeg North and chairwoman of the federal NDP caucus, told KTW the Tory government needs to play a larger role in the development of trading relationships, arguing that individual cities should not be saddled with the responsibility.

"I think we need to proceed cautiously," she said. "We have a responsibility to adhere to certain standards."